Preliminary Report - April 8th, 2005

Preliminary DRAFT April 8th

The following is the majority recommendation of the Election Review Committee to the Board of County Commissioners and the Clerk and Recorder of Boulder County regarding Boulder County’s current election system:

1. Because the November 1, 2005 election will probably be a mail-ballot election, utilize the current voting system for that election. As demonstrated by the City of Boulder’s recent election, the Hart system is specifically designed and ideally suited for mail-ballot elections.
2. After the November 2005 election, and in sufficient time to adequately prepare for the 2006 gubernatorial/mid-term election. Rent or purchase precinct scanners, that count at the precinct, for 2006 elections. These could be Hart Ballot Now scanners, which Hart indicates will be on the market later in 2005, or they could be optical scanners from another company. The existing Ballot Now system can be used in its current configuration for absentee voting and works well for early voting. The use of precinct scanners, at early vote centers will make it even more efficient. One voting station per site must allow disabled voters to cast ballots unaided pursuant to HAVA

Other options considered, but not recommended by the committee:

1. Abandon the Hart system and purchase, for immediate implementation, another voting system that would comply with federal and state requirements.

   b. Purchase additional supportive software, hardware, and equipment, including scanners and computers, to fully implement the Hart system for use at a general election. Such implementation would allow for voter review and resolution of a ballot before it is finally cast, such resolution occurring both during early-voting and at a precinct or voting center for election-day voting;

   c. Continue to use the current system, monitor its future performance, continuously ranking it with other technologies as they become available. Planning to implement an improved system in time for the 2008 primary.

   d. Hand count paper ballots at precincts

   e. Buy MANY more scanners, move the whole show to county fair grounds and have a central count system

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