The 2021 general election could proceed much more smoothly as the result of a vote Wednesday by county commissioners.

Aaron Sheasley, elections bureau director, recommended the commissioners approve the $21,052 purchase of elections software from EasyVote.

Sheasley said the large number of mail-in votes that now arrive at the elections bureau resulted in employees' decreased ability to tend to the polls during elections.

“This will free up that time,” he said.

The purchase includes three distinct software programs.

One is a cloud-based management system for bureau employees and election day workers, such as poll workers and judges of elections.

That system, which costs $7,920, includes administrator and worker interfaces that will improve communication, access to training tools and reporting at the elections bureau.

It also offers mobile capabilities.

“This is all about efficiency,” Sheasley said. “This is going to free up time for us to be able to do more.”

The second product provides cloud-based asset management, preventive maintenance, testing, equipment packaging and deployment, and mobile capabilities for elections.

That portion also costs $7,920.

The third product in the purchase is for election preparation and readiness management at a cost of $3,712.

Tasks and deadlines for multiple elections can be tracked by the bureau of elections using the software.

Capabilities also include communications via the internet, email, mobile app and text messaging.

Leslie Osche, commissioners chairwoman, said communication between elections officials, poll workers and judges of elections at the polls was a major problem in the 2020 presidential election.

She said the new system will improve the ability of Sheasley and his staff to deliver materials and equipment to the polls on election day.

“It's another step in the follow-through with some of the recommendations in the Elections Commission report,” Osche said.

EasyVote is also charging $1,500 for initial implementation and training.

The company gave the county a 10% discount on the three software products.

Sheasley said the software will be installed and implemented in the next 30 days and will be in use for the upcoming election in November.