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How Technology Affected the 2012 Election

by KREX News Room
by Amanda Brandeis

Story Created: Nov 7, 2012 at 12:44 AM MDT

Story Updated: Nov 7, 2012 at 9:38 AM MDT

MESA COUNTY, Colo.- Throughout the 2012 election, Colorado voters experienced several changes in the ways they register and vote.

Technology played a big role this Election Day.

David Martinez, the president of Colorado Mesa University's College Democrats, said, "We're used to computers, as well as new technologies like iPads and tablets. The new voting machine is built that way."

Technology has also enabled officials to gather results much faster than before.

Sheila Reiner, Mesa County clerk and recorder, said, "All of the counties are going to upload our election results to one main database at the secretary of state's office."

The new system has also allowed election officials to obtain more accurate results.

"All of the votes that have been counted and will be up at 7 o'clock should include mail ballots and early voting, so we will have most of our results in on election night right after 7," Reiner said.

New changes have also made it easier to vote from across the world.

"The overseas and military voting system allowed military and overseas voters to vote online for the first time," said Reiner.

Online registration has been another major change.

Martinez also said, "Easy for them to go to gottaregister.com and sign up as opposed to filling out paperwork which takes time, and they want to read that over, so it was just a more convenient way for students to choose."

While no system is perfect, many voters have given it their stamp of approval.

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