Title
Elections Department recommending the Board approve and authorize the Chair to sign a budget transfer to increase revenue and appropriations in FY 2019-20 for the Elections Department by $99,000, in order to receive the second half of the Dynamic Random Access Memory Agreement funding. (4/5 vote required)
FUNDING: 100% funded by the Dynamic Random Access Memory Settlement Fund.
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
On October 30, 2018, the Board authorized the Registrar of Voters to accept and execute the DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) Settlement Fund grant agreement in the amount of $198,000, for the purchase of ADA-compliant online balloting portals from LiveBallot, for a consortium of five (5) participating counties, including El Dorado County (Legistar 18-1598). The other four (4) participating counties are Placer, Inyo, Marin and Fresno. On April 23, 2019 the Board approved the Agreement for Services #3389 with Democracy Live Inc. for the provision of ADA-compliant Remote Accessible Vote By Mail Solutions and Uniform Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act.
Democracy Live was named in the grant application as sole vendor for acquisition and implementation of the ADA web-based accessible voting solutions through the LiveBallot application.
The DRAM Settlement Fund was created as a result of antitrust litigation involving DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) and is to be used for projects with a purpose “to encourage use of innovative technology to benefit California consumers.” This is a 24 month agreement commencing the date on which the State administrator signed the agreement; the agreement was signed on January 28, 2019.
The purpose of the UOCAVA and MOVE act is to help military serving overseas and citizen's abroad vote in U.S. elections. The Act provides for electronic delivery of ballots to overseas citizen voters upon their request. Legislation in California also requires voters with disabilities the opportunity to access their vote by mail ballots in an accessible format that meets the national accessibility standards. Through LiveBallot, voters will be sent an email with a link directing them to the accessible online balloting portal. The portal will enable the voter to access their sample ballot and absentee ballot. Voters who are blind or disabled, will be able to independently access and hear their sample or absentee ballot.
The Elections Department is asking the Board to approve this budget transfer to increase revenue and appropriations for the second payment of this grant to the Elections FY 2019-20 budget for distribution of payment, for the maintenance of this software. A budget transfer for the first half of the agreement for $99,000 was approved by the Board on April 23, 2019 (Legistar 19-0545).
ALTERNATIVES
N/A
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
The Board approved the DRAM Grant Agreement file #18-1598.
The Board approved the DRAM Grant MOU document related to this grant file #19-0545, on 4/23/2019.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
N/A
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
It is recommended that the Board approve this item.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
No fiscal impact on the county. Funded by the DRAM settlement, made available by the California Courts, through the Attorney General.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
Return signed minute order of board action to the Elections Department.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
N/A
CONTACT
Linda Webster, Assistant Registrar of Voters
x 7483