Travis County OKs Purchase Of $8M Paper Trail Voting System

AUSTIN, TX — Travis County officials on Tuesday approved an $8.16 million contract for a new voting system.

The voting system with a paper trail component will be ready by the November 2019 election. The purchase was enabled via unanimous approval by members of the Travis County Commissioners Court Tuesday. The new voting system will replace the current one in use by Travis County voting officials that is 17 years old.

In light of the ever-growing threat of computer hacking, the big selling point for the newly acquired system was the paper backup. The safeguard enables voters to see a paper copy of their ballot selections to verify for accuracy before actually casting their votes. An ensuing paper trail created can be used if the need for audits or recounts emerge, yielding a tangible record to match against electronic voting tallies.

The new voting system will be purchased from Election Systems and Software LLC for use throughout the county, officials said in a press advisory. Under terms of the contract, Travis County will acquire ES&S’s ExpressVote system, including software and equipment.

“I am thrilled Travis County will be able to provide voters with what they have been asking for – the convenience and accessibility of an electronic voting system coupled with the security of a paper trail,” County Clerk Dana DeBeauvoir said in a prepared statement. “I am proud of our team, and the work that has been done so far, and I’m grateful for the Court’s commitment to enhancing the security of the voting process in Travis County.”

Officials said the successful contract vote by the Commissioners’ Court was the result of a multi-year collaboration among the Travis County Clerk’s Office, the Travis County Purchasing Office, and the Travis County Attorney’s Office, along with various internal and external stakeholders.

“It is our mission at Travis County to provide safe and secure elections, without outside interference,” Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt noted. “With the new security features and added paper trail, Travis County voters can rest assured knowing their votes were properly counted.”

ES&S President & CEO Tom Burt added: “ES&S is proud to partner with one of the most well-respected jurisdictions in the country. Under County Clerk Dana DeBeauvoir’s leadership and commitment to excellence in government, Travis County has established itself as a national leader in the conduct of secure and reliable elections administration,”

Burt continued: “This is a valuable long-term investment for Travis County, and we are honored to have the opportunity to partner with Ms. DeBeauvoir and her team. We look forward to serving the voters of Travis County and the great State of Texas with our proven, secure, accurate and federally certified election products for years to come.”

Beginning in Summer 2019, the County Clerk’s office will kick-off a voter education campaign in order to provide an opportunity for voters to become familiar with the new system before it is used in polling places, officials said.

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