BVI News

‘Urgent need’ causes Cabinet to waive tender process to buy voting machines

Given what is being described as an “urgent need”, Cabinet has waived the tender process for the purchase of DS 200 Precinct Scanner and Tabulator machines — voting equipment that will be used in the 2019 General Elections.

The tendering process was also waived for the purchase of ebooks, which will be used to phase out the manual process of recording votes.

Government is purchasing these technologies from the United States-based company, Election Systems & Software, at a cost of $309,318.63.

No indication has been given in relation to how many machines will be purchased.

Meanwhile, the Office of the Supervisor of Elections successfully demonstrated the use of the machines through two recent mock elections.

The neighbouring US Virgin Islands (USVI) has been using the equipment since 2012 and USVI election authorities said the technology is highly recommended.

Editor’s Note:

The DS200 is a precinct-based scanner and vote tabulator equipped with the latest technology fom its developers. The DS200 is said to be fully certified and compliant with US regulator, the Election Assistance Commission.  The DS200 is also said to ‘enhance the voting experience for voters and election officials alike’.

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8 Comments

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  1. Urgent? says:

    Hmmmm everything with this NDP government seems to be urgent these days. Shows a lack of vision. Sad days for the BVI.

    Like 13
  2. Albion says:

    Cabinet always has an “urgent need” because they are just completely incapable of planning ahead. This is why so many tenders get waived, and so much abuse of the procurement system occurs.

    Like 14
  3. Wow says:

    With a belonger population including children circa 12000,If every BVI man and women cast a vote the numbers do not justify spending over $300.000 to count so few returns.What a waste of money!

    Like 18
    • Siri says:

      This price seems inflated. Did we buy one for each voter! How many did we buy? How long will they last? What were the alternatives?

      Seems like another no due dilligence expense.

  4. Quality product says:

    If these were good enough to vote Mapp out, I welcome them. We have some here that need to go too

    Like 6
    Dislike 4
  5. ST.Thomas says:

    Stop trying to be a wise A..,Mapp got voted out by the people because of his disrespectful mouth. During the hurricanes, one of the same people who voted him in office ask him where he was staying, Mapp’s answer to the person was WITH YOUR MOTHER. Mapp did a lot of messed up stuff that is why he had to go. He took tax payers money to travel with his male partner and his male partner’s mother the private cook who was paid $65,000 a year salary on the tax payers dime.

    Like 4
    Dislike 1
  6. Simply says:

    The technology is welcomed, but the reason why residents are suspicious of spending, is because nothing is truly explained to them. How much did each machine cost? How many machines were purchased? What is the normal and customarily cost of these machines? Why the rush to purchase? How reliable are the machine in regards to accuracy? How user friendly are the machines?

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