By Gail Peckler-Dziki
Correspondent
An electronic poll book, or e-poll book, is the computer and program that replaces a paper-based poll book.
State law allows municipal clerks to maintain both paper and electronic poll books.
And while some local clerks have seen the benefits of e-poll books, most agree there needs to be statewide policy on their use.
“I’ve been doing my homework on this new tool and I believe it will save time for poll workers by making the process more efficient,” Town of Salem Clerk Cindi Ernest said,
In July 2013, a research team was assembled and put into action by state Government Accountability Board Director Kevin Kennedy to study the feasibility of e-poll books.
In 2014, the staff that conducted the research presented two recommendations to the GAB.
The first was to direct staff to continue to research and develop standards for approval of electronic poll books. The second was that staff should conduct an analysis of the costs and benefits of developing in-house a custom electronic poll book system for use in Wisconsin.
Both recommendations failed and it seemed that the e-book idea was dead in the water.
At an April 2015 meeting, Manitowoc County Clerk Jamie Aulik requested that the GAB revisit the idea and develop standards for e-poll books.
Aulik presented a letter signed by 107 municipal and county clerks requesting the same.
At a June 2015 meeting, both voter advocates and election officials spoke in support of developing standards for the approval of e-poll books for use in Wisconsin.
The GAB staff surveyed the clerks to determine their level of support for development of standards and the actual use of electronic poll books. More than 800 of the state’s nearly 2,000 municipal and county clerks responded and a majority said they supported the development of standards and procedures for e-book use.
While the majority of those who responded have not attended an e-poll book presentation, a majority did report that they were interested in learning about e-poll books and were interested in having the option to use e-poll books.
E-poll books allow election officials to review and/or process voter information during an election but does not actually count votes. E-poll books may also allow clerks to record voter participation, enter Election Day registrations and redirect voters to a correct polling location.
The Government Accountability Board is analyzing how electronic poll books could be used at Wisconsin voting locations and will be developing and recommending standards for approval.
If the board approves the standards, voters could see a pilot program sometime next year.
According to brennancenter.org many jurisdictions have found electronic poll-books allow easier, faster, and error-free sharing of voter data and speed up polling place administration for election officials
The website further states that 27 states plus the District of Columbia have used some form of electronic poll-book to process voters at the polls in a particular jurisdiction
Some states that have had pilots programs for the e-poll books are Arizona, Illinois, Connecticut, Florida and Indiana.
Local clerks are gathering more information regarding e-poll books. Racine County Clerk Wendy Christensen said that she has attended one demonstration.
“I know that county clerks want to see standards and procedures developed but only if the use of e-poll books is optional. Not all municipalities have the ability to use them.”
Burlington City Clerk Diahnn Halbach said, “I had a glimpse at the Wisconsin Municipal Clerk Association conference in August. I saw some pros and have yet to see the cons. It’s really new and more research must be done.”
Kenosha County Clerk Mary Schuch-Krebs sent the information to the various Kenosha County clerks.
“The city (of Kenosha) seems very excited about it. I believe that, in the long run, using the e-poll books will be a cost savings to all.”
“Right now, two sets of poll books are printed for elections, one for the county and one for the municipality,” she continued. “Using the e-poll books would make that unnecessary.”
Schuch-Krebs plans to gather more information at the joint conference between the Wisconsin Counties Association and Wisconsin Municipal Clerk Association near the end of September.
And depending on which system is used, it could be a good tool for clerks and the handling of voter registration.
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