8/14/2017 scgrandjury.org Mail - Response Packet - Every Vote Counts Grand Jury Response Packet - Every Vote Counts

Most equipment used to conduct the election is old, much of it nearing or past its useful life. This includes voting machines and electronic and mechanical vote counting systems. Spare parts are increasingly hard to find. X AGREE PARTIALLY DISAGREE – explain the disputed portion DISAGREE – explain why Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree):

Santa Cruz County uses a state certified system that meets state standards. Beyond keeping some key systems offline, this equipment does not implement adequate computer security measures. AGREE X PARTIALLY DISAGREE – explain the disputed portion DISAGREE – explain why Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): The County conducts elections and maintains elections systems with the highest level of integrity, and our elections systems meet State and federal standards. However, modern computer security is a field where change is constant, and the County will continue keeping up with election cybersecurity developments.

Santa Cruz County limits physical access to the ballots and the machinery used to process the ballots and conducts comprehensive audits both before and after every election. X AGREE PARTIALLY DISAGREE – explain the disputed portion DISAGREE – explain why Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree):

Voting equipment that the county would select to replace its aging infrastructure has not yet been certified. When the certified replacement equipment becomes available, it is not clear when funds might be provided. X AGREE PARTIALLY DISAGREE – explain the disputed portion DISAGREE – explain why Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): The County is studying ways to fund necessary upgrades of new voting equipment as it becomes certified by the Secretary of State. One such way is through the Voting Modernization Bond Act of 2018 (AB 668), which the County Board of Supervisors supports. The Voting Modernization Bond Act of 2018 would place a bond measure on the June 2018 ballot for $450 million to replace aging voting systems in all of California’s 58 counties. If such a measure fails, the County would have to reexamine potential funding sources for new voting equipment.