Texas counties are generally responsible for election management and costs. Among these important responsibilities are the proper storage and maintenance of expensive voting machines.
The Texas Association of Counties Risk Management Pool (TAC RMP) has received claims from its members for damaged voting machines that were exposed to water from a leaky roof, a burst pipe or a flooded building as well as for damages caused by exposure to excessive heat.
Here are some suggestions to prevent damage to county voting machines:
- Always follow manufacturer storage and maintenance instructions.
- Store voting machines in a climate controlled space.
- Store voting machines in water- or moisture-resistant boxes if available as suggested in manufacturer instructions.
- When required to move them for voting or to a new location, unload them as soon as a possible to a climate controlled space. Leaving them in a vehicle for longer than necessary might expose them to excessive heat and result in damage to their rollers or other components.
- Do not store voting machines in basements or on floors that could be flooded.
- Do not store voting machines in vacant buildings with damaged or leaky roofs.
Safe storage of voting machines is important to ensure they function properly, but the challenges to do so can be daunting for a county. Please reach out to your TAC RMP Risk Control Consultant should you have any questions about storing or maintaining your county’s voting equipment.
Should you need to file a claim, please reach out to our Claims Department. Call (800) 456-5974 or our 24-hour hotline at (855) 47CLAIM. You can also email us at claims-cs@county.org or submit the applicable first notice of loss form online.