Gov. Jerry Brown wants $134 million in his proposed 2018-19 budget for replacement of all 58 county voting systems, which would augment $36.3 million from the federal government, to give the state about $170 million spend on secure voting technology — some of which will be ready for this fall's elections.
The state received the $36.3 million, including matching funds, from the federal government to improve election security and accessibility. The money is being given to counties, which would have to match the state funds dollar-for-dollar.
While California’s Secretary of State tests and approves voting technology, it is up to specific counties to decide which vendors fit that jurisdiction’s needs. That’s why five counties have chosen to create voting centers, under SB 450, the 2016 Voter’s Choice Act.
So far, Secretary of State Alex Padilla’s office has certified systems such as Dominion Voting Systems Democracy Suite, Election Systems and Software (ES&S), Democracy Live Inc., and Five Cedars Group Inc. Alternate Format Ballot. Other vendors are also being vetted, including nine still in testing.
Sacramento, San Mateo, Nevada, Napa and Madera will provide centralized locations where voters can register, vote, drop off or replace ballots and receive assistance at any location within their county. Sacramento will shift from almost 550 polling places to just under 80 vote centers.
Only those five counties will have changed formats by the mid-term elections, but most other counties are expected to join the change.
In the past, California has stuck to paper ballots in order to quickly determine whether tampering has occurred. The state does not allow voting systems to communicate with external networks under any conditions, under Elections Code Section 19205.
The Assembly will vote on Brown's proposal on April 17.
