Don’t look now, but the iPad has invaded the democratic process.
Washington County election off cials last week inaugurated the devices’ use in elections during the small-scale school board elections, giving them a test run before relying on them in a major election. We’ve got some of those coming up in 2014.
The devices replaced the heavy, bulky poll books in use for years at each polling place in which workers could look up each resident’s voter information to ensure their authorityto cast a ballot. Workers used the iPads to scan bar codes on the back of driver’s licenses and used that information to look up real-time registration and voting information.
In theory, the process is designed to be faster than the old printed poll book method. In due time, we think it will be. On Sept. 17, workers were still feeling their way around and gaining their confi dence on a new system, but its simplicity portends good things for the future.
Some will decry the use of any documentation in the voter process, but do we as a nation really intend to leave our electoral process in the 20th century while technological knowhow marches on? Technology requires some kind of identifying information to power its transformational processes to help end long lines or confusion. Election off cials are not going to microchip voters nor do we suspect many people want to go the route of fi ngerprints or retina scans. An identifi cationdriven system that’s fair to all - without being a barrier to the poor, the minorities, the elderly, etc. - is entirely within reach. We reject the politicized notion it cannot be accomplished without interfering with someone’s voting rights.
Can an identifi cation card requirement represent a barrier? Sure it can, if an individual will not complete even the most basic of steps to engage in the democratic process, such as visiting the county clerk’s off ce. It’s harder to get a car assessed than to register to vote.
People who want to vote have to take an active role in making sure they have taken the simple steps to empower those rights. Government’s responsibility is to make sure it’s easy for all voters to follow through on those steps.
Bad voter experience can also be a barrier to participation. Implementation of technology to smooth the process and ensure accuracy should be welcomed, and Washington County’s new poll books appear to be turning a new page toward improvements.
Opinion, Pages 5 on 09/24/2013