<PAGE>   1
                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.9

                                 PROMISSORY NOTE


CAD $4,000,000.00                                           As of March 15, 2001


         FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned, Global Election Systems Inc., a
British Columbia corporation ("Maker"), hereby promises to pay to the order of
Jones, Gable & Company Limited, an Ontario corporation ("Payee"), at its offices
at Suite 600, 110 Yonge Street, Toronto, Ontario M5C 1T6, in lawful money of
Canada, the principal sum of Four Million and No/100 Dollars (CAD
$4,000,000.00), or so much thereof as may be advanced and outstanding hereunder,
together with interest on the outstanding principal balance from day to day
remaining as herein specified, in installments, as follows:

                  (a) one (1) installment in an amount equal to (i) CAD
         $1,333,333.33 less (ii) any Prepayments (as defined herein) made during
         the period beginning as of the date hereof through September 14, 2001,
         plus accrued and unpaid interest, shall be due and payable on September
         15, 2001;

                  (b) one (1) installment in an amount equal to (i) CAD
         $1,333,333.33 less (ii) any Prepayments made during the period
         beginning as of September 15, 2001 through December 14, 2001, plus
         accrued and unpaid interest, shall be due and payable on December 15,
         2001; and

                  (c) A final installment in the amount of all outstanding
         principal, plus accrued and unpaid interest, shall be due and payable
         on March 15, 2002.

         The outstanding principal balance hereof shall bear interest prior to
maturity at a rate per annum equal to ten percent (10%). All past due principal
and interest shall bear interest at the Default Rate (hereinafter defined).

         Interest on the indebtedness evidenced by this Note shall be computed
on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be.

         As used in this Note, the following terms shall have the respective
meanings indicated below:


<PAGE>   2


                  "Default Rate" means the Maximum Rate or, if no Maximum Rate
         exists, eighteen percent (18%).

                  "Maximum Rate" means the maximum rate of nonusurious interest
         permitted from day to day by applicable law, including as to Chapter
         303 of the Texas Finance Code, as amended (and as the same may be
         incorporated by reference in other Texas statutes), but otherwise
         without limitation, that rate based upon the applicable weekly ceiling
         and calculated after taking into account any and all relevant fees,
         payments, and other charges in respect of this Note which are deemed to
         be interest under applicable law.

         On or after 90 days after the date hereof, Maker shall have the right
to prepay, at any time and from time to time without premium or penalty (such
prepayments hereinafter called "Voluntary Prepayments"), the entire unpaid
principal balance of this Note or any portion thereof, together with accrued but
unpaid interest.

         Upon the sale of any goods or services by Maker in the ordinary course
of business, Maker shall prepay the outstanding principal balance of this Note
in an amount equal to 10% of the proceeds of any such sale (net of any sales
commission or resellers' discount or rebate) within five (5) business days of
receipt by Maker of such net proceeds (such prepayments hereinafter called "Sale
Prepayments"). Upon the issuance, sale or other disposition of any debt or any
equity securities of the Maker in an aggregate amount greater than US
$7,000,000, Maker shall prepay the outstanding principal balance of this Note in
an amount equal to 10% of the proceeds of such issuances (net of any sales
commission or underwriting fees or discounts) within five (5) business days of
receipt by Maker of such net proceeds (such prepayments hereinafter called
"Equity Prepayments"; together with Voluntary Prepayments and Sale Prepayments,
the "Prepayments"). Any Prepayments hereunder shall be accompanied with accrued
and unpaid interest in the amount prepaid to the date of prepayment.

         Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, no
provisions of this Note shall require the payment or permit the collection of
interest in excess of the Maximum Rate. If any excess of interest in such
respect is herein provided for, or shall be adjudicated to be so provided, in
this Note or otherwise in connection with this loan transaction, the provisions
of this paragraph shall govern and prevail, and neither Maker nor the sureties,
guarantors, successors or assigns of Maker shall be obligated to pay the excess
amount of such interest, or any other excess sum


                                       2
<PAGE>   3


paid for the use, forbearance or detention of sums loaned pursuant hereto. If
for any reason interest in excess of the Maximum Rate shall be deemed charged,
required or permitted by any court of competent jurisdiction, any such excess
shall be applied as a payment and reduction of the principal of indebtedness
evidenced by this Note; and, if the principal amount hereof has been paid in
full, any remaining excess shall forthwith be paid to Maker. In determining
whether or not the interest paid or payable exceeds the Maximum Rate, Maker and
Payee shall, to the extent permitted by applicable law, (i) characterize any
non-principal payment as an expense, fee, or premium rather than as interest,
(ii) exclude voluntary prepayments and the effects thereof, and (iii) amortize,
prorate, allocate, and spread in equal or unequal parts the total amount of
interest throughout the entire contemplated term of the indebtedness evidenced
by this Note so that the interest for the entire term does not exceed the
Maximum Rate.

         Maker shall be in default hereunder upon the happening of any of the
following events or conditions (each such event or condition hereinafter
referred to as an "Event of Default"):

                  (a) Maker shall fail to pay when due any principal of or
         accrued and unpaid interest on this Note and such failure shall
         continue for a period of five (5) Business Days.

                  (b) Maker shall default in the timely performance of any
         obligation, covenant or agreement made or owed by Maker to Payee and
         such failure shall have continued for a period of ten (10) Business
         Days.

                  (c) Global Election Systems, Inc., a Delaware corporation
         ("Debtor"), shall default in the timely performance of any obligation,
         covenant or agreement under that certain Security Agreement dated as of
         the date hereof executed by Debtor in favor of Payee and such failure
         shall have continued for a period of ten (10) Business Days.

                  (d) Maker shall commence a voluntary proceeding seeking
         liquidation, reorganization, or other relief with respect to itself or
         its debts under any bankruptcy, insolvency, or other similar law now or
         hereafter in effect, or seeking the appointment of a trustee, receiver,
         liquidator, custodian, or other similar official for it or a
         substantial part of its property or shall consent to any such relief or
         to the appointment of or taking possession by any such official in an
         involuntary case or other proceeding commenced against it or shall make
         a general assignment for the benefit of creditors or


                                       3
<PAGE>   4


         shall generally fail to pay its debts as they become due or shall take
         any corporate action to authorize any of the foregoing.

                  (e) Any involuntary proceeding shall be commenced against
         Maker seeking liquidation, reorganization, or other relief with respect
         to it or its debts under any bankruptcy, insolvency, or other similar
         law now or hereafter in effect, or seeking the appointment of a
         trustee, receiver, liquidator, custodian, or other similar official for
         it or a substantial part of its property, and such involuntary
         proceeding shall remain undismissed and unstayed for a period of sixty
         (60) days.

                  (f) Maker shall fail to discharge within a period of sixty
         (60) days after the commencement thereof any attachment, sequestration,
         or similar proceeding or proceedings involving an aggregate amount in
         excess of One Million Dollars (US $1,000,000) against any of its assets
         or properties.

                  (g) Maker shall fail to satisfy and discharge promptly any
         judgment or judgments against it for the payment of money in an
         aggregate amount in excess of One Million Dollars (US $1,000,000).

                  (h) This Note shall cease to be in full force and effect or
         shall be declared null and void or the validity or enforceability
         hereof shall be contested or challenged by Maker or any of its
         shareholders, or Maker shall deny that it has any further liability or
         obligation under this Note.

                  (i) Any event of default has occurred and is continuing under
         that certain Loan Agreement dated as of July 19, 2000, by and between
         the Debtor and Hibernia National Bank, as the same has been or may be
         amended, restated or modified from time to time.

         For the purposes of this Note, "Business Day" shall mean any day other
than Saturday, Sunday or any other day Banks in McKinney, Texas, are authorized
to be closed.

         Without in any way affecting the demand nature of this Note, upon the
occurrence of any Event of Default, the holder hereof may, at its option,
declare the entire unpaid principal of and accrued interest on this Note
immediately due and payable without notice, demand or presentment, all of which
are hereby waived, and upon such declaration, the same shall become and shall be
immediately due and payable, and the holder hereof shall have the right to


                                       4
<PAGE>   5


foreclose or otherwise enforce all liens or security interests securing payment
hereof, or any part hereof, and offset against this Note any sum or sums owed by
the holder hereof to Maker. Failure of the holder hereof to exercise this option
shall not constitute a waiver of the right to exercise the same upon the
occurrence of a subsequent Event of Default.

         If the holder hereof expends any effort in any attempt to enforce
payment of all or any part or installment of any sum due the holder hereunder,
or if this Note is placed in the hands of an attorney for collection, or if it
is collected through any legal proceedings, Maker agrees to pay all collection
costs and fees incurred by the holder, including reasonable attorneys' fees.

         This Note shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the
laws of British Columbia or Texas at the election of the Lender. Maker and each
such other party hereby irrevocably (i) submits to the nonexclusive jurisdiction
of such courts, and (ii) waives any objection it may now or hereafter have as to
the venue of any such action or proceeding brought in such court or that such
court is an inconvenient forum. Nothing herein shall affect the right of Payee
to bring any action or proceeding against Maker or any other party liable
hereunder or with respect to any collateral in any state, province or federal
court in any other jurisdiction.

         Maker and each surety, guarantor, endorser, and other party ever liable
for payment of any sums of money payable on this Note jointly and severally
waive notice, presentment, demand for payment, protest, notice of protest and
non-payment or dishonor, notice of acceleration, notice of intent to accelerate,
notice of intent to demand, diligence in collecting, grace, and all other
formalities of any kind, and consent to all extensions without notice for any
period or periods of time and partial payments, before or after maturity, and
any impairment of any collateral securing this Note, all without prejudice to
the holder. The holder shall similarly have the right to deal in any way, at any
time, with one or more of the foregoing parties without notice to any other
party, and to grant any such party any extensions of time for payment of any of
said indebtedness, or to release or substitute part or all of the collateral
securing this Note, or to grant any other indulgences or forbearances
whatsoever, without notice to any other party and without in any way affecting
the personal liability of any party hereunder.

         THIS NOTE AND ALL OTHER INSTRUMENTS, DOCUMENTS AND AGREEMENTS EXECUTED
AND DELIVERED BY MAKER IN


                                       5
<PAGE>   6


CONNECTION WITH THE INDEBTEDNESS EVIDENCED BY THIS NOTE EMBODY THE FINAL, ENTIRE
AGREEMENT OF MAKER AND PAYEE WITH RESPECT TO THE INDEBTEDNESS EVIDENCED BY THIS
NOTE AND SUPERSEDE ANY AND ALL PRIOR COMMITMENTS, AGREEMENTS, REPRESENTATIONS
AND UNDERSTANDINGS, WHETHER WRITTEN OR ORAL, RELATING TO THE INDEBTEDNESS
EVIDENCED BY THIS NOTE AND MAY NOT BE CONTRADICTED OR VARIED BY EVIDENCE OF
PRIOR, CONTEMPORANEOUS OR SUBSEQUENT ORAL AGREEMENTS OR DISCUSSIONS OF MAKER AND
PAYEE. THERE ARE NO ORAL AGREEMENTS BETWEEN MAKER AND PAYEE.

                                         GLOBAL ELECTION SYSTEMS INC.



                                         By:    /s/ Robert J. Urosevich
                                                Robert J. Urosevich, President



                                       6