SALEM, Ore. (AP) — Oregon was first in the nation to have all residents vote by mail. Now it’s pioneering another idea: vote by iPad.
Voters in five counties are filling out and returning their mail-in ballots for a Tuesday special primary election to replace former Congressman David Wu, who resigned following a sex scandal. A handful will mark their ballots not with a pen but with the tip of their finger.
It’s the latest attempt at using new technology to help voters with disabilities cast ballots privately.
Using the iPad, disabled voters can call up the right ballot and tap the screen to pick a candidate. The voters then print the completed ballot and stuff it in an envelope to sign and drop in the mail.
State elections officials say that if the pilot project is successful, they’ll make the service available across the state. They believe Oregon is the first state to try using iPads to mark ballots.
