 |
Convened by the American Association for the
Advancement of Science
Main | Participants
Research needs related to voting have been plentiful over the past few
years. Since the 2000 Bush v. Gore election there has been much
happening in an attempt to improve election processes in America. Given
that, it seems many would agree that voting in America has been fairly
successful overall. The Help America Vote Act (HAVA), provisional
balloting, identification requirements, new technical standards for all
“voting systems,” new accessibility standards, more rigorous state oversight,
voter-verified paper records, new security measures, etc., have all come
to the forefront. All of this happened in the recent past and implementation
across the nation continues to this day.
Additional research may be useful. Conversely, it seems reasonable to
use some discretion in placing even more requirements on the process that
is already seen by many local election officials as heavy lifting. The
weight has changed while resources have dwindled locally. Much has already
been accomplished within the American voting system, and a pause may be
in order so as to assess those adjustments already made.
Nevertheless, it is clear that moving to the future will most certainly
bring additional election reform. What should be explored, what should
be experimented with, what are the consequences and what are the benefits
overall—all questions that should be explored prior to moving to the future
with further reform measures.
Across the board, a great deal of interest has been placed on technological
solutions. HAVA, additional state voting oversight, etc., seem to
have made election administration more complicated, and have possibly
increased the risk for problems. Voting technology appears to make
things easier for the voter, which is an important objective; however,
it is apparent that, in many cases, it creates issues for administrators
and poll workers.
American election processes were developed
over 200 years ago and at a time when precincts would most certainly allow
a poll worker to “know everyone” who would come to vote. Simply said,
that was 200 years ago, and we certainly do not live like we did 200 years
ago. America has grown and so
has the level of technology available to assist us with logistical voting
issues. Technology, affording election officials efficiency, has allowed
us to now look outside of neighborhoods for the public to have a gratifying
experience at the polls.
In 2003, we in Larimer
County, Colorado, went to a process of voting that we call “Vote Centers”.
A Vote
Center is a polling location
where any voter in the county can go to vote. Through the use of Vote
Centers, there is no longer a wrong place within the county to vote.
In 2005 Robert Stein of Rice University and I began a working relationship regarding the Vote Center concept. Since
that time Professor Stein and his team has worked to research the concept
of Vote Centers and their affects
on voting.
The Vote Center concept significantly improves access to voting in Larimer County. Instead of
a large number of small precinct-based polling locations, a fewer number
of large facility Vote Centers are put into place. Voters may vote
at any location that best fits their lifestyles. They can vote on
their way to work, before picking up children, at lunch, or anytime they
choose, and at any Vote Center they are near.
We are no longer working in neighborhoods where we live. Instead, we
live in a culture where more of us are commuting longer distances for
almost everything. This model has proven extremely satisfying for voters
in Larimer County and participation
has increased, according to the research studies done by Professor Stein.
An electronic poll book located at the Courthouse
and connected electronically to all Vote Centers prevents voters from
casting more than one ballot. United with no excuse absentee
voting, and early voting sites being available several weeks in advance
of election day, Vote Centers allow Larimer County voters an opportunity
to vote as they live, conveniently and unimpeded.
Over twenty (20) counties in Colorado have moved to
conducting their elections using Vote Centers. Some others across the
nation are also interested; Texas has held a successful Vote Center pilot election this year; and Indiana, led by Secretary
of State Todd Rokita, is moving forward with the model as well.
No matter where election administration goes
from here, it seems reasonable that the call to order should be on several
crucial areas within the industry. Educating the public, training poll
workers, security and the perception thereof, accessibility, funding,
process evaluation coupled with resource allocation, are all vital to
future successes.
|
