Authorize the Assessor/Clerk-Recorder/Registrar of Voters to accept a Voting Systems Replacement grant agreement with the State of California, Department of General Services in the amount of $9,107 with a 3-to-1 county match. (General fund impact: $3,036) (Salinas/Rader)

Authorize the Assessor/Clerk-Recorder/Registrar of Voters to accept a Voting Systems Replacement grant agreement with the State of California, Department of General Services in the amount of $9,107 with a 3-to-1 county match.

In November 2019, the Board of Supervisors approved the original Voting Systems Replacement grant for $1.1 million. That grant ended on December 31, 2024, with a remaining grant balance of $9,107. The state has reauthorized the unspent funds as Voting Systems Replacement grant agreement number 25G30124 with grant terms of July 1, 2025 through August 31, 2026. This grant requires a 3-to-1 State to County match. The funds for this grant will help support a new process in voting known as "instant CVR" or "non-provisional voting", which allows voters to register at a voting location and vote with a live ballot. This will drastically reduce the number of conditional or provisional votes cast in each election and save up to a hundred hours of vote processing time after each election. This new process will require the purchase of additional equipment such as laptops, electronic pollbooks, and phones. This grant will help support that goal.

The department collaborated with the California Secretary of State to get the grant issued, and with County Counsel to approve the contract as to form.

Not Applicable