CHARLESTON — A system of electronic voter identification that earned plaudits in a test run will be studied further before election officials introduce it widely across West Virginia, the secretary of state’s office said Friday.
The town of Mason was the first in the state to use so-called electronic poll books for its municipal election last month. The election was a trial run for software officials hope will streamline the voting process and reduce the risk of fraud.
Loaded onto a laptop, the electronic poll book is designed to help poll workers identify voters much quicker than they can with huge paper records with columns of tiny print.
In addition, the electronic poll books can be updated automatically to prevent people from voting more than once and even provide directions for voters at the wrong precinct.
The trial run went well, according to Brooke Pauley, who served as Mason town recorder until July 1.
“I can imagine that in larger elections especially it would save a lot of time,” she said.
There was some training required, but Pauley said the software was easily used even by older poll workers less familiar with computers.
“If you can send an e-mail, you can use this,” she said.
The software, which came from Matthews, N.C.-based Decision Support, was used alongside the traditional paper poll books, so the results could be compared after the votes were tallied.
The state is not rushing to get electronic poll books in every precinct, though. A more thorough study of the software, including the cost for rolling it out across West Virginia, has to be done first, according to the office of Secretary of State Natalie Tennant.
“We need to do a cost-benefit analysis, and we think the Legislature’s going to take it up and look at it,” Tennant spokesman Jake Glance said.
Electronic poll books aren’t widespread nationally, but a growing number of election officials are beginning to seriously consider them, according to Lawrence Norden, senior counsel for the Brennan Center for Justice at the New York University School of Law.
“There’s a lot of potential for improvements in election administration in using them,” he said.
But election officials looking to the software as a complete replacement for the expense and effort of paper books should think twice, Norden said.
In 2006, problems with electronic poll books in Denver stranded voters in line for hours at precincts, Norden said.
“If the proper paper backups are not in place, then you potentially have a disaster on your hands,” he said.
West Virginia
Voting ID system passes first hurdle
- West Virginia
-
-
Three aging state power plants to close
FirstEnergy Corp. announced Wednesday it will shut down three aging coal-fired power plants in West Virginia later this year.
The company’s Monongahela Power subsidiary will retire the Albright, Willow Island and Rivesville power stations by Sept. 1, affecting a total of 105 workers. -
Bills would ban children from tanning, tattoos
West Virginia lawmakers are looking to protect children from unhealthy decisions and to give parents more say in their children’s body art choices.
Bills moving through the Legislature would set the minimum age minors can receive their first tattoo and would ban indoor tanning for all children. -
Hackers post officers’ personal information
Hackers affiliated with the group Anonymous obtained personal information for more than 150 police officers from an old website of the West Virginia Chiefs of Police Association and posted the data online.
The FBI is investigating, said William Roper, the association’s president and the police chief of Ranson said. -
Bill would clarify secretary of state’s power
A West Virginia legislator wants state law to say clearly that the secretary of state has the authority to verify whether candidates running for election are eligible to hold office.
Sen. Clark Barnes, R-Randolph, introduced a bill Tuesday that would allow the secretary to refuse to certify candidates and keep them off the ballot if they don’t meet all the legal and constitutional requirements to serve. -
USDA kills 8 coyotes at University Town Centre
U.S. Department of Agriculture employees have killed eight coyotes in a hilltop shopping center complex near Morgantown. They aren’t sure how many remain nearby.
-
Texting bill evolves, heads to House
West Virginia drivers could get a ticket for texting or talking on their cellphone while driving under a bill the Senate unanimously approved Monday.
-
W.Va. texting bill evolves, heads to House
The Senate has approved a bill that would allow police to ticket drivers for texting or talking on their cellphones while on the road.
-
Report: Residents lacking savings
A nonprofit group says nearly one in five West Virginia residents have almost no savings or other assets to weather a financial crisis.
-
Lawmakers navigate lobby ban, social media
In this era of Twitter and smartphones, citizens and lobbyists alike have all sorts of ways to reach out to lawmakers at a moment’s notice. But the West Virginia Legislature has rules meant to insulate its members from last-minute pressures while they’re debating and voting on bills.
-
Firm shows off ‘Guardian Angel’ for miners
A West Virginia company is working on a piece of equipment designed to keep miners safer.
Trinity Resources, headquartered in Putnam County, demonstrated its a mobile mine safety chamber this week at the West Virginia Mining Symposium in Charleston. - More West Virginia Headlines
-
Three aging state power plants to close
