DEPARTMENT: Elections
FILE TYPE: Consent Action
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Authorization For Cost Share Of Voting Equipment And Replacement Timeline And Amend the 2025 Elections and Non-Departmental Budgets
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RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, Dakota County's voting equipment is quickly becoming outdated; and
WHEREAS, upgrading to the next generation of voting equipment is critical to ensure trust in the electoral process, compliance with regulations, ease of use, and accessibility for all voters; and
WHEREAS, the County's voting equipment was deployed in 2015 and ballot tabulators have been successfully used in over 40 elections and are rapidly approaching the end of their life; and
WHEREAS, Rigorous testing requirements demand that each ballot is scanned multiple times to check for accuracy and reliability, both in preliminary and public accuracy testing; and
WHEREAS, the number of eligible voters in our county has increased over 10 percent since that time and rigorous testing requirements demand heavy usage; and
WHEREAS, an investment in new, state-of-the-art voting equipment is warranted; and
WHEREAS, new equipment will enhance security, improve accessibility, increase efficiency and voter trust, support scalability, and increase reliability; and
WHEREAS, cost-share agreements with municipal partners will ensure that all entities using the equipment pay a portion of the costs; and
WHEREAS, a transparent, collaborative RFP process may be conducted; and
WHEREAS, new equipment may be deployed and implemented in a manner that ensure successful training and use before the next scheduled State election.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby adopts the proposed cost-share of 65 percent of costs to be borne by the County, 30 percent borne by cities and townships, and 5 percent to be borne by school districts; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby directs the Elections Department to ...
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