Latest news with #RunbeckElectionServices
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Cook County clerk trying out a ‘smart' ballot drop box for next election, expanding language access
Cook County Clerk Monica Gordon unveiled a new 'smart' ballot drop box on Tuesday, stating she intends to use it for the March 2026 primary election and see if it can be implemented on a larger scale for future elections. The $15,000 tamper-proof drop box features a surveillance camera to record who drops off ballots, an electronic screen to confirm successful deposits and a scanner to record the outside envelopes of the ballots. Clerk officials described it as the first of its kind nationally. During the primary election, the new ballot box is expected to be located at the county's primary election site at 69 W. Washington St., according to a report from the clerk. The box's scanning feature is expected to save clerk employees from having to manually scan envelopes when they are received, while automatically updating the online status of ballots for voters. The envelopes are still transported and processed — taken out of the envelope where votes are scanned and counted — by clerk employees. The machine, according to the clerk's office, strengthens 'election security in response to rising concerns surrounding drop box tampering as reported in other American jurisdictions.' 'Some people … may think, 'Oh, it's my vote. I'm dropping this off. Is my vote really being counted? Is it being tallied? So this provides them some assurance in a secure way,' Gordon said at a Tuesday news conference. The prototype was built by Runbeck Election Services, which also manufactured the large-scale Agilis mail ballot sorting machine the clerk's office currently uses. At the clerk's request, Runbeck utilized the same technology that's used for the Agilis machine on the smart ballot drop boxes to help 'improve coordination and tracking using the integrated system,' said Sally Daly, a spokesperson for the clerk's office. The U.S. Postal Service tracks ballots sent to the clerk via traditional mail, according to Deputy Clerk of Elections Edmund Michalowski. However, drop-box deposits typically take a few days to be scanned and have their status updated online. Ballots dropped in a smart box can be tracked immediately, Michalowski said. 'The fact that we can reconcile an actual received ballot in one of our early voting sites sooner — it just will increase voter confidence,' Michalowski said. A 2025-26 Election and Voter Registration grant from the Illinois State Board of Elections is helping the clerk cover the cost of the machine. Gordon said the office hopes to install smart drop boxes across all 60 early voting locations in suburban Cook County, which would cost $900,000. The clerk's office advertised its new ballot box as being fully compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, although Michalowski acknowledged it needed to be adjusted to fit that description. Michalowski said the office was working on lowering the design of the ballot boxes for the final products. As part of a news conference marking the first six months of her full term, Gordon also announced the introduction of 11 'Pocketalk' boxes — small devices the size of a smartphone — at clerk offices that offer instant translation services in up to 89 languages. The devices, which cost $250 each, are available in the vital records, recording, real estate and tax division and elections divisions. Gordon, a former member of the Cook County Board, was appointed to fill the seat of the late Karen Yarbrough in April 2024 and was subsequently elected to a full term in November. The office manages birth, death and marriage certificates, suburban elections, legislation and proceedings of the county board and property transfer paperwork. Among the recommendations included in Gordon's final transition report are hiring other multilingual election judges to serve in areas with a substantial population that speaks the same language, 'removing bureaucratic red tape' for high school students who want to work as election judges and working with the National Association of Counties to advocate for reducing or eliminating federal income taxes for election workers who only work for one day. Also recommended are: Giving office walk-ins a virtual place in line to reduce wait times at clerk offices, exploring self-service kiosks at major offices and reviewing fees for purchasing vital records.
Chicago Tribune
08-07-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Cook County clerk trying out a ‘smart' ballot drop box for next election, expanding language access
Cook County Clerk Monica Gordon unveiled a new 'smart' ballot drop box on Tuesday, stating she intends to use it for the March 2026 primary election and see if it can be implemented on a larger scale for future elections. The $15,000 tamper-proof drop box features a surveillance camera to record who drops off ballots, an electronic screen to confirm successful deposits and a scanner to record the outside envelopes of the ballots. Clerk officials described it as the first of its kind nationally. During the primary election, the new ballot box is expected to be located at the county's primary election site at 69 W. Washington St., according to a report from the clerk. The box's scanning feature is expected to save clerk employees from having to manually scan envelopes when they are received, while automatically updating the online status of ballots for voters. The envelopes are still transported and processed — taken out of the envelope where votes are scanned and counted — by clerk employees. The machine, according to the clerk's office, strengthens 'election security in response to rising concerns surrounding drop box tampering as reported in other American jurisdictions.' 'Some people … may think, 'Oh, it's my vote. I'm dropping this off. Is my vote really being counted? Is it being tallied? So this provides them some assurance in a secure way,' Gordon said at a Tuesday news conference. The prototype was built by Runbeck Election Services, which also manufactured the large-scale Agilis mail ballot sorting machine the clerk's office currently uses. At the clerk's request, Runbeck utilized the same technology that's used for the Agilis machine on the smart ballot drop boxes to help 'improve coordination and tracking using the integrated system,' said Sally Daly, a spokesperson for the clerk's office. The U.S. Postal Service tracks ballots sent to the clerk via traditional mail, according to Deputy Clerk of Elections Edmund Michalowski. However, drop-box deposits typically take a few days to be scanned and have their status updated online. Ballots dropped in a smart box can be tracked immediately, Michalowski said. 'The fact that we can reconcile an actual received ballot in one of our early voting sites sooner — it just will increase voter confidence,' Michalowski said. A 2025-26 Election and Voter Registration grant from the Illinois State Board of Elections is helping the clerk cover the cost of the machine. Gordon said the office hopes to install smart drop boxes across all 60 early voting locations in suburban Cook County, which would cost $900,000. The clerk's office advertised its new ballot box as being fully compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, although Michalowski acknowledged it needed to be adjusted to fit that description. Michalowski said the office was working on lowering the design of the ballot boxes for the final products. As part of a news conference marking the first six months of her full term, Gordon also announced the introduction of 11 'Pocketalk' boxes — small devices the size of a smartphone — at clerk offices that offer instant translation services in up to 89 languages. The devices, which cost $250 each, are available in the vital records, recording, real estate and tax division and elections divisions. Gordon, a former member of the Cook County Board, was appointed to fill the seat of the late Karen Yarbrough in April 2024 and was subsequently elected to a full term in November. The office manages birth, death and marriage certificates, suburban elections, legislation and proceedings of the county board and property transfer paperwork. Among the recommendations included in Gordon's final transition report are hiring other multilingual election judges to serve in areas with a substantial population that speaks the same language, 'removing bureaucratic red tape' for high school students who want to work as election judges and working with the National Association of Counties to advocate for reducing or eliminating federal income taxes for election workers who only work for one day. Also recommended are: Giving office walk-ins a virtual place in line to reduce wait times at clerk offices, exploring self-service kiosks at major offices and reviewing fees for purchasing vital records.
Time of India
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Kamala Harris won U.S elections 2024: U.S Attorney General Pam Bondi asked to investigate results
Why is Pam Bondi being asked to investigate the 2024 election? Live Events What's the controversy around Runbeck Election Services? Is there any proof of wrongdoing so far? FAQs (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Kamala Harris' election results are currently capturing attention amid claims of discrepancies in Donald Trump's 2024 presidential victory. His victory against Kamala Harris astonished many, particularly in light of his past convictions.A surprising legal challenge to the 2024 election results has also gained momentum after official data revealed that Kamala Harris received zero votes in parts of Rockland County, New dust hasn't settled since the 2024 election. A Republican congressman is now urging US Attorney General Pam Bondi to investigate alleged ballot mishandling linked to a major election services provider, as per a report by to a news release from his office, Arizona Representative Abe Hamadeh asked for an investigation into how Arizona-based Runbeck Election Services handled ballots in a number of western the 2024 election, in which Republican former President Donald Trump defeated Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris, voters and elected officials continue to express concerns about election integrity , prompting Hamadeh to call for a federal are now beginning to doubt that victory due to increased legal pressure. Elon Musk is also accused in a Wisconsin lawsuit of using unethical financial practices to aid Donald Trump in winning crucial battleground states, as per a DOJ has not responded, but concerns about election security and accuracy are once again at the his letter to Bondi, Hamadeh cited what he claimed were reliable reports that returned mail ballots being prepared for tabulation in Runbeck's warehouse were improperly mixed with boxes of printed blank ballots from multiple states. Regarding the unsubstantiated allegations, he gave no information regarding their order to determine whether the security measures in place to prevent such incidents were followed, he asked the DOJ to look into the circumstances surrounding the ballot mixing at the warehouse and the possible impact on the accuracy of election results in Maricopa County, Arizona, and elsewhere, as per a report by response to concerns regarding election integrity, the DOJ has taken steps in recent weeks, including requesting election records from Colorado going back to Director Kash Patel stated on Monday that he has provided lawmakers with documents that purport to describe "alarming" but unverified claims regarding possible Chinese meddling in the 2020 office cited Patel's surrender of records pertaining to a purported scheme for China to manufacture phony driver's licenses in large quantities and export them to the United States for use in phony mail-in concerning situation seriously calls into question the security and integrity of the election process in Maricopa County and possibly beyond, according to Representative Hamadeh."There is a serious risk to the fairness and accuracy of election results when blank and live ballots are mixed together," he underlined how crucial it is to have faith in the fairness of elections and any possible ballot fraud in order to guarantee that the will of the people is fairly yet. She has been asked to look into it, but the Department of Justice has yet to officially company is accused of combining blank and returned ballots during processing. The allegations have not been verified, but a formal investigation has been requested to ensure ballot integrity.
Newsweek
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
Pam Bondi Asked To Investigate 2024 Election Results
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi has been asked by a Republican congressman to investigate "credible claims" that an elections service provider breached protocols during the 2024 election. Representative Abe Hamadeh of Arizona requested an investigation into the handling of ballots by Arizona-based Runbeck Election Services in several western states, according to a news release from his office. Newsweek has contacted the Department of Justice (DOJ) for comment via a contact form on its website as well as Hamadeh's office and Runbeck Election Services via email. Stacks of ballot drop box signs sit in storage at the Maricopa County Tabulation and Election Center ahead of the 2024 Arizona primary and general elections in Phoenix on June 3, 2024. Stacks of ballot drop box signs sit in storage at the Maricopa County Tabulation and Election Center ahead of the 2024 Arizona primary and general elections in Phoenix on June 3, 2024. Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images Why It Matters Hamadeh's call for a federal investigation comes as election integrity remains a concern for voters and elected officials following the 2024 election, in which Republican former President Donald Trump defeated Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris. The DOJ has taken action in recent weeks to address concerns about election integrity, including demanding election records dating to 2020 from Colorado. FBI Director Kash Patel said on Monday that he has shared documents with lawmakers that reportedly detail "alarming" though unsubstantiated allegations about potential Chinese interference in the 2020 election. Meanwhile, a legal challenge questioning the accuracy of the 2024 election results in Rockland County, New York, is moving forward. What To Know In his letter to Bondi, Hamadeh pointed to what he said were credible reports that boxes of printed blank ballots from several states were improperly mixed with returned mail ballots that were in the process of being prepared for tabulation in Runbeck's warehouse. He did not provide any details about the origin of the allegations, which have not been confirmed. am Bondi, U.S. Attorney General, during a press conference at Port Everglades on April 09, 2025 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Bondi has been asked by a Republican congressman to investigate "credible claims" that an elections... am Bondi, U.S. Attorney General, during a press conference at Port Everglades on April 09, 2025 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Bondi has been asked by a Republican congressman to investigate "credible claims" that an elections service provider breached protocols during the 2024 election. More Getty He requested that the DOJ investigate the circumstances surrounding the mixing of the ballots at the warehouse, security measures that were in place to prevent such incidents and whether they were followed and the potential impact on the accuracy of election results in Arizona's Maricopa County and elsewhere. Hamadeh's office also pointed to Patel's turning over of documents about an alleged plan for China to mass-produce fake driver's licenses and ship them to the U.S. to make fake mail-in ballots. What People Are Saying Representative Abe Hamadeh, in a statement: "This alarming situation raises serious questions about the security and integrity of the election process in Maricopa County and potentially beyond. "The comingling of blank ballots with live ballots poses a significant risk to the accuracy and fairness of election results. It is crucial that we have confidence in the integrity of our elections, and any potential mishandling of ballots must be investigated to ensure that the will of the voters is accurately reflected." Costas Panagopoulos, a professor of political science at Northeastern University, previously told Newsweek: "Irregularities in elections should always be investigated, but the sources of such inconsistencies, which can include error or miscalculation, are not always nefarious. Mistakes can happen." What Happens Next The DOJ has not yet issued a response to Hamadeh's request for an investigation.
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Luzerne County Election Board approves two drop boxes and pilot program
Apr. 17—Luzerne County will again provide two mail ballot drop boxes for the May 20 primary election inside county-owned buildings in Hazleton and Wilkes-Barre, a county election board majority decided Wednesday. The box in the Penn Place Building lobby in Wilkes-Barre will have a camera and other added security features because the board also agreed Wednesday to participate in a pilot program. This box from Runbeck Election Services photographs both the face of the person at the box and each side of the envelope inserted. It also has multiple points of internal fire suppression in the event an explosive material is somehow inserted through the opening. The slot itself is fitted to the width of a mail ballot envelope, which prevents the insertion of more than one at a time. The standard mailbox-style drop box used in past elections will be set up inside the Broad Street Exchange Building in downtown Wilkes-Barre. Video surveillance cameras in each building must record footage of the drop boxes throughout their use. The election board had agreed last October to provide two drop boxes at the same locations for the November 2024 general election, concluding two additional boxes hosted by outside entities could not be deployed because they cannot be anchored to the floor or a wall. However, assistant Solicitor Gene Molino said there was no formal board vote to provide only two boxes at that time, which is why official confirmation was necessary Wednesday. Both actions were approved by four election board members: Chairwoman Christine Boyle, Rick Morelli, Albert Schlosser and Daniel Schramm. Board Vice Chairwoman Alyssa Fusaro voted no on both. Fusaro, a Republican, listed a series of reasons she won't support any drop boxes Wednesday. The boxes are not mandated through legislation to comply with statewide election uniformity requirements, she said, adding she believes most voters want the boxes eliminated. Morelli, the other Republican board member, said there were board discussions about adding a fifth drop box early last year, and the county is now down to two, which he described as a "very good compromise." He also said both political parties should rethink their strategies if they believe two drop boxes will cause them to win or lose. Regarding the pilot program decision, Fusaro said the election bureau did not inform the board it would be applying to participate, causing the board to be "slapped with it after the fact." Fusaro also questioned the cost and predicted there will be issues with ballots jamming. Schlosser, a Democrat, said he believes the new drop box will help with election integrity and is worth trying, especially for residents who do not want to vote at polling places or rely on the postal system. Schramm, a Democrat, said the enhanced drop box photographs those depositing ballots and links those photos to specific ballots, which is a "step forward." Morelli said he is pleased the county was selected to participate in the pilot and believes the expense is worthwhile to address security concerns that have been raised by drop box critics. Boyle, a Democrat, agreed with Fusaro that she felt "caught off guard" when the pilot program was announced but said the board later had an opportunity to examine the drop box at a public demonstration. She said the new box is a "potential better way forward" as stated by Schlosser, Schramm and Morelli. County Election Director Emily Cook said the bureau has prepared a video on the new box that will be posted on the election page at Approximately 50,000 county voters have requested mail ballots this year. Cook said she is aiming to start mailing them this week. Other businesses In other business Wednesday, the board voted to: —Designate Boyle to serve with Fusaro on a the bipartisan board that spot-checks drop box surveillance footage — a practice initiated in 2023. —Approve Cook, Election Deputy Director Steve Hahn and election Poll Worker Coordinator Amanda Latoski as the canvassing board members for the primary election. Fusaro voted against the appointments. Authorized by the board last month, the staff canvassing board will handle post-election processing of flagged mail and provisional ballots during the public adjudication process to reduce the workload of the volunteer election board. Reach Jennifer Learn-Andes at 570-991-6388 or on Twitter @TLJenLearnAndes.
