North Carolina is taking steps to modernize its election management system. State Auditor Dave Boliek announced the formation of the Modernization of Election Data Systems (MEDS) Commission, an advisory body that will guide the update of the Statewide Elections Information Management System (SEIMS), currently being overhauled by the Office of the State Auditor and the State Board of Elections.
The commission’s creation follows earlier efforts that included Requests for Proposal and Requests for Information to engage citizens and vendors. MEDS will incorporate public input throughout the system’s development and will have responsibilities that include reviewing proposals, evaluating vendors, and overseeing improvements to security protocols.
The commission, as described by Boliek, is a 22-member bipartisan group that includes a range of experts. Its members consist of local election officials, policy directors, and academic professionals, providing input from both practical and research perspectives to guide the development of a secure and user-friendly election management system.
Modernization efforts extend beyond SEIMS, with MEDS also supporting updates to North Carolina’s campaign finance reporting system. The goal is to create a platform that is more accessible to the public, easier for candidates to comply with, and less susceptible to errors or omissions. Auditor Boliek chairs the 22-member commission, which includes members such as Angela Hawkins, Gerry Cohen, and Andy Jackson, drawing on experience from government and academic institutions.
In addition to its voting members, MEDS includes non-voting technical advisors. Sam Hayes, the State Board Executive Director, and Bret Kelly, the Chief Information Officer, will serve as advisors, alongside the five members of the State Board of Elections participating ex officio. These advisors provide technical expertise to support the commission’s goal of delivering a secure, modern election data management system for North Carolina.
