Today, State Auditor Dave Boliek announced the creation of the Modernization of Election Data Systems (MEDS) Commission to provide assistance and practical advice with the ongoing efforts to modernize North Carolina’s election management system.
The North Carolina Office of the State Auditor (OSA) and the North Carolina State Board of Elections are currently working in tandem on a three-phase plan to modernize the Statewide Elections Information Management System (SEIMS). The State Board manages the system, and OSA directs and supervises all budgeting functions of the State Board. OSA and the State Board most recently issued a Request for Proposal for the second phase of the plan, which followed a Request for Information that gathered input from 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.
“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.”
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 Cohen, 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
- Dell Parker, Scotland County Elections Director
- Kim Blackwelder, Stanly County Elections Director
- Clifton Philbeck, Cleveland County Elections Director
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.
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.