Title
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE PURCHASE OF ELECTION POLLING PADS FROM KNOWINK IN THE AMOUNT OF $68,160.00.
Body
CITY PROPOSAL:
RESOLVED, that the proper city officials are authorized to purchase election polling pads from KNOWiNK for the amount of $68,160.00, payable from the fund 250-015-2025-5580 (capital equipment, Public Administration, fiscal year 2025, capital equipment).
Statement of Purpose
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE: This resolution authorizes the purchase of election polling pads from KNOWiNK for the amount of $68,160.00.
The City Clerk’s office, with help of the St. Louis County Auditor’s office, are hoping to purchase electronic polling pads to replace the paper rosters at polling locations around Duluth. We are slowly phasing these into our election administration with the first set going to the locations that are busiest. We believe that these polling pads will save time in the City Clerk’s office when preparing our polling locations for election day, polling pads will also create an efficient and secure registration process at the polling locations on election day.
The City Clerk’s office must coordinate with St Louis County in the purchase of election supplies and systems. At this time, KNOWiNK is the only company approved to provide polling pads, making this is a single source purchase.
In 2025, Clerk Denham along with, at the time, Director Karla Culhane tested the polling pads that we would be purchasing. It was unanimously agreed that this would be an excellent step in furthering the efficiency and security at the polls. These polling pads will be housed in the County Auditor’s office as they have the state of MN required server to maintain the updates and security of these devices.
The first phase of polling pads will be utilized by the following polling locations:
Precinct 6 - Woodland Community Center
Precinct 8 - The Vineyard Church (EAST)
Precinct 10 - University of Minnesota - Duluth
Precinct 11 - Vineyard Christian Fellowship
Precinct 21 - Ecolibrium3
Precinct 22 - Holy Cross Lutheran Church
Precinct 24/25 - Christ Lutheran Church