Board tables vote on 10X e-poll-book contract amid timing and support concerns

Director Patrick Becker told the board the RFP process (RFP-45ELC-37) produced two finalists, 10X Software Solutions and Know Inc. LLC, and that the scoring committee recommended 10X. The memorandum before the board requested a five-year agreement not to exceed $1,625,000 for e-poll-book support and services. Becker said the scoring committee and a broad set of subject-matter experts — including poll workers and information-security staff — participated in demonstrations and evaluation.

Becker said both finalists replied they could fully deploy by Sept. 21 if a month-end decision were made and that 10X had described compact hardware and Bluetooth printing features. "We asked if a decision was made by the end of this month, if they would be able to fully deploy their system by September 21. Both of those vendors replied that they would be able to do that," Becker said. Board members asked about vendor capacity for election-day support and training; Becker said the vendor would provide an Indiana-centric support team and could offer up to three on-site support personnel for as many as three days around election day.

Despite vendor assurances, a member raised concerns about implementing a new system while staff complete other projects and the board is operating out of a new election operations center. The member moved to table the 10X approval until a future meeting; the motion to table passed. Staff said they would follow up after the meeting to see whether the incumbent vendor could be extended through the general election if needed.