The Lake County Board of Elections and Registration signaled support for renewing contracts with Knowink and Micovote Tuesday, but final approval will come from the Lake County Board of Commissioners.
Knowink, which supplies the poll pads and software, would receive $60,000 for software licenses, support and maintenance, according to the contract. The company would also receive $100 per poll pad of the 580 polling pads bought Sept. 4, 2014 and $25 per poll pad of the 80 purchased Dec. 5, 2014, according to the contract.
The Knowink contract, which would go into effect Jan. 1, 2025 through the end of the year, also includes a $2,000 per person per day for any on-site support requested.
Microvote would continue to provide the county with unlimited software upgrades, technical support and version control for the voting machines from Jan. 1, 2025 through the end of the year for $13,000, according to the contract.
The unlimited software upgrades include upgrades to align with state requirements and will be sent once approved by the State Election Commission, according to the contract.
Lake County Board of Elections and Registration Director Michelle Fajman said the county has worked with Microvote since 1989 and Knowink for around 10 years. Both companies have been good partners with the county, Fajman said.
“Their professionalism is superior in the field of voting equipment,” Fajman said.
During public comment, Jeff Rosignol, of Highland, said he had concerns about early voting held at Wicker Park because the poll pads were left in a public place in the 2024 general election cycle.
“You need to move that to another location,” Resignol said.
Fajman said poll pads are secure and stored under double lock and key. The poll pads aren’t functional without a key and don’t store votes in them, Fajman said.
Shelia Madjecki, of Schererville, said she has concerns about the Schererville early-voting location because it isn’t easily accessible for the elderly or people with disabilities.
While the Schererville location has a ramp, Madjecki said the ramp isn’t near the polling place so people using the ramp still have to walk a far distance to vote. Madjecki said she voted early in Hobart and that location offered places for people to sit while waiting in line.
Madjecki said she has told the board about the issue in Schererville’s early voting location since 2022, and she hoped the board would address her concern ahead of the next election.
“It’s terrible,” Madjecki said. “In Schererville, people with canes, walkers, infirm they have a hard time getting from their car to getting in there.”
Fajman said election officials will review all early voting locations to see if the locations meet the county needs, including Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility and parking.
“Overall, with all the volume we’ve seen, we need to reassess,” Fajman said.
