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1� Request for Council Action Date: August 27, 2001 Item Number: J-1 Foval 1�Ianager Approval Agenda Section ,/'7l �OQ� 1.�� Ordinances and Resolutions C.J� Item Descripdon: Joint Powers Agreement for Replacement Election System Back�round In light of the challenges with the 2000 national election, voters and the media will pay close attention to elections this year. Citizens want to know their vote will be counted and will be counted accurately. Roseville and Ramsey County have used optical scan equipment for a number of years. The current equipment was purchased in 1988 and is at the end of its life expectancy. Although the equipment is accurate, paper jams and other problems cause unnecessary delays in the voting process and requires more election-day maintenance. City staff inet with Ramsey County and all 18 Ramsey communities to discuss election equipment upgrades. City staff served on a Ramsey County ad hoc task force to study election issues and to evaluate election equipment. The ad hoc committee recommended purchasing new optic scan equipment through Global Elections Systems. Currently, Washington, Anoka and Dakota Counties use Global equipment. The new equipment offers numerous advantages over existing equipment. Overvotes are immediately rejected so a voter can correct his/her ballot. Ballots travel a very short distance so cannot jam. The equipment is several pounds lighter so election judges can move it more easily. Voters can use any color pen, except yellow, to complete the ballot. Results are sent by modem almost immediately after the polls close so results will be known more quickly. Ballot printing will be approximately 16 cents rather than 24 cents each. New equipment will be used in Maplewood, New Brighton, Roseville and White Bear Lake during this election cycle. Other cities will use the new equipment for the 2002 election. City staff will have one of the new machines at the August 27 Council meeting for public inspection. Ramsey County discussed the Joint Powers Agreement For Replacement Elections Equipment on August 14 and made no changes and will vote on it at their August 28, 2001 meeting. Policv Implications The Council's budgetary -policy is to replace capital equipment when the useful life has been either met or exceeded. The current equipment incurring more breakdowns and requires more election-day maintenance as it has now been in service over 10 years. The City budgeted $70,000 in the 2002 equipment replacement budget for this purchase.