Technology in U.S. Elections

The 2000 U. S. Presidential Election generated significant implications for U.S. Election Administration. Assessing the aftermath of the election, Congress passed sweeping reforms in the electoral process. The Help America Vote Act (HAVA), signed into law in 2002, provides funding to all states to overhaul their election procedures, improve administrative functions, and upgrade voting systems and technology to appropriately meet the needs of modern-day elections. In this paper, we will explore various areas where technology is at the forefront of election administration, including the certification of voting systems and electronic poll books, anomaly reporting, and training and assessment. We will dive deeper into the Federal Voluntary Voting System Guidelines (VVSG), different voting technologies used in U.S. Elections, and discuss the technical partners that help states conduct efficient, accurate, and fair elections.