In addition to standard computers and electronic voting devices, there is a wide range of specialised electronic/mechanical devices that can be used for electoral purposes. For example:
- counting machines
- letter openers
- mail sorters
- label printers
- overhead projectors
- televisions/videos
- electronic whiteboards
- date stampers
- automatic numbering machines
Counting machines
Various kinds of electronic counting machines are available for counting paper ballots. Many of these were originally designed and built to count bank notes. A variety of counting machines are available to count different sizes of ballots.
More complex counting machines can count ballots in batches (such as batches of 20, 50 or 100) as well as keep a running total of all the ballots counted for a candidate or a ballot option.
Counting machines are generally faster and more accurate than counting by hand.
Letter openers
Many kinds of electronic letter opening machines are available, from small, low volume machines to larger machines capable of handling high volumes of mail.
Electronic letter openers generally work by slicing a small strip of paper from the edge of each envelope. To avoid slicing the contents of the envelopes, it is preferable to ensure that the contents of envelopes are smaller in dimension than the envelopes.
Election management bodies (EMBs) dealing with large quantities of mail (for example from postal ballots) would benefit from the purchase electronic letter openers.
Mail inserting machines
Mail inserting machines allow users to place one or more items of mail into envelopes automatically. More complex machines can be programmed by computer to insert varying mail items into each envelope, depending on the needs of each addressee.
For example, a mail inserting machine used for postal voting could be programmed to insert a personalised letter incorporating an address label, a ballot paper for the voter's specified electorate, and a return envelope. Computer databases are used to specify the various kinds of mail received by each voter.
Mail inserting machines come in many variations, from simple desktop machines to large sophisticated computer-programmed devices. The larger machines may also incorporate laser printers, which can print personalised letters as the mail is being collated. EMBs are unlikely to have the need or the budget for the larger models and are more likely to provide large complex mailing jobs to professional mailing companies. However, for smaller mailings EMBs may find the smaller desktop machines to be useful.
Label printers
Specialized label printers are available, which can print labels directly on to envelopes or on to sticky labels.
Label printers come in a wide range of sizes and complexities, from small desktop printers to large high-volume industrial models. EMBs are unlikely to have the need or the budget for the larger models and are more to use professional mailing companies. However, for printing small runs or single labels, EMBs may find the smaller desktop machines are useful.
Sticky labels are also available in standard paper sizes for use with desktop printers. Standard office automation tools such as word processors and databases can be set up to produce mailing labels using these label sheets.
Overhead projectors
Overhead projectors improved considerably since beginning of the 1990s from the old-fashioned early transparency projectors. While transparency projectors are still available and useful, more advanced projectors can project images directly from a computer onto overhead wide screens.
Electronic computer projectors, combined with presentation software, can deliver very sophisticated presentations. Overhead projectors can project text, data, drawings, photographs, animations and video. Coupled with speakers, sound can be added to presentations.
Overhead projectors are widely used by EMBs for training, presentations and seminars. Projectors can also be used at public election events, such as declarations of candidates and ballot draws or results.
Televisions/videos
Television and video is also used by EMBs for training, presentations and seminars. Many kinds of wide screens are available to display television and video output in a large format suitable for big audiences. This can be used, for example, to train large numbers of polling officials, for example.
When connected to an appropriate computer/Internet system, television screens can be used to facilitate video conferencing. This is particularly useful for conducting meetings or training sessions with geographically dispersed participants.
Electronic whiteboards
Another presentation and training tool is the electronic whiteboard. The advantage of electronic whiteboards over traditional whiteboards is the ability to scroll through several different screens without having to erase previous screens, so that earlier screens can be revisited. It is also easy to print copies of the screens.
Date stampers
Mechanical and electronic date stampers of various complexities can be used to automatically date incoming and outgoing mail and correspondence.
Automatic numbering machines
Mechanical and electronic numbering machines of various complexities can be used to automatically place numbers on items such as forms received or the pages of a file.
Non-electronic innovations
Some uses of technology for election purposes are not electronic or mechanical. Most of these involve the innovative use of manufactured materials. For example:
- plastics for ballot boxes, voting compartments and security seals
- cardboard for ballot boxes, voting compartments and polling place furniture
- tamper evident materials
- dyes and inks to prevent multiple voting
While many of the behind-the-scenes processes in an election can be automated with electronic devices, the polling process itself is often a non-electronic affair. This is in part because of the enormous cost of providing electronics such as computers or electronic voting devices at large numbers of polling places for an infrequent, one-day-every-few-years event.
Nevertheless, innovative use of non-electronic technology can be employed at polling places.
Many old-fashioned ballot boxes are manufactured from wood or metal. These tend to be heavy, cumbersome and costly to transport and store between elections. Light-weight, disposable/recyclable ballot boxes can be manufactured from cardboard. Light-weight, collapsible, reusable ballot boxes can be manufactured from plastic.
Although cardboard and plastic ballot boxes are not tamper proof—a padlock on a cardboard ballot box would not stop an intruder with a knife, for example—these ballot boxes can be designed in a way to make it impossible for intruders to gain access without leaving evidence. This is usually achieved by sealing the box with uniquely numbered plastic seals. The numbers are recorded by polling officials in front of witnesses, and the seals are checked before the ballot box is opened at the end of the poll to ensure that the seals were not broken or substituted.
Voting screens used for privacy can be manufactured from lightweight cardboard or plastic. Unlike old fashioned wooden screens, cardboard or plastic screens are easier to transport and store and can be disposed of or recycled. It may be more cost-effective to buy new screens for each election rather than pay storage fees between elections.
Cardboard can also be used to make other temporary polling place items, such as tables, signs and queuing fences.
Other innovative materials include dyes and inks used to mark the fingers of voters to ensure that they only vote once in an election. Some inks are invisible to the naked eye, but detectable to ultra-violet light, making them difficult to remove. When invisible inks are used, each voter must have their hands checked under a ultra-violet light to be sure that their hands are not marked. After voting, at least one finger is dipped in the ink. Special inks and dyes that are visible may be used as long as they cannot be removed during polling.
Whether such inks or dyes are appropriate to a particular country's circumstances will depend on the likelihood that voters will attempt to vote more than once, and the cultural acceptance of such an invasive measure. Electoral authorities also need to be satisfied that the use of inks or dyes do not pose a health risk to voters or polling staff.
