Electronic Voting Trial Run Possible

Voting remote controls might get a test drive at Westborough’s October town meeting.

Selectmen are forming a group to explore the possibility of this trial run.

Selectmen George Barrette and Denny Drewry, Town Clerk Nancy Yendriga and Advisory Finance Committee Chairman Edward Behn recently attended Wayland’s town meeting, which uses an electronic voting system.

"Each voting member gets, for lack of a better term, a small remote control,” Barrette said.

“When you check in,” there is an "electronic bar code next to your name, and they match it to your remote, and you take it in.

"The check-in process was as smooth as silk, and there were no problems. They've been doing this in Wayland for a couple of years. They've only lost one."
Barrette said electronic voting happens "sporadically throughout the Commonwealth.”

He said he and Drewry recently met with two men from Wayland's "Elvis Committee" (ELectronic Voting Implementation Sub-committee) who have "been through this whole process.”

Westborough officials also met with Option Technologies Interactive representatives, Wayland’s vendor.

"When the moderator calls for a vote, a light bulb goes on right next to him” that says which number is yea, Barrette said.

A "screen in front of the town clerk and the moderator" indicates the results, he said.

"Like everything else, the big thing is the cost. Wayland chose to lease" their devices, with "tech support physically there with them throughout the meeting,” Barrette said.

"If somebody had a problem with their remote, someobody from the ELVIS committee would shoot over and give them a fresh one before the vote was taken.”

Drewry said the "meeting was less contentious."

"People are more polite, because nobody knows who's voting for what,” he said.