State Auditor Boliek Announces Modernization of Election Data Systems Commission
This week, North Carolina State Auditor Dave Boliek announced the creation of the Modernization of Election Data Systems (MEDS) Commission to provide assistance and practical advice with efforts to modernize North Carolina’s election management system.
“We have a deep bench of elections professionals from all corners of this state, including professors, researchers, and election officials,” said State Auditor Boliek. “It’s important that as we develop a secure, user-friendly election management system, we involve those who are on-the-ground and hear directly from North Carolina voters.”
The goal of the commission is to help develop a secure, user-friendly, and modernized election data management system that will meet the needs of North Carolina voters, election administrators, and candidates. The commission will also assist with a separate overhaul of North Carolina’s cumbersome campaign finance reporting system that will make it easier for the public to track political spending, for candidates to comply with rules and regulations, and also reduce unintentional errors and omissions.
The State Auditor’s Office and the North Carolina State Board of Elections are currently working on a three-phase plan to modernize the Statewide Elections Information Management system (SEIMS). The State Board managed the system, and the OSA directs and supervises all budgeting functions of the State Board. The agencies have moved to Request for Proposals, which follow a Request for information that gathered input for citizens and vendors.
MEDS will review public comments and add insightful perspectives throughout the development of the new system. Other commission duties include evaluating submissions and vendors, offering feedback on functional needs and user applications, making recommendations on final proposals, assessing enhanced security protocols, and monitoring implementation.
State Auditor Boliek will chair the bipartisan, 22-member commission. Members include:
Angela Hawkins, Chair, Wake County Board of Elections
Linda Devore, Chair, Cumberland County Board of Elections
Gerry Cowen, Member, Wake County Board of Elections
John Sims, Chair, Orange County Board of Elections
Derrick R. Miller, Member, New Hanover County Board of Elections
Jamie Cox, Member, Orange County Board of Elections
Brooks Fuller, Policy Director, Common Cause NC
Andy Jackson, Director, Civitas Center of Public Integrity at the John Locke Foundation
Chris Cooper, Professor, Western Carolina University
Michael Behrent, Professor, Appalachian State University
John Crumpton, Former Lee County Manager
Mike Cox, Pasquotank County Attorney
Commissioner Allen Thomas, Hoke County
Commissioner Tommy Long, Haywood County
Derek Bowens, Durham County Elections Director
Matthew Snyder, Watauga County Elections Director
Leigh Anne Price, Johnston County Elections Director
Michael Dickerson, Mecklenburg County Elections Director
Bell Parker, Scotland County Elections Director
Kim Blackwelder, Stanly County Elections Director
Clifton Philbeck, Cleveland County Elections Director
Non-voting technical advisors of the commission include Sam Hayes, State Board Executive Director, and Bret Kelly, State Board Chief Information Officer. All five members of the State Board of Elections will serve as ex officio non-voting members of the commission.
