Hogan administration agrees to help counties with election costs

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Local boards of election scored an unexpected victory when the state’s budget director agreed during a Board of Public Works meeting Wednesday to split the cost of replacing some needed election equipment.

Comptroller Peter Franchot threatened to derail a $4 million contract to replace more than 7,600 printers. The Maryland Association of Counties  challenged a decision by the State Board of Elections to make local governments cover the bulk of the cost.

“It’s too easy for an agency to say, ‘Oh no, great harm would occur if there’s a delay,'” said Franchot, addressing state elections officials. “No, you guys brought this contract at this time. It’s subject to, frankly, being amended. The local jurisdictions are quite upset at this.”

The state elections board is replacing the system local boards use to verify and check in voters. The effort includes upgrades to thermal printers and electronic poll book systems.

Those upgrades for the coming 2022 election cost $26 million over three years. State Elections Administrator Linda Lamone said the equipment, originally purchased in 2006, is no longer usable.

The state has “traditionally covered 50% of the cost” of similar equipment, according to Franchot.

“We have not paid 50% of the costs of the poll books historically,” said Lamone. “It has been 100% county funds.”

Treasurer Nancy Kopp agreed with Franchot. It was then that the comptroller threatened to delay a vote on the contract for three weeks.

Kopp said replacing the equipment was essential. She questioned  the reasons for not splitting the cost.

“Everyone has hard times and sharing the burden has been a good Maryland tradition,” Kopp said.

Lamone said the state doesn’t have  enough printers to conduct the elections next year. Supply chain concerns and a delay in approving the contract could affect the primary election in June.

“We need this contract,” said Lamone.

The election director’s comments angered Franchot.

“This idea that, ‘Oh no, we brought you the contract let us put a gun to your head,’ and say you’re somehow going to interfere with an election,” said Franchot.

Local election administrators and officials with the Maryland Association of Counties complained to the Board of Public Works about the costs.

A letter from the association of counties notes that the state once paid 100%. That amount has decreased over the years. The state’s fiscal 2022 budget calls for the state to pay 11% of the cost to upgrade the poll books.

“Its been the decision of the secretary of the Department of Budget and Management that the counties are to pay 100%,” Lamone told the board.

Budget Secretary David Brinkley had been attending the meeting remotely but lost his connection. Franchot asked for him to rejoin the meeting.

“If David assures us that he’s going to negotiate something where MACo’s concerns can be addressed, I would drop my normal opposition to somebody saying ‘Do this or something bad is going to happen,'” said Franchot.

Brinkley told the board the state could agree to an even split on the printers. He raised concerns about upcoming elections purchases for which the state would pay 100% of the cost.

“We’re not OK with that,” said Brinkley. “We think there should be some local participation.”