Adams County’s new electronic Poll Pads were used countywide for the first time during the November 4 general election, marking a smooth and successful rollout of the new voter check-in technology.
The county previously approved the purchase of 102 Poll Pads, printers, and three-year licenses and maintenance for a total cost of $227,460. The purchase was fully funded through Pennsylvania’s Act 88 Election Integrity Grant program. The Poll Pads were certified for election use on April 15, 2025, by Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt.
The county first tested the devices during the spring primary, using two pads at eight selected polling places. That pilot program received overwhelmingly positive feedback from both voters and poll workers, leading to the full implementation for the general election.
The new system streamlines voter check-in by allowing poll workers to quickly locate a voter’s record and print a ticket containing the voter’s name and address. This reduces confusion at the registration table and eliminates the need to manually search through paper lists or guess the spelling of names.
Each Poll Pad also contains a complete copy of the county’s voter database. If a voter arrives at the wrong polling place, poll workers can easily print a slip showing the correct location and address, helping voters get to the right place without delay.
The technology also reduced the number of phone calls to the county election office on Election Day, allowing staff to focus on other administrative tasks. Adams County’s voting system remains secure and does not connect to the internet at any point during the voting process.
Source: Adams County