New Clinton County voting device unveiled

LOCK HAVEN, PA – Most Clinton County voters will have a new I-pad-like device on which to sign in when they go to the polls for Pennsylvania’s May 17 primary.

County Director of Voter Registration/Elections Maria Boileau brought along the county’s new electronic sign-in tablet, The ExpressPoll Book, to the county commissioners’ Monday work session. She said it will be in use in the primary in all but the smallest voting precincts (East and West Keating, Noyes and Grugan townships).

In response to a series of media questions, Boileau gave some background on the new units:

“Election Systems & Software is the vendor and county American Rescue Plan funding was used to purchase them. Not all counties use E Pollbooks though many do. Local precinct poll workers will pack them up and return them to the Piper Building at the end of the night.”

Boileau noted The ExpressPoll Book is a separate unit used only for checking voters in as it takes the place of the paper poll book. She said the new system will provide local poll workers a double-check before they bring their results back to the Piper Building, what she called “an accurate accounting of ballots.” She said applicable poll workers have all received training on the new devices.

The county voter officer noted Monday is the deadline to register to vote for the May primary. She said so far the county has received 1,400 absentee and mail-in ballot requests. She said May 10 is the deadline for an absentee or mail-in ballot request and board chairman Miles Kessinger recommended that prospective applicants not wait until May 10 to submit their requests to help assure their ballot be received and processed in a timely manner.

Commissioner Angela Harding asked for patience from May 17 voters as poll workers use the new sign-in system for the first time.