“Electronic poll books will allow voters to be processed in approximately 35 to 40 seconds helping to mitigate long lines with fast and secure voter look-up. The efficiencies they will create in voter processing will translate into a need for reduced polling place staffing allowing more poll workers to work half-day and split shifts,” said Election Commissioner Nichole D. Shortell.
“Switching to electronic poll books will mean the Board of Elections will be able to save county taxpayers money on the costs for printing paper poll books since the Poll Pads will be able to be reprogrammed for any future elections. On demand ballot printing will also result in a cost-savings for taxpayers since the Board will only print the number of ballots that are needed on Election Day,” state Election commissioner Sarah F. Bormann.
In the past, voters heading to the polls checked in at a table specific to their election district while poll workers searched through paper pollbooks listing the names of registered voters in that district alphabetically. Voters were then handed a paper ballot that they would then complete in a privacy booth and cast on a voting machine.
This year, voters will be able to check-in at any check-in station at a poll site on an iPad tablet called a “Poll Pad”. Voters will be asked for their name and address which poll workers will type into the iPad to pull up the voter’s information. If the voter so chooses, they can scan their driver’s license or their voter registration card to pull up their information, though licenses are not required. Voters will then be handed a receipt and head to an on-demand printer where the ballot for their election district will have been printed. They will hand that receipt to poll workers stationed at the printer in exchange for their ballot. After that, the process is the same as before with voters heading to a privacy booth to complete their ballot and cast it on a voting machine.
With the new equipment coming in, the Elections Commissioners advocated for a pay raise for poll workers both for training and on Election Day. Training pay was increased to $50, and Election Day pay now ranges from $250-$300. Poll workers attended lengthy training classes in preparation for the switchover.
The new equipment has a variety of benefits, including a reduction in paper lists provided to poll workers to process voters. All of the information for those who have already voted, requested an absentee, or who are in inactive status will be reflected right on the Poll Pad ensuring greater accuracy and removing human error from the equation.
The Poll Pads also have the feature of directing voters to the correct polling site via a printed receipt with turn-by-turn directions or via a text message with a Google Maps link to their site. This will ensure voters will cast their ballots at the correct site and reduce the number of rejected affidavit ballots due to voters being at the incorrect site.
Anyone with questions is encouraged to contact the Board of Elections at (315) 798-5765 or email BoardofElections [at] ocgov.net.
