PURCHASE COST
DRE – One DRE is required to replace every
lever machine. More may be required as replacements in case of
breakdown = minimum of 193. Cost of accessible DREs: $11,500 x
193 = $2,219,500
[Note: Doug Kelner, Democratic Election Commissioner for NYS,
has stated that two DREs may be required for each lever machine
because of the time it takes voters to vote and to verify. In
which case total cost for DREs would be: $4,439,000]
OPTICAL SCANNER WITH BALLOT MARKING DEVICE
One OS and ballot marking device required per precinct = 118
Optical Scanner: $5,000 x 118 = $590,000
Ballot marking device: $5,500 x 118 = $649,000
Privacy booths $165 x 193 = $31,845
Total cost $1,270,845
COST DIFFERENCE
between DREs and Op Scanners for UC: $948,655
less for OS
LONG TERM EXPENSES - NOT COVERED BY HAVA
Storage
Factors |
DRE |
OS |
| Size |
3.5
ft W x 4 ft H x 2 ft D |
1.5
ft W x 6” H x 2 ft D |
| Storage
size |
28
cu ft |
3.75
cu ft |
| Weight |
225
lbs |
19
– 39 lbs |
| Number |
164 |
117 |
| Climate
control |
sensitive |
not
sensitive |
| Fragility |
very |
no |
| Stackability |
no |
yes |
DREs
are notoriously fragile and require climate control (air conditioning
and heating).
Op Scanners are small, can be stacked 6-10 in a 2 sq ft area.
Op scanner ballot boxes are detachable and need no special storage.
Transportation –
DREs are large, heavy, fragile, more numerous. Likely to require
a professional moving company.
OS are small, are easily put in place and can be moved by election
officials.
Maintenance
In every case the actual cost of DREs exceeded the anticipated
cost.
Miami Dade contract for 400 tech hours were used up within one
year. After that the county had to negotiate with the vendor.
Maintenance cost: $1,100/tech person/day.
PAPER BALLOTS
Estimated printing cost is $0.10 to $0.30 per ballot, based on
the cost to other states.
DREs require paper printouts as well as full
ballots for absentee voters, provisional ballots, affidavit ballots,
plus ballots for emergencies in case of DRE failure, an estimated
33% of the number of voters at a higher cost/ballot because of
smaller number needed to be printed.
Op scanners breakdown less often than DREs and the ballot can
be filled out by the voter and stored if there is a machine breakdown,
therefore no extra ballots need to be printed. (Oklahoma prints
ballots for only 90% of registered voters.)
REPLACEMENT HISTORY
DRE 5 year warranty;
no history of longer use.
OS 20+ years; used
by 35% of voters in 46% of US counties; all expressed satisfaction.
