Precinct workers in Cass County are being trained today (Wednesday), on a new, election management system developed by officials in Cerro Gordo County, and used in more than 50 counties across the State. Ken Kline, Cerro Gordo County Auditor, said the “Precinct Atlas” program was developed after the 2008 Presidential election. That was also when Iowa implemented Election Day Voter Registration. Kline says he saw first hand in his own County how many problems with the myriad of election laws and exceptions can bog down the voter registration process.

The old method of hand-registering and validating each voter takes much longer, and is frustrating when there are long lines of individuals waiting to cast their ballots.

Cerro Gordo County Auditor Ken Kline explains the Precinct Atlas program.

Kline says the software precinct workers will use in Cass County to verify registered voters, provides simple, clear on-screen instructions to check-in and validate each voter. He said the precinct officials love it, and he feels much more confident, as an auditor, that the workers are handling each voter’s situation correctly, as opposed to training them on the all the rules and hoping they implement them correctly. He says also, it doesn’t take a “Computer whiz” to run the program.

Precinct Atlas was re-written last year, to make it even more dynamic and hassle-free for the precinct worker, as they guide the voter step-by step through the registration and verification process. If you have a driver’s license or State issued non-driver photo ID, the process is even faster because your information is obtained by scanning your ID. You simply flip your driver’s license upside down so the bar code on the back can be read by the scanner. The information automatically pop’s-up on the precinct workers’ screen and a form printed out for you to sign.

You can also present your voter registration card you received from your County Auditor. The system will get its first use in Cass County on September 13^th, during the Atlantic Community School District Special Election for the Physical Plant and Equipment Levy (PPEL) and PPEL Income Surcharge, vote.