New technology making strides in voting process

From paper ballots to voting machines, the technology for elections has advanced and new electronic wizardry is being introduced that will speed up signup procedures and make the process easier for some voters.

At least 27 states and the District of Columbia have turned to electronic poll books to authenticate voters' identity, address and registration status when they show up at polling places to vote.

The books contain computer software that loads digital registration records and are seen as an alternative to photo ID requirements proposed in some states, including Iowa.

Voting is the same, but signing in is different. Poll workers check in voters using a faster computerized version of paper voter rolls. Upon arrival, voters give their names and addresses, or in some states, such as Iowa, they can choose to scan their photo IDs.

Cerro County Auditor Ken Kline said his Precinct Atlas, which is an electronic poll book, does a far better job of identifying a person than a poll worker glancing at a picture that might be outdated.

Just as contacts are stored in a phone, an electronic poll book records voters on a searchable, digital list that lets poll workers retrieve and verify a voters' name, address, birth date and political party.

In Iowa, the computer system prints labels with voter information to place on a check-in sheet. Voters are handed the correct ballot based on their precincts and party affiliation. Poll workers can immediately fix or change any information in the database.

Kline said the poll book protects voting rights and election integrity by verifying the correct precinct, expediting voting and allowing voters to easily register or change political parties on Election Day.

He created the Precinct Atlas specifically for Iowa three years ago.

The Iowa Secretary of State's Office awarded $30,000 to develop the software, used by 55 percent of Iowa's 1,700 voting precincts, including all 57 in Johnson County.

Each poll book precinct has computers, printers and ID scanners. The initial technology and computer hardware costs about $1,500 to $3,000 for each precinct.

In Linn County

Linn County has no plans to use the scanning system, but most precincts will have new laptop computers in November equipped to make same-day registration faster and more accurate, said Tim Box, deputy commissioner of elections.

“Especially this close (to the election) you hate to make a change,” said Box.

Instead, 50 of the county's 86 precincts will have the laptops loaded with software to help voters who have moved or been drawn into a new precinct since the last election update their registration or find their current polling place.

“We'll still have the paper poll book at all locations,” said Box.

Voters who aren't listed in a precinct's current poll book will be directed to a “help desk” where an elections official will use the laptop to update their registration or find the correct voting place. Box said the laptops will be in all 44 Cedar Rapids precincts. They'll also be at Mount Vernon to help register students at Cornell College.

Voting hardware

While electronic poll books run software that speeds up lines and verifies voters at polls, Oregon and Denver, Colo., use iPads as ballots for voters who have disabilities.

Voters can enlarge text for easier reading, use headphones to listen to a computer voice read the ballot and in Oregon, voters with cerebral palsy can use their breathing to control the device.

“It's a very adaptable tool,” Oregon Secretary of State Kate Brown said. “A couple of the citizens that I watched vote loved the iPad technology, even if they haven't used a computer before.”

Not only are the iPads more portable, but they are cheaper than their large, clunky voting machine counterparts.

“An iPad, these are about $400 or $500. Whereas a voting machine could cost $4,000 or $5,000,” said Amber McReynolds, Denver's director of elections, who also pointed out iPads can be used for other functions as well.

“It's a step in the right direction to expand the use of technology in elections.” she said.

Tracking system

Another new technology, a tracking system for mail-in ballots, can increase ballot security and calm voters' worries by texting or emailing voters the location of their ballot every step of the way.

On each ballot envelope is an intelligent mail bar code that the U.S. Postal Service can scan to register when the ballot is about to be sent to the voter or when it has returned.

Voters can sign up for the tracking service to notify them of their ballot's location via text message or email.

McReynolds, Denver's director of elections, said about 12,000 voters are signed up.

They will automatically receive text messages about when their ballot will arrive, reminders to send it back and updates on when the vote is processed.

Footnote: This story was compiled by reports from Steve Gravelle of The Gazette and Alia Conley and Alissa Skelton of News21, a national investigative reporting project involving college journalism students and professionals across the country funded by the Carnegie Corporation of New York and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.