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MEMORANDUM <br />TO:AnokaCountySchoolDistrict,Municipal&TownshipClerks <br />FROM:PaulLinnell,ElectionsManager <br />SUBJECT:ReplacementBallotMarkingDevices <br />DATE:March26,2020 <br />BACKGROUND <br />AllvotingprecinctsinAnokaCountymustbeequippedwithaballotmarkingdevicethatisaccessiblefor <br />individualswithdisabilitiespursuanttoM.S.206.57.Theballotmarkingdevicescurrentlyinuse,the <br />ES&SAutoMARKs,areattheendoftheirusefullifeandmustbereplaced.Thefirst(andonly) <br />replacementequipmentthatiscompatiblewithAnokaballotcountersistheOmniBallot <br />Tablet.ThisproductwascertifiedbytheOfficeoftheSecretaryofStateinOctober2019.The <br />OmniBallotTabletwouldprovidevoterswithdisabilitiesareliablesystemformarkingtheirballotduring <br />inpersonabsenteevotingandatthepollingplaceonElectionDay.Thesystemoffersadditional <br />potentialbenefits,includingprintondemandcapabilitiesthatcouldbeusedforabsenteevoting. <br />COSTOFTHESYSTEM <br />DemocracyLivehaspartneredwithSeaChange,ourMinnesotabasedballotprinter,tosell,serviceand <br />supporttheOmniBallotTabletinMinnesota.Wehavepreparedcostestimatesbasedon <br />pricingunderacontractwiththeMinnesotaCountiesComputerCooperative(MnCCC)Finance& <br />GeneralGovernmentworkgroup.Theestimateconsidersthecapitalcostofsystemcomponents, <br />software,peripherals,andongoingoperatingcosts. <br />STATEGRANTFUNDING <br />The2019MinnesotaLegislatureappropriated$2millioninadditionalgrantfundingtoassistwiththe <br />purchaseofelectionequipmentorelectronicpollbooks.Thatgrantprogramwillbeadministeredbythe <br />OfficeoftheSecretaryofState.AnokaCountysubmittedanapplicationforgrantfundsinJanuary2020 <br />topartiallyfundreplacementassistivevotingdevices(AVDs)forallprecinctsinthecounty.Itis <br />anticipatedthatgrantswillbeawardedbyMarch31,2020.AnokaCountyexpectstoreceivegrantfunds <br />throughtheMinnesotaVotingEquipmentGrantAccounttopaythepartialcostofreplacingtheballot <br />markingdevices. <br />COUNTY,MUNICIPALANDSCHOOLDISTRICTPAYMENTS <br />Underthetermsofthe JointPowersAgreementBetweenAnokaCountyandtheMunicipalities, <br />Townships,andSchoolDistrictinAnokaCountytoAllocateCostsforElectionExpenses(JPA),Anoka <br />Countywouldpurchaseandowntheequipment.Afterfactoringingrantfunds,thecountywouldbe <br />partiallyreimbursedfortheremainderofcapitalandoperatingcoststhroughannualpaymentsfrom <br />cities(30%)andschooldistricts(15%)pursuanttotheJointPowersAgreementallocatingcostsof <br />electionequipmentandservices. <br />Ourgoalistokeepyourannualpaymentasconsistentaspossibletoavoidyeartoyearfluctuationsand <br />overlappingexpenseswiththerepaymentsofthecapitalcostsfortheballotcounters.Thelastpayment <br /> <br />