BETTER ELECTIONS
WITH GIS
AVOID LOCATION ERRORS
Election errors can lead to lengthy legal processes and costly do-overs. Modern GIS technology transforms voter lists into geospatial pinpoints, and ensures that voters and candidates are placed in the right precinct.
SAVE TIME AND WORK EFFORT
Geospatial data made visual on a map are much easier to check for accuracy than lengthy voter address lists. Similarly, assigning voters to a new voting district and creating precinct definitions can be done in minutes with GIS.
BOOST VOTER CONFIDENCE
When fewer errors are reported after an election, voters’ confidence that their voices are being heard increases, and their faith in the democratic system is strengthened.
RIGHT BALLOT TO RIGHT VOTER
HAVA FUNDING: — USE IT TO REDUCE FUTURE ERRORS
Investments made today in voter registration systems may enable states and counties to use GIS data in the future – or lock them into outdated technology. Learn more here!
WHY GEO-ENABLE ELECTIONS?
Many states and counties already use GIS data for their emergency response systems or for land use purposes – but not for elections. Most state governments have a geographic information officer (GIO), or equivalent, responsible for coordinating across various state and local GIS-based initiatives. NSGIC’s Geo-Enabled Elections project is promoting a stronger dialogue between GIOs and election directors and provides best practices, as well as support, to help states and counties leverage GIS data to ensure more effective and accurate elections.
The Geo-Enabled Elections Project
The Geo-Enabled Elections project was created to strengthen the accuracy and reliability of America’s electoral system and to increase voters’ confidence that their voices are being heard in each election. The project’s goal is to assist states and other election authorities in implementing GIS technology in elections, in order to ensure that voters are placed in the right voting district, receive the right ballot, and vote in the right electoral contests. Read more here.
LATEST NEWS
The need to audit voter information drove GIS implementation at Inyo County, California
Before Inyo County created shapefiles and address points for all its precincts and voters they faced a dilemma: there was no technical way to audit voter lists to ensure that voters had been placed in the correct voting precincts and districts and would be allowed to...
Utah
“Placing voters within election boundaries is essential to enable a highly accurate election process. It’s hard to imagine relying on anything but a well-implemented GIS system for reliable boundaries and locating voters.”
Justin Lee, Election Director Utah
Washington
“Geo-enabled elections are accurate elections. GIS integration allows us to quickly, easily, and accurately pinpoint our voters to ensure they receive the correct ballot.”
Lori Augino, Election Director Washington
Hawaii
“GIS has been critical in improving Hawaii’s voter registration processes including online voter registration, which resulted in fewer paper registrations and better use of staff time. Additionally, during natural disasters, GIS has allowed us to quickly understand the impact on voters and plan for alternatives.”