IPads and encoders will be new for the 2022 election in Pulaski County.
Clerk JoLynn Behny explained to the Pulaski County Council members Monday night that the current iPads used as poll pads are outdated and will no longer be supported. An updated quote from Microvote shows a cost of $310 per iPad, which is $140 less than originally quoted, and $125 per encoder. She said the total cost should be able to be covered under the Pulaski County Election Board’s budget in miscellaneous services and charges, and computer equipment.
“We have money in the budget this year to cover the purchase of that equipment,” stated Behny. “I did add in the 2022 budget an additional $1,500 per election for programming and maintenance on the encoders.”
She commented that in prior elections, the inspector at the polling site would take the voter’s Driver’s License, put it into the poll pad where it brings up information in the Statewide Voter Registration System. At that point, Behny added that a ticket was then printed which the inspector programmed into the voting machine.
Behny continued, “The encoder will remove that step. It will automatically put the information from the Statewide Voter Registration System on the encoder which will plug into the voting machine and eliminate the risk of human error. It’s for a safer and more secure election.”
The Pulaski County Council members approved the purchase of the encoders and new poll pads with a unanimous vote.
