Rankin County Gets New Voting System

Below is the press release from the maker of the voting system.  Expect it to be in place in time for the school bond issue vote in March.

After a thorough evaluation process, the selection committee's decision to choose Verity was unanimous. Hart stood out in the bidding process; versatile Verity technology allows counties to choose between electronic and paper ballot configurations.

In 2017, Rankin County voters will cast their votes by scanning their marked paper ballots in the polling place. This marks a shift from the electronic voting method the county has used for more than 10 years. Hart's 100+ years of election experience and its expertise in the change management methods needed to transition to new voting technology were factors in the county's decision.

"We look forward to working with Rankin County not as just a vendor, but as a partner," said Phillip Braithwaite, President and CEO of Hart InterCivic. "We see growing interest in Mississippi in the efficiency and transparency Verity brings to the election process. We are committed to the success of elections in Rankin County and across the state."

With Rankin's selection of Verity, Mississippi becomes the sixth state in the U.S. to adopt this forward-looking technology. The system includes ADA-compliant features that enable all voters to vote privately and independently. Other features that caught decision-makers' eyes include:

• Easy-to-use scanning and ballot marking for voters

• Powerful new election management software for increased efficiency and security

• Compact, lightweight briefcase-style machines, saving storage space

• Efficient transport, set-up and take-down at precincts

• First-class training and support

Another Verity advantage may not be as visible, but is critical to Rankin County. Verity enables straightforward import of data from the state election management system, making the process of building ballots much easier for election workers. It also automates the transmission of election results for state reporting.

Based in Austin, Texas, Hart currently provides election solutions to more than 560 jurisdictions nationwide, including the State of Oklahoma, the State of Hawaii and two of the five largest counties in the nation - Harris County, Texas, and Orange County, California.