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2015 Session

Budget Amendments - SB800 (Member Request)

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Chief Patron: Vogel
Funding for Voting Machines (language only)

Item 83 #1s

Item 83 #1s

Administration
Elections, Department of

Language
Page 71, strike line 26 through line 40 and insert:
"I.1. The Department of Elections shall establish and administer a program beginning in the second year to reimburse the purchase by localities of voting equipment from any vendor whose voting equipment has been approved in accordance with the 24.2-626 and 24.2-629, Code of Virginia. Reimbursement shall be on an annual basis, and the Department of Elections shall coordinate the timing of the annual reimbursements with the staff of the Virginia Public Building Authority so that the amount of the reimbursement request can be funded with proceeds of bonds authorized in Item C-46.30 of this act.
2. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, localities shall be required to replace all direct-recording electronic voting machines and any other non-qualifying voting equipment with equipment for use in the November 2016 election.
J. It is intended that one-time funding be provided from the general fund for the Department of Elections to reimburse, over a three year period, localities for the cost of voting equipment that has been approved in accordance with 24.2-626 and 24.2-629, Code of Virginia and that was replaced prior to January 1, 2015. Out of this appropriation, $1,610,333 the second year from the general fund is provided for the first one-third of the amount required for this reimbursement.
K. Neither the Department of Elections nor the State Board of Elections shall administer, direct, oversee, contract, purchase, or perform a procurement for voting equipment on behalf of localities. The annual reimbursement of localities shall be as funds are available and on a first request basis after incurring the purchase by the locality, without limitation. For eligibility for reimbursement, localities may purchase certified voting equipment from any vendor that has been approved in accordance with 24.2-626 and 24.2-629, Code of Virginia."


Explanation
(This amendment directs that localities, not the Department of Elections, will be responsible for the purchase of voting machines from their choice of vendor. The amendment also provides an additional year for localities to comply with necessary upgrades to legacy equipment.)