Commission office staff had been asked to be “especially diligent” in reviewing the department’s funding requests due to a pending investigation into alleged procurement irregularities, commissioners said. Deputy Elections Director Ian Ridgeway was placed on administrative leave in early August during the investigation.
Fisher said later Tuesday the board followed policy and information on the purchase and funding sources were sent to the commission office. The poll books did arrive earlier than anticipated after election staff asked for two to use for poll worker training and the full order was sent before the purchase paperwork was signed, he said.
“We have been talking about new poll books for a long time. It wasn’t that we hid anything from anybody,” Fisher said.
The election board won’t be holding a special meeting, at least until it hears about the Ridgeway investigation findings, he said.
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