Montgomery Co. Approves $11.5M New Election System

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Texas – Montgomery County is set to revolutionize its election process after the Commissioners Court unanimously approved an $11.5 million investment in a new voting system on August 22, 2023. The decision marks a significant upgrade, replacing the county’s nearly two-decade-old equipment from Hart InterCivic with a state-of-the-art system from Election Systems & Software (ES&S).

The core of the new setup will feature ExpressVote Ballot Marking Devices (BMDs) and DS200 tabulators, with a primary focus on creating a verifiable paper trail for every ballot cast. This crucial feature is designed to bolster audit capabilities, enhance accuracy, and significantly boost voter confidence in the security and integrity of local elections.

Commissioners James Riley, Charlie Riley, and Robert Meador all voted in favor of the substantial purchase, while Judge Mark Keough was not present for the pivotal meeting. The decision followed a lengthy period of public input, where residents voiced various perspectives on the proposed change. Some community members expressed reservations about the $11.5 million price tag or advocated for purely hand-marked paper ballots, citing concerns about machine reliance. Conversely, other residents highlighted the new system’s advanced accessibility features for voters with disabilities and its improved capabilities for comprehensive election audits.

Montgomery County Election Administrator Suzie Harvey played a key role in recommending the ES&S system to the Commissioners Court. Harvey cited ES&S’s extensive track record and successful implementation in numerous other Texas counties as a strong indicator of its reliability and effectiveness. The county’s existing Hart InterCivic equipment, now 19 years old, had reached the end of its projected lifespan, prompting the urgent need for an update to meet modern security standards and voter expectations.

The transition to the new ES&S system will be phased in. A pilot program is slated for the upcoming municipal elections this October, allowing election officials and voters to familiarize themselves with the new equipment in a smaller setting. If the pilot program runs smoothly, the county aims for a full rollout across all precincts by the May 2024 primary election, ensuring the new technology is fully integrated well in advance of the crucial November 2024 general election. This strategic upgrade represents a major commitment by Montgomery County to modernizing its election infrastructure and ensuring secure, transparent, and accessible voting for all its residents.