Title
Consideration of and action on approval of contracts with Hart Intercivic and KNOWiNK, LLC and approval of the purchase of new Verity Duo election equipment from Hart Intercivic using BuyBoard Contract #710-23 and poll iPads from KNOWiNK,LLC.
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Summary:
Recent legislation was passed that requires entities to have a “auditable voting system” by 2026. Our current equipment was purchased in 2011. The system includes eSlates (actual voting machines) and Judge’s Booth Controllers (JBC) and are considered Direct Recording Electronic voting machines (DRE). This type of machine does not provide an auditable voting system and Hart InterCivic recently informed us that they are no longer able to source parts for repairs or replacement of our type of machines.
In order to purchase the equipment now instead of waiting till 2026, a quote was obtained from Hart InterCivic for the purchase of Verity Scan 2.7.1, Verity Control 2.7.1 and Verity Touch Writer Duo 2.7.1 plus additional accessories and requirements. A BuyBoard contract was used with the quote from Hart InterCivic.
A Hybrid voting system (Verity) is one where the voter makes the selection on a digital terminal - a.k.a. DRE machine - but unlike the traditional DRE, these terminals do not record the voter’s selections. Instead, those choices are printed on a paper ballot for the voter to review and confirm. Once the voter is satisfied with the contents of the printed ballot, the ballot is inserted into a separate machine - an optical scanner - that counts the ballot and then deposits it in the ballot box.
The City Secretary’s office will also be purchasing two iPads from KNOWiNK LLC in order to use those for voter check-in ($680). The software for the iPads will be purchased through the same BuyBoard contract with Hart Intercivic.
Hart has already obtained the required Texas Secretary of State approval of the contract for the new election equipment per state law. Hart will also take our current election equipment and dispose of it correctly with the proper notice to the Texas Secretary of State’s office (if needed).
Jim Fox, City Attorney reviewed the contracts and provided his approval and the vendor will be providing the HB 1295 form before the council meeting.
Fiscal/Budgetary Impact:
This is an approved budget item that will be paid from the Asset Replacement Fund Expenditure for the City Secretary’s department in the amount of $80,043.
Recommended action
Approval of contracts and the purchase of Verity election equipment from Hart Intercivic using BuyBoard Contract #710-23 and purchase of iPads from KNOWiNk LLC.