IN THE COMMISSIONERS COURT OF

BELL COUNTY, TEXAS

September 07, 2005

AFTER proper posting of public notice, a copy of which is attached hereto, on this the 7th day of September, 2005, the County Commissioners Court of Bell County, Texas, met in the Commissioners' Courtroom in Belton, Texas, in regular session with the following members of said Court present, to-wit:

1. Agenda #1 - Presentation by Voting Machine Vendor ES&S

• MINUTE ORDER #363/05:  Don Blakely, Regional Sales Manager and Jason Barnett, Regional Sales Manager made their presentation on the ES&S AutoMark Voter Assist Terminal, and iVotronic Touch Screen Voting System.  The AutoMark guarantees that an optical scan balloting device will capture voter intent.  No more over votes, or mismarked ballots.  The iVotronic Touch Screen is a DRE (Direct Recording Electronic Voting Machine).  Both machines allow handicap individuals to vote without assistance.  They allow blind voters or voters with severe impaired vision to listen to choices through headphones.  For voters with physical movement limitations it offers the choice of a Sip/Puff Tube for those who cannot use the touch screen or pad.     
  
  
  
  

2. Agenda #2 - Presentation by Voting Machine Vendor Hart

• MINUTE ORDER #364/05:  Gary Gandy, Regional Sales Manager; Randy Ray, Regional Sales Manager; and Barbara White, Account Manager presented the eSlate DRE voting machine and the Ballot Now paper ballots on demand.  The eSlate is a turn dial, not a touch screen; it allows a voter to turn a wheel and highlight their candidate choice by pressing an enter button.  The Ballot Now allows a county to generate their own paper ballots; the voter then makes their selection on the paper ballots and inserts the ballot into the eScan ballot reader machine.  The eScan scans the voters ballot to insure that there are no over votes or errors.  Both systems are equipped to assist handicap voters or visually impaired voters. 
  
  
  
  

3. Agenda #3 - Consideration of Selecting Voting Machine Vendor and Authorization of Purchase

• MINUTE ORDER #365/05:  After due discussion, upon motion of COMMISSIONER FISHER, seconded by COMMISSIONER BROWN, the Court unanimously approved to move into negotiations with ES&S for the purchase of a HAVA (Help America Vote Act) approved voting system.  This includes the hybrid combination of an AutoMark M100 and Central Counting Voting Systems.  The cost is contingent upon negotiations of the number of units the County will need per polling location. 
  
  
  
  

4. Agenda #4 - Consideration of Agreement with ES&S for Supplying Optical Scan Machine for 2005 Election

• MINUTE ORDER #366/05:  Upon motion of COMMISSIONER CORTESE, seconded by COMMISSIONER LANGE, the Court unanimously approved the use of a Model 650 Central Count Machine from ES&S for the 2005 General Election.  This cost is contingent upon negotiations for the amount of optical scan ballots needed for this election.  John Fisher stated his thanks to the Voting System Committee for their help and input in these decisions.    
  
  


          There being no further business, the meeting adjourned.