MontCo Approves Hart Verity Voting System

Montgomery County Overhauls Election System, Approves $7.5 Million Hart Verity Purchase

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, TX – After years of contentious public debate and mounting pressure from citizen groups, the Montgomery County Commissioners Court unanimously voted on January 21, 2025, to purchase a new $7.5 million election system. The decision brings the county into a new era of election administration, replacing the existing ES&S system with the Hart Verity suite of voting machines.

This landmark approval marks a significant overhaul of Montgomery County’s election infrastructure, aimed at modernizing the voting process, enhancing security, and restoring public confidence. The move follows extensive scrutiny of the county’s election procedures and equipment, which intensified throughout late 2023.

The path to this decision was protracted and deeply rooted in concerns raised by various citizen groups. Most notably, the Montgomery County Election Audit Team (MCEAT) had been a vocal proponent for change, consistently raising questions about the security protocols, auditability, and the chain-of-custody procedures associated with the older ES&S machines. Concerns often centered on the perceived lack of a voter-verifiable paper trail and the potential for software vulnerabilities in the older system, issues that many residents felt undermined election integrity.

“This is a momentous day for Montgomery County and a testament to the power of citizen engagement,” stated Sarah Jenkins, a lead organizer for MCEAT, following the court’s vote. “For years, we’ve advocated for an election system that prioritizes transparency and verifiable results. The Hart Verity system, with its paper ballots and robust audit capabilities, is a significant step in the right direction.”

The county’s contract for the ES&S system was slated to expire at the end of 2024, making the search for a replacement a pressing issue for the Commissioners Court and the Elections Administrator’s office. To thoroughly evaluate potential options, the county established the Voting Equipment Technical Review Committee (VETRC) in February 2024. This committee, composed of election officials, IT professionals, cybersecurity experts, and citizen representatives, was tasked with conducting a comprehensive review of available voting technologies.

Over several months, VETRC engaged with multiple vendors, held public presentations, and meticulously analyzed various systems based on criteria such as security, auditability, ease of use, accessibility for voters with disabilities, cost-effectiveness, and vendor support. Their findings were further bolstered by an independent consultant’s report commissioned by the county, which provided an unbiased assessment of the leading contenders. Both VETRC and the consultant’s report ultimately recommended the Hart Verity system.

Discussions regarding the Hart Verity system intensified within the Commissioners Court in December 2024, leading to robust public hearings where residents voiced opinions both in favor of and against the proposed change. Proponents highlighted the system’s enhanced security features and improved voter experience, while some raised concerns about the substantial investment cost or expressed a desire for alternative systems.

The Hart Verity system, as presented in VETRC’s final report to the Commissioners Court, is a modern, precinct-based paper ballot system. It utilizes ballot marking devices for voters who prefer or require assistance, printing a paper ballot that the voter can review before casting. This feature is designed to provide a voter-verifiable paper trail for every ballot cast, significantly enhancing auditability and transparency. The system also includes advanced tabulation software and robust chain-of-custody tracking for ballots and equipment.

Commissioner John Rodriguez, who chaired the committee overseeing the election equipment acquisition process, emphasized the thoroughness of the review. “We understood the gravity of this decision and the intense public interest,” Rodriguez said. “Our goal was to select a system that not only meets all state and federal requirements but also earns the trust of Montgomery County voters. We believe the Hart Verity system achieves that balance, offering state-of-the-art security and a clear, verifiable audit trail.”

The approximate $7.5 million price tag for the new system will cover the purchase of voting machines, ballot marking devices, tabulators, election management software, secure storage solutions, and initial training for election staff and poll workers. County officials are currently exploring funding mechanisms, which are expected to include a combination of general fund allocations, potential state grants, and a certificate of obligation.

Elections Administrator Suzie Smith noted that the implementation process would begin immediately. “Our priority now is a seamless transition,” Smith stated. “This includes comprehensive training for our dedicated election staff and thousands of poll workers, as well as an extensive public education campaign to familiarize voters with the new equipment. We anticipate having the new Hart Verity system fully operational and ready for the next major election cycle, ensuring our county continues to conduct fair, accurate, and secure elections.”

Further details on the implementation timeline, public demonstration events, and training schedules are expected to be announced by the Elections Administrator’s office in the coming months, with information available on the official Montgomery County website.