WilCo To Use Paper Trail Voting System Starting This Fall

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, TX — When voters head to the polls this fall, they will cast their ballots using a new voting system that provides a paper trail, Williamson County elections officials announced on Thursday.

The new system by Election Systems and Software (ES&S) is a two-step process that enables voters to make selections on an electronic marking device, then provides a printed ballot voters will scan into an electronic tabulator.

“As reassurance that their vote is being cast exactly as they wish, this new voting system lets voters review their paper ballot prior to submitting it for scanning,” Elections Administrator Chris Davis said in a prepared statement. “It also provides for a paper audit trail of all votes for a given election.”

To help voters become acquainted with the new system, the Elections Department is hosting open houses where voters can stop by and use the new system to cast pretend votes "...for a fictional election in the Land of Oz," elections officials said. Voters also can stop by the Elections Department during Voter Drop-In Hours to use the equipment, officials added.

“Our forefathers fought, lived and died for the right to vote, so the method we use to exercise that right is of the utmost importance to us in Williamson County," County Judge Bill Gravell said in a prepared statement. "We invested $4.4 million dollars in our new voting system so that our citizens can cast their ballot in a safe and secure fashion, and it gives them peace of mind knowing there is a paper audit trail attached to their vote.”

Open houses are scheduled from August 7 to 19 as follows:

• Wednesday, August 7, at Cowan Creek Amenity Center, 1433 Cool Spring Way, Georgetown from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
• Monday, August 12, at J.B. and Hallie Jester Williamson County Annex, 1801 E. Old Settlers, Round Rock from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
• Tuesday, August 13, at Cedar Park Library, 550 Discovery Blvd., Cedar Park from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
• Thursday, August 15, at Hutto Public Library, 500 W Live Oak St., Hutto from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
• Monday, August 19, at Williamson County Inner Loop Annex, 301 S.E. Inner Loop, Georgetown from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The Elections Department, 301 S.E. Inner Loop, Georgetown, offers Voter Drop-in Hours on:

• Tuesday, August 20, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
• Wednesday, August 21, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
• Thursday, August 22, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
• Friday, August 23, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Offiials said the county purchased 800 ballot marking devices and 115 electronic precinct tabulators, and 2 high speed electronic tabulators to be used in Central Count primarily for the tabulation of mail ballots, along with other necessary software, cases and accessories for approximately $4.4 million. The county is received a trade-in allowance on old equipment of $346,000.

Williamson County purchased the same voting system that was purchased by Travis County, officials noted. Both counties will be using the new voting system for the first time in the November General Election, according to the elections office.

For more in-depth information on the new voting equipment, click here.