Mower County and the city of Austin are looking to upgrade their voting equipment with the help of state grant money.

The County Board on Tuesday approved applying for voting equipment grants on behalf of both.

“The city of Austin would like to purchase new machines and the county has to write the application for the grant,” said Auditor/Treasurer Steven Reinartz.

“The city is looking to replace the seven machines — 1 for each precinct — whereas the county is in need of only one more due to the increased absentee and mail ballots coming in,” he said. “The current machines used across the county are limited in programming a few precincts versus all precincts on one machine with the new DS200. The new machines have scanning technology that helps count write-ins and even more accurate counts.

“The new machines will also be able to process ballots faster which helps decrease lines and wait time for the larger precincts within the city of Austin.”

Since the law change allowing absentee ballots with no excuse needed, the number in the county has grown. In the most recent general election, 2,800 absentee ballots came through.

“That’s double or triple what used to be,” Reinartz said.

The county is also using mail-in ballots more often, he said. In some rural districts populated by around 100 people, the county has turned to sending out mail-in ballots rather than the more expensive route of setting up polling stations with trained election judges, who are getting harder to recruit.

The county plans to add two or more mail-in ballot precincts for the next election, he said.

The Minnesota Legislature in 2017 authorized
$7 million in grant funding for counties, cities, towns and school districts to help with voting equipment purchase. The state will pay up to 50 percent of the costs of vote counters or assisted voting devices, or up to 75 percent of electronic rosters, according to the Secretary of State Office’s website.

The grant application deadline is Dec. 15 and grants will be awarded on Jan. 31, 2018, the website said.

The county uses the company ES&S for its voting machines. ES&S has certified machines and contracts that are approved by the state in conjunction with voting and election laws, Reinartz said.

Other Business

In other business on Tuesday, the County Board:

• Approved an amended grant project agreement for hepatitis B case management with the Minnesota Department of Health.

• Approved an administrative services contract with the Minnesota Department of Human Services for 2018 child and teen checkups.

• Approved the 2018-19 Minnesota Pollution Control county feedlot program delegation agreement work plan.

• Approved correcting an error in rezoning of land near Deer Creek Speedway.

• Discussed the fiscal 2018 budget.