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Electronic poll books are taking the place of paper binders in ten voting precincts across the state this Election Day. 


The pilot project involves voting precincts in Blue Earth, Ramsey, Dakota, Crow Wing, Hennepin and St. Louis counties. 


Minnesota Secretary of State Mark Ritchie said electronic poll books could possibly lower the costs of post-election data entry. 


"We're testing them out, in large and small precincts, in urban and rural communities, to see if the cost savings can justify the additional cost, the capital cost, of buying and preparing the software for these electronic systems," Ritchie said.  


The systems allows poll workers to quickly access voting information when someone shows up at a precinct, and can upload the voter's election records after the election. Ritchie said it could save time for voters. 


"We are properly taking it one baby step at a time, testing out systems, seeing how the voters, the election administrators and ultimately the taxpayers, feel about these different and new approaches," Ritchie said.   


Electronic poll books are already used by a number of states. Ritchie said his office will evaluate how the electronic poll book pilot program performed following the election.

MPR News reporter Jon Collins contributed to this story.

Cathy Wurzer

Author

The pilot project involves voting precincts in Blue Earth, Ramsey, Dakota, Crow Wing, Hennepin and St. Louis counties.

Electronic pollbooks -- or "e-pollbooks" -- are in use today in 10 precincts across the state.   Advocates say the laptops or tablets will make the voting process more efficient.   MPR's Cathy Wurzer spoke with Minnesota Secretary of State Mark Ritchie about the system.

E-pollbook use expands today in Minnesota

Ramsey County Elections Manager Joe Manksy

Electronic poll books tested today in Minnesota

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