Speeding up Palm Beach County’s traditionally slow election returns could cost taxpayers another $1 million under a proposal going before the County Commission on Tuesday.
Buying new software and adding modems would allow transmitting vote totals instead of driving voting-machine cartridges from polling places all over the country to the Supervisor of Elections tabulation center in Riviera Beach. Driving across Florida’s largest county to deliver vote totals has been blamed for Palm Beach County often being one of the last in the state to finish counting votes.
… In April, Palm Beach County’s test run at using modems had software malfunctions. The Florida Department of State has yet to see Bucher’s new plan and still has questions about how she plans to implement it, spokesman Chris Cate said Monday.
The Department of State recommends that Palm Beach County “adopt remote tally sites” that could “provide accurate and timely reporting for a minimal expenditure of funds,” Cate said.
… If the County Commission approves the sole-source deal with Dominion Voting Systems, the system would be tested and certified by the state by March.
Full Article: Palm Beach County vote delays: Palm Beach County considers $1 million fix for vote counting delays – South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com.