25 Alabama counties are saying good-bye to paper and hello to digital as registered voters will check in via iPad for the first time this November. The change was initiated by Secretary of State John Merrill (R-Ala.), and the new system applies only to the checking-in process – not to the creation of the lists or the voting process itself. 38 states currently have similar programs and the iPad program trial will be funded by Federal dollars.
The program will get a pilot-run on Nov. 8 in Mobile, Baldwin, Henry, Barbour, Bullock, Autauga, Limestone, Madison, Jackson, DeKalb, Cherokee, Morgan, Blount, Jefferson, Chambers, Marengo, Hale, Lowndes, Shelby, Cleburne, Randolph, Houston, Cullman, Marion, and Winston counties.
One of the reasons Merrill has cited for the change is the increased turnout projections in 2016. The iPads, he argues, will speed up the process.
The Secretary of State’s office is also aware of electronic fraud concerns, and has taken steps to safeguard the system from potential issues. Merrill stated that he chose KNOWiNK to run the system because of its strong track record. However, he did ask the state’s election systems vendor to conduct a comprehensive review of the new operation. Election Systems & Software reported back that “No instances [of fraud] were found in Alabama’s systems.”
Even with the new change, Alabama citizens are still required to register to vote and must present a valid voter ID at the check-in station. Numerous documents, including a valid state driver’s license, meet the requirements of Alabama’s voter ID law. If a citizen does not have one of the valid pre-approved forms of identification, he or she can apply to get one free of charge from the Secretary of State’s office.
