If county boards of elections are mandated by the state to use electronic pollbooks as part of future elections then most elections officials want the state to provide funding to purchase the equipment or provide reimbursement for previously purchased systems. The Ohio Association of Elections Officials District 8 met March 25 at Classic Park in Eastlake to discuss common concerns about issues, share best practices, meet with Ohio Secretary of State Office staff, and to network with their peers. District 8 consists of representatives from Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Medina and Summit counties were in attendance.
Pollbooks are used to record when someone comes to an election precinct to cast a ballot. In the past when a registered voter has gone to a polling location in Lorain County, they presented identification and would hand-write their signature in a paper polling book.
Electronic pollbooks instead record a voters electronic signature rather than an hand-written one and can help an Elections Board process and review voter information during an election.
Lake County Elections Board Member Dale Fellows said funding for counties to buy electronic pollbooks or to provide reimbursement if already purchased is something that might be included in the state’s upcoming budget bill.
Full Article: Counties moving toward electronic pollbooks for elections.