NORRISTOWN, PA — Montgomery County has announced a key change to its polling process that will be in place for the primary election next month and which officials hope will make the midterms in November run more smoothly.
The county will now use electronic poll books at all of their 431 voting precincts. The devices, typically a tablet or a laptop, allow poll workers to check in voters, confirm registration, and issue ballots.
Officials said the devices were successfully tested during the past four elections in select jurisdictions.
"These devices help reduce wait times and improve the overall voter experience without altering how ballots are cast or counted," Montgomery County Commissioner Jamila Winder, said in a statement. "Our goal is to make voting accessible, efficient, and secure for every eligible voter in Montgomery County."
The devices essentially replace paper poll books that poll workers use to check in and mark off key information on election day.
The U.S. Election Assistance Commission calls e-poll books "an increasingly vital tool in election administration," and they're cited by the Bipartisan Policy Center as a key way to enable last minute updates to voter rolls and a smoother check-in process.
Voters will sign their name directly on the e-poll device when checking in.
If voters arrive at the wrong voting location, the device also helps workers quickly identify the right location to send them.
The 2026 primary in Pennsylvania is Tuesday, May 19.
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