Tuesday, February 5, 2013
St. Charles County Council will consider the purchase of 260 new machines at the February council meeting.
St. Charles County may spend $810,000 on 260 new electronic voting machines. Election Authority Director Rich Chrismer said some of the current optical scan lasers don't read ballots as they should. "Things are just wearing out," he said. Timing on this issue is key. The county can take advantage of a $129,000 grant, but must approve the purchase of the new machines by Feb. 14. In 2013, the county could get another nearly $50,000 grant for a total savings of about $180,000. The cost for 260 machines would be $810,000. Chrismer said he has saved the money for seven years to replace the machines by leasing them out to other areas. Last year, County Executive Steve Ehlmann vetoed spending $1.2 million to purchase new equipment because …
Thursday, March 15, 2012
County Executive Steve Ehlmann vetoed a $1.2 million voting machine purchase because there was just one bid. Elections Director Rich Chrismer said that interferes with his job as an elected official.
St. Charles County Elections Director Rich Chrismer questioned why County Executive Steve Ehlmann vetoed a a $1.2 million voting machine purchase from Henry Adkins & Son. “Why would the county executive, a man who has been a state legislator and a judge, want to jeopardize the right of the people to vote?” said Chrismer, who leads the county's Elections Authority. Ehlmann announced Tuesday that he vetoed the purchase of 260 voting machines. He said he did not believe the county should spend that much money when there was just one bid. “I believe that the director of elections should be given deference in determining the need to replace equipment and which machines to purchase,” Ehlmann said. “However, under the Charter, they are subject …
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
County Executive Steve Ehlmann vetoed a $1.2 million voting machine purchase because there was just one bid. Elections Director Rich Chrismer said that interferes with his job as an elected official.
- GOVERNMENT
- Joe Scott
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Wednesday, March 14, 2012
St. Charles County Elections Director Rich Chrismer questioned why County Executive Steve Ehlmann vetoed a a $1.2 million voting machine purchase from Henry Adkins & Son. “Why would the county executive, a man who has been a state legislator and a judge, want to jeopardize the right of the people to vote?” said Chrismer, who leads the county's Elections Authority. Ehlmann announced Tuesday that he vetoed the purchase of 260 voting machines. He said he did not believe the county should spend that much money when there was just one bid. “I believe that the director of elections should be given deference in determining the need to replace equipment and which machines to purchase,” Ehlmann said. “However, under the Charter, they are subject …
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Councilman Joe Cronin says the purchase isn't prudent, but the rest of the council members approved new machines.
- ELECTIONS
- Joe Scott
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Tuesday, February 28, 2012
St. Charles County will spend $1.2 million on new voting machines, but one county councilman thinks they would be better off keeping the old machines. The County Council voted 4-1 on Monday to approve the purchase of 260 optical scan machines that read paper ballots, two for each of 121 precincts and 18 emergency backups. Half of the machines are disability-capable. The bill still needs to be signed by County Executive Steve Ehlmann. If he vetoes the bill, it could be overridden by a five-vote council majority. Councilman Terry Hollander had stepped out of the room and was unavailable during Monday's roll call vote. Rich Chrismer, the St. Charles County Election Authority director, said he had budgeted money in the last six years to pay …
