By Amanda Buchanan
Operator: What can I get for you?
State: Hi. Yes. Give me a minute please. OK, I’ll have 10,000 ballot marking devices with a paper trail, 1,000 optical scanners, a few massive central count scanners, and a voter registration system.
Operator: That’ll be $85 million. Is that all?
State: Uh—throw in some e-poll books, too.
Operator: Will you be paying in cash or credit?
State: Cash. Thanks.
If only it was that easy to buy new elections technology—the machines used to cast and tabulate votes.
With the majority of states running elections on voting machines nearing the end of their useful lives, many state legislatures and counties are looking for help in identifying and understanding replacement options.
That’s the motivation behind NCSL’s The Future of Elections: Technology Policy and Funding Conference, June 14-16 in Williamsburg, Va. This three-day conference will connect state legislators and legislative staff with election officials, experts, vendors and anyone else interested in the future of elections.
NCSL will host sessions on the intersection of elections technology with a wide range of election topics including but not limited to, vote centers, all-mail elections, security, technology innovations, military and overseas voting, post-election audits and recounts. Plus, participants can capitalize on lessons learned from states that have recently begun or completed the procurement process including creative funding solutions.
The conference begins with a crash course on elections technology, hosted in Virginia’s state capitol building before shuttling down to Williamsburg for two more power-packed days. Thursday’s daylong vendor fair provides a hands-on experience with voting equipment options while getting to know the vendor representatives in between sessions. And networking opportunities—including a reception at the home of Commissioner Christy McCormick of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission—encourage participants to share ideas, ask and answer questions while soaking in the beauty of Colonial Williamsburg.
Register today to reserve your seat at the table for this national discussion about the future of elections! There are no registration fees for state legislators or legislative staff to attend.
Amanda Buchanan is a policy specialist in NCSL’s Election Policy Center.
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