Title
Resolution to Accept and Approve a Grant from the Michigan Department of State for Qualified Voter File’s Electronic Poll Book (EPB) Project Laptop and Accessories Purchase through Funding from the Help America Vote Act ($32,850.24)
Memorandum
The City Clerk’s Office has accepted a grant from the Michigan Department of State, Bureau of Elections, to receive laptops and accessories as part of the State’s Electronic Poll Book (EPB) Project. The purpose of the project is to provide the City of Ann Arbor with 48 EPB laptops and accessories to be used in all City’s polling places on election days. The laptops will run the State’s Electronic Poll Book software, designed to automate and document certain voter verification and ballot tracking functions that are currently managed with a paper process by the City’s election inspectors. The EPB also allows for a quick electronic upload of voter history to the Qualified Voter File, eliminating the time-consuming process for staff of scanning each voter’s name after every election to update voting history.
The City Clerk’s Office accepted eight laptops and accessories, including barcode readers for scanning driver’s licenses, which were used in eight polling places on May 8, 2012. The “pilot” implementation on May 8 was successful and election inspectors reported a positive experience with the equipment. The electronic reports were delivered to City staff after the close of polls and the EPB reports were printed at City Hall with no reported problems. The EPB pilot implementation was at Skyline High School (1-8), Arrowwood Hills (1-10), Ann Arbor Assembly of God (2-5), King School (2-7), Pioneer High School (4-4/4-8), Second Baptist Church (5-3), Eberwhite Elementary (5-6), and Forsythe Middle School (5-11).
The new hardware, including laptop computers and carrying case, encrypted 1G flash drive, mouse, and magnetic stripe card reader, is being funded through the Federal Help America Vote Act and requires a grant ag...
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