Election Board To Take More Time On Equipment Purchase

Marion County is preparing to upgrade its voting equipment.

The public has offered ideas since March, but the Election Board is going to take more time before determining the future of elections.

"Today we find ourselves in - I would say - the end of the beginning of this process," said Clerk Beth White.  "It is going to be the end of this year's work which is the culmination of everything we have done this year, but it is going to be the beginning of what I believe to be the next step which is a competitive process for new voting equipment."

The board has a new chair and Cody Kendall wants more time to learn about the issue before moving forward with requests for proposal.

"I did take a preliminary view of that proposal," he told the board.  "I am not comfortable moving forward with this until maybe next meeting when I have had the time to really look at the terms of that."

Board member Vincent Perez agreed to table the decision, as well, but asked for a resolution in the coming weeks.

"From my understanding, the vendors that have participated in the earlier REI, or Request Expressions of Interest, are probably going to be the same ones that do the RFP," said Perez.  "I would hope that we are ready to move forward on this in January, so we can get the horse out of the barn and get this going."

The board has already heard presentations from vendors around the country on the types of technology options available.

The county plans to purchase equipment, support, and managing and reporting software.

Clerk White says it will be a "multi-million dollar investment."