Pinal County Boosts Election Security with Certified Upgrades to Voting Equipment

The election offices in Pinal County have been abuzz with activity as a significant upgrade to the county's election equipment is underway. ESNS, an election technology company, is spearheading the upgrade process with observers from both the Republican and Democratic parties in attendance.

One of the focal points of the upgrade is the ExpressVote ballot marker devices, which are being modernized to enhance the voting experience, particularly for voters with disabilities. These devices were originally created for the ADA community to help those who have difficulty using paper and pen. The ExpressVote systems enable voters to make selections using an electronic pen, which then prints out a paper ballot for tabulation.

The popularity of the ExpressVote system has grown beyond the disabled community and is now widely used by voters across various jurisdictions. One of the key features of these devices is their ability to alert voters in case of overvoting and to remind them if they have not utilized all of their eligible votes. This mechanism ensures that voters cast their ballots accurately and completely.

The upgrade process includes updating 110 ExpressVote devices with new, more secure software based on Windows 10. Technicians are diligently working to remove the old software, which will be replaced by the new version that offers better security, improved functionality, and greater resistance to environmental factors. It is important to note that these devices do not store any ballot information and are only programmed for facilitating the casting of votes.

In addition to the ExpressVote systems, this week, the technicians will be upgrading the central count tabulators. These are the large machines that the county uses for tabulating the ballots.

County officials have expressed their commitment to ensuring election security. The modernization of the election equipment is a testament to Pinal County's dedication to fostering a secure and reliable electoral process.

This upgrade marks a significant step in bolstering the security and integrity of elections in Pinal County. With better technology in place, voters can have increased confidence in the electoral process and its outcomes.

For further information on the upgrades and how they impact the voting process in Pinal County, residents are encouraged to reach out to the county election offices.