The Wayne County Board of Supervisors has given the nod to acquire 183 electronic polling devices, with a total expenditure of $445,917, in an initiative to replace traditional handwritten poll books.
The transition, backed by the New York State Board of Elections, is in line with 60 of the 62 New York State counties that have already adopted electronic poll books. These devices, provided by Tenex, are expected to streamline voter check-ins, boost post-election reporting efficiency, and reduce costs associated with paper supplies and staffing.
The County’s financing plan draws $420,000 from an Equipment Reserve and will supplement the remaining amount with a $25,917 grant.
The electronic system, dubbed “Precinct Central,” operates via an Apple iPad and a specialized stand, facilitating a back-and-forth tilt between the poll worker and the voter. The software offers a real-time overview of activities, from ballot inventory to voter check-ins. Additionally, the on-demand ballot printing feature will see blank ballot papers at polling sites, eliminating the previous practice of sending pre-printed ballots, barring emergency ones.
This on-the-spot printing is anticipated to cut costs and waste, as boards previously had to predict voter turnout and often over-ordered. In case of an internet failure, emergency paper poll books and pre-printed ballots are on standby at polling locations.
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