NEW PRECINCT MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE TO BE UTILIZED IN UPCOMING
SEPTEMBER 8 SCHOOL BOARD ELECTION

DES MOINES – Secretary of State Michael A. Mauro announced today that a new software program will be used in some polling places to assist precinct election officials during the Sept. 8 school board election.

The program, called “The Precinct Atlas,” is an electronic poll book which will help precinct election officials effectively and consistently process voters on election day.

More than 50 counties plan to use the program in either the Sept. 8 school election or the city elections in November.

The electronic poll book consists of a laptop computer with “The Precinct Atlas” software and an attached label printer. Before each election, voter registration information is loaded into this system from the statewide voter registration and election management system. The electronic poll book allows precinct election officials to quickly locate and process voters at the polling place using on-screen step-by-step instructions.

The Precinct Atlas program was developed by Cerro Gordo County and was first used in a special election for the Mason City Community School District in February 2009. Since then, Secretary of State Michael Mauro has worked with Cerro Gordo County to make the software available for use in all Iowa counties.

“I am glad counties are embracing this cost-effective technology that makes precinct election officials’ jobs much easier, while also increasing security, consistency and effectiveness of administering Iowa’s election laws,” Secretary of State Mauro said.

Prior to the Sept. 8 school election, the program was used in special elections in Butler, Johnson, Appanoose, Buena Vista, and Monona Counties.

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