The Knottsville North voting precinct is testing new Tenex Electronic Pollbook software during today’s general election. This new technology eliminates the paper books that poll workers currently use to look up voter information.
Daviess County Chief Deputy Clerk Richard House says this software was rolled out in a pilot program in seven Kentucky counties during the last presidential election. During today’s general election, the state provided one electronic polling book for each Kentucky county.
The electronic polling book is set up on an iPad. Voters will hand the poll worker their driver’s license to be scanned by the iPad. The software will then pull up the voter’s information, which will be verified by the poll worker. With the check-in process complete, voters are then sent to the voting booth to complete their electronic or paper ballot.
“This [software] is a lot better than that book,” said Larry Pollard, who has been volunteering as a poll worker for the last 10 years. “It has been working really well.”
Pollard admits there has been a little bit of a learning curve working the software, but says he doesn’t have any complaints. The iPad will even notify him if a voter is at the incorrect precinct and tell him where to direct the voter.
According to House, the electronic polling books not only speed up the entire process for the voter, but the information can be monitored from the county clerk’s office.
Next year, the Commonwealth will be providing these electronic polling books to every Kentucky precinct.
Tonya Payne, election supervisor for the clerk’s office, said that the iPads use a secure mobile hotspot. Payne said, not only is the software secure, but it will provide a better experience for the voter.
“This will cut down on long lines,” Payne said. “And next year we will add voting booths.”
