Charles Mix County accepts $73,000 election security grant, approves upgrades and considers cutting polling sites

The Charles Mix County Board of Commissioners voted March 12 to accept a $73,000 Homeland Security Election Grant and approve a set of security upgrades for the county auditor’s office.

Auditor Jason Gant reviewed the grant and recommended bids for physical security and infrastructure. The board approved bids from 3D Security for new locks ($49,992.36), Schuman Electric for exterior lighting ($1,861.50) and Cedar Creek Construction for additional office security measures ($49,419.07), and authorized a $28,300 expenditure from Fund 233 Capital Outlay to cover part of the work. Commissioner Nick Stotz made the motion to accept the grant; Chairman Colin Soukup seconded and the motion carried.

Gant also reviewed an election equipment grant of $16,060.60 to purchase poll pads that county election staff would use at polling locations. He described a proposal to implement Vote Centers that would allow any county voter to cast a ballot at any polling location and to reduce the total number of polling places from nine to five. Commissioners discussed the proposal but did not vote; Gant said the matter will return to a future meeting for further consideration.

Separately, the board approved implementation of additional cybersecurity protocols and related expenditures for the county email server system. Commissioner Stotz moved to adopt the cybersecurity measures; Vice Chairman Kory Standy seconded the motion, which carried.

The grants and security upgrades will affect the Auditor’s Office and polling operations; the board did not set final dates for equipment deployment or for any change to polling-location counts. The Vote Centers proposal and any formal changes to polling locations will be discussed at a subsequent meeting.