Madison: Electronic Poll Books To Be Used During Special Election
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~ Madison, WI- On June 17th, voters in District 1 of Dane County will have the opportunity to use electronic poll books instead of traditional paper poll books at the special election for the Board of Supervisors. This new technology, called Badger Books, has been developed by the Wisconsin Elections Commission and is currently being used by over 400 other communities in Wisconsin.

The decision to use electronic poll books for this special election was made by the city in order to observe and test the efficiency and accuracy of this new technology. According to Acting Clerk Michael Haas, using Badger Books will reduce human error and make both the voting process and post-election data processing more efficient.

Traditionally, before receiving a ballot at the polls, voters must state their name and address, present photo identification, and sign a paper poll book. This process requires poll workers to manually search for each voter's name and ensure that they sign on the correct line next to their name. After the election, all voter registration and participation data must be individually scanned into a statewide database.

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However, with electronic poll books, this process becomes much simpler. Poll workers can electronically search for a voter's name and have them sign an electronic signature pad instead of a paper book. This eliminates the need for manual searching through pages of a poll book and reduces the chances of a voter signing on the wrong line. Additionally, after the election is over, all data from the electronic poll book can be quickly uploaded into the statewide database with just a few clicks.

Haas explains that this new technology will not only benefit voters but also assist with routine tasks for poll workers and staff. By reducing human error and streamlining processes, they will be able to focus on serving voters and more complex tasks.

To ensure security, electronic poll books are not connected to the internet and are only used for their intended purpose. In case of any technical issues with Badger Books, paper poll books will be available at the polling places. Poll workers will also be available to assist voters in using the new technology.

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The City of Madison has been working closely with the Wisconsin Elections Commission to prepare for the use of Badger Books. In fact, they have borrowed these electronic poll books from the City of Sun Prairie, which has been using them for all elections since 2018. The staff from Sun Prairie's City Clerk's office has also provided training for Madison's clerk staff and poll workers.

Haas expresses his gratitude towards their neighbors in Sun Prairie and the WEC for their assistance in introducing this new technology to Madison voters. He also invites voters to provide their feedback on their experience with Badger Books.

To further familiarize voters with this new technology, the Clerk's Office will be conducting a public demonstration on Saturday, June 14 at the Fannie Lou Hamer Annex located at 2713 E. Washington Ave at 3:30 p.m.

The use of electronic poll books is a step towards modernizing and improving the voting process in Madison. With its potential to reduce human error and increase efficiency, it is a promising addition to future elections in the city.

Filed Under: Government, City
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