Pima County polling locations to use iPads on Primary Election Day

TUCSON, AZ (Tucson News Now) - The county hopes save money and improve the overall voting process with pilot projects involving new technology at 25 polling locations across Pima County on Primary Election Day.

All polling locations will use iPads instead of signature roster books to process voters in the first pilot project on Aug, 26. Poll workers will use the iPads to scan voters' driver's licenses and voters will sign their names on the iPad screens. Next, voters will put their finished ballots into a secure ballot box instead of an electronic scanner to be counted at the end of the evening, according to a county press release.

Pima County Elections Director Brad Nelson said the current equipment used in polling places is old, outdated and breaking down at a high rate.

Secure ballot boxes might replace scanners on General Election Day on Nov. 4 if the pilot program works, which would save an estimated $1.8 million that would be spent to replace the aging scanners.

Questions can be directed to the Pima County Elections Department at (520) 724-6830.

Voters can request a vote-by-mail ballot from the Pima County Recorder's Office at www.recorder.pima.gov or call (520) 724-4330. Pima County residents who do not know whether they are qualified to vote or who want to register to vote should also contact the Recorder's Office.