Title
Resolution to Approve a Purchase Order for New Election Day High-Speed Absentee Ballot Vote Tabulator from Hart InterCivic ($127,140.00)
Memorandum
Attached is a resolution to accept and approve a purchase order for new Election Day Absent Voter Count Board high-speed tabulation equipment acquired from the City's existing vote tabulator vendor, Hart InterCivic. The total cost of the equipment is $157,140.00 and the State of Michigan is making a direct payment of $30,000.00 to the vendor to help offset the cost and ensure local clerks are prepared to tabulate the anticipated high number of absent voter ballots in November. More than 30,000 absentee ballots were requested for the August 4 Primary and this number is expected to increase again in November. Many factors, including the pandemic, and the approval of "no-reason" absentee voting, has led to more and more voters choosing to safely and securely vote early and at home in advance of Election Day.
Over time, the acquisition of the high-speed equipment is expected to reduce labor costs and time for counting ballots. The August Primary saw a record high of 75 election inspectors in the counting boards, in order to manage the number of ballots received and the time to process them through traditional tabulators.
Budget/Fiscal Impact: $50,000 was budgeted in the Clerk's FY21 budget and the State of Michigan will be making a direct payment to the vendor in the amount of $30,000.00. No grant award or pass-through is required for this payment. The remaining total due of $77,140 will be budgeted and paid to the vendor in FY22 and FY23.
Approval of this resolution will ensure acquisition of the equipment prior to the November 3 Presidential Election.
Staff
Prepared by: Jacqueline Beaudry, City Clerk
Reviewed by: Kim Buselmeier, Budget and Finance Supervisor
Reviewed by: John T. Fournier, Assistant City Administrator
Approved by: Tom Crawford, Interim City Administrator
Body
Whereas, The City Cl...
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