Imagine walking into your local polling station, presenting your voter ID, and simply scanning a QR code on your polling card to mark the register and receive your ballot paper—all in one seamless process. This futuristic scenario is not a distant dream but a reality that Tendring Council implemented during the recent general election.
The Evolution of Polling Stations
Polling stations are of course governed by strict statutory duties as outlined in the Election Act. For decades, these duties have involved labor-intensive tasks, including filling out complex forms and manually marking the voter register. It may surprise you that in many areas, the voter register is still marked by striking through each name with a pencil and ruler—a practice that has remained largely unchanged despite the digital age revolutionising almost every other aspect of our lives. It’s a bit like how Teams and Zoom were barely known before the lockdown, and now they’re indispensable tools for communication. Change, it seems, can take time to catch on.
Digitising the Polling Station Experience
For several years now, forward-thinking local authorities using Democracy Counts have fully digitised their polling station management processes. While the ballot papers themselves remain physical for now, nearly everything else—from voter registration to ballot paper accounts—has gone digital. This transformation makes the election process more efficient, accurate, and secure.
One of the standout features of this digital transformation is the use of QR codes. Imagine the convenience for voters and election officials alike. When you show your voter ID at the polling station, instead of someone manually marking your name on a register, you simply scan a QR code on your polling card. This instantly marks the register, issues your individually tracked ballot paper, and electronically records the transaction at your polling station.
The Role of Authentic8 in Modern Elections
The next time you vote, take a moment to observe the process. Is your local polling station still relying on pencils and rulers, or have they embraced the magic of QR code scanning and intuitive software? If they’ve adopted the latter, there’s a good chance they’re using Authentic8 from Democracy Counts.
Authentic8 isn’t just a tool for the present; it’s a glimpse into the future of election management. It seamlessly integrates with Elector8, our leading Election Management Software, creating a fully integrated, state-of-the-art system that streamlines even the most complex aspects of election management.
Try It for Yourself
If you’re in the election management sector and curious about how Authentic8 and Elector8 can revolutionise your processes, we invite you to experience it firsthand. Don’t just take our word for it—join one of our friendly, FREE demo sessions and see the difference for yourself.
In a world where technology is constantly evolving, it’s time to bring our polling stations into the future. With Democracy Counts, that future is already here.
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