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Commissioner Brown - Elections - To Approve Election Systems & Software (ES&S) as a Sole Source Provider for the Purchase of ADA-Compliant Ballot Marking Voting Equipment (100% Grant Funds - $185,294)
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STAFF CONTACT
Adam Ragan - Elections - 704-852-6015
BUDGET IMPACT
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No budget impact. Purchase will be made with 100% federal Help America Vote Act (HAVA) funds.
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BUDGET ORDINANCE IMPACT
N/A
BACKGROUND
The Gaston County Board of Elections has received $185,912.00 in federal HAVA funds in the federal Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2020 to improve the administration of federal elections and/or improve, acquire or replace voting systems and technology and methods for casting and counting votes.
These funds will be used to replace our ADA-required ballot marking devices (AutoMARKS) that have been used in Gaston County since 2005.
The voting machines to be purchased are manufactured by Election Systems & Software (ES&S). ES&S is a sole source vendor for the ExpressVote ADA-compliant voting machines and is the only ballot marking voting machine certified by the North Carolina State Board of Elections that is currently compatible with other voting machines used in Gaston County.
The acquisition of new voting machines by Gaston County has been approved by the Gaston County Board of Elections and the North Carolina State Board of Elections.
POLICY IMPACT
N/A
ATTACHMENTS
HAVA Noncompetitive Procurement Auth Request, HAVA Noncompetitive Procurement Authorization Letter (Sole Source Vendor), Numbered Memo 2021-01 - Voting Systems Purchases, ESS Sales Contract 3-25-2021, Final Recommendation Voting Equipment 4-20-2021