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<br />Rkequest for Counefl Actio--t
<br />Manger Approval
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<br />PIP',
<br />Date: August 27, 2001
<br />Item Number,., J.1,
<br />Agenda Section
<br />Ordinances and, Resolutions
<br />Item Descripdon: Joint Powers Agreement for Replacement, Election Sptem
<br />11"Mya-t-I
<br />MI
<br />In, light of the challenges with, the 2000 national election, voters, and the media MFill pay, cloise attention to
<br />elections this yeari. Citizeins, want to knowi their vote mn-11 be counted and will, be counted accurately.
<br />RoseviHe and, Ramsey County have used optical scan epipment ior a number ofyears.l The current equipmen)i
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<br />was purchased 'in 1,918,8 and 'is, at the end of its life expectancy. Although the equipment is accurate, paper jams,
<br />and, other problems causel unnecessary delays M", thei voting process and reqms more election-day maintenance.
<br />-1111 In I
<br />City staff' melt with Ramsey County and, aH, 18 Ramsey co ffies to discuss election equipment upgrades.
<br />City staff served on a Ramsey County ad hoe task forclie to study election issues and to evaluate, election
<br />Ill a a
<br />cquupment. The, ad, hoc committee recommended purchasm'g new optic scan, equipment through, Global
<br />Elections Systems. Currently, Washington, AN and Da&ota Counties use Global eliqtfipment,
<br />The new equipment offers numerous advantages over existing equipment,., Overvotes, are immediately, rejectcd
<br />so a, voter can correct hi&fher ballot. Ballotsi twel, a very short distance so, cannotiarn. The equipment is
<br />several pounds, lighter so election, judges can move it more easily., Voters, can use any color pen, exciept yellow,
<br />to complete the ballot. Results are sent by m,oldem almost immediately afkr the polls close so results will be
<br />known more quickly. Ballot p m
<br />9 fin r will be approxfinately 16, cients mther 24, cents each.
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<br />New equipment will, be used M* Maplewood, New Bfightoin, Roseville and Wte Beul Lake during this election
<br />cycle. Other cities will usell the new equipment for ffie 20021 election.
<br />ClIty staff will have one of the new machines at the August 27 Council, meeting, for public m'spection. Ramsey
<br />County &cussed the Joint', Powers, Agreement For, Replacement Elections, Equipment on, August 14 and made
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<br />no changes and will vote on it at their August, 28, 2001 meeting,
<br />Policy Imt)lications
<br />The Councill's budgetary -poh,ey, 'is, to replace capital e '
<br />quipment when the useful fife has been either met or
<br />exceeded. The current, equipment m'curring more breakdowns and requn'rs more, election-day maintenance as it
<br />Ias now been m" smice over 10 Years. The City budgeted $70,000 "in the 2002 equipment replacement, budget
<br />for this purchase.
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