Montgomery County Approves New Voting System

**Montgomery County Adopts New $10.9M ExpressVote System, Set for November Rollout**

**MONTGOMERY COUNTY, TEXAS** – Voters in Montgomery County will experience a significant change at the polls this November, as the Commissioners Court on Tuesday, May 28, 2024, officially approved the adoption of a new voting system. The ExpressVote Universal Voting System, provided by Election Systems & Software (ES&S), will replace the county’s aging equipment, with a total cost estimated at $10.9 million.

The upgrade is largely funded through state assistance, with approximately $3.9 million already secured from the Texas Secretary of State’s Office, and additional grant funds anticipated. The goal is to have the new system fully operational and ready for the General Election in November 2024.

The transition marks the end of a two-decade era for the county’s previous voting machines, the Hart InterCivic system, which had been in continuous use since 2004. County officials cited increasing maintenance costs, difficulty in sourcing replacement parts for the outdated technology, and the dwindling availability of federal funding for new voting machine purchases as primary drivers for the change.

A pivotal factor in the decision is compliance with an upcoming state mandate. Texas law requires all voting systems to produce a verifiable paper ballot starting in 2026. The new ExpressVote system is designed to meet this requirement well in advance. Voters will utilize a modern touchscreen interface to make their selections, which then prints a paper ballot for their review. After verification, the ballot is scanned, creating a robust and auditable paper trail – a crucial element for ensuring election integrity.

Beyond its paper trail capabilities, the ExpressVote system also boasts enhanced accessibility features. It offers options such as audio ballots and magnified text, designed to provide a smoother and more equitable voting experience for residents with disabilities.

County officials expressed enthusiasm for the modernization. Precinct 1 Commissioner Robert Walker lauded the ExpressVote system, calling it a “great system” and predicting long-term cost savings for the county. County Judge Mark Keough acknowledged the magnitude of the undertaking, stating it’s a “big change for the county,” but expressed satisfaction “to get it done.”

ES&S is one of the nation’s leading providers of election equipment and services. The ExpressVote system is widely used across various jurisdictions, known for its hybrid approach combining electronic selection with a physical paper record.

With the November General Election rapidly approaching, county election officials will now embark on the extensive process of configuring the new machines, training poll workers, and educating the public on the new voting procedures. Voters in Montgomery County can anticipate a somewhat different, but hopefully more efficient and secure, experience at the polls this fall.