MASON — The Town of Mason made history during their municipal election.

The election, which was held June 9, processed voters electronically by way of the latest advancement in election technology. In conjunction with the Mason County Clerk’s Office, the town became the first municipality in West Virginia to participate in a pilot program testing the effectiveness of an electronic poll created by Decision Support, a software company based out of Matthews, N.C.

This system known as EVID (Electronic Voting Identification Device) was designed to streamline the voter check-in process. In addition to identifying the voter against the state database, checking them in and producing a paper ticket which allows them to proceed to the voting booth, this program serves as a safeguard against voter fraud. It also remedies many common situations a pollworker may face during an election, such as provisional voters.

Brooke Pauley, who served as town recorder prior to the election, said that the system worked great and that she received positive feedback from the election officials who worked with the electronic pollbook. Diana Cromley, Mason County Clerk, also reported no problems or concerns with the system and highly recommended the program to the West Virginia Secretary of State’s Office in hopes that the system may be implemented in other elections throughout the state in the future.

“It was an honor to be selected by the Secretary of State’s Office to be the only county in West Virginia to host this electronic poll book option. The legislature passed a law in 2008 to allow this technology in West Virginia, and Mason County has truly made history by piloting this program,” Cromley said. “I am very proud our county is paving the way for more efficient and safer election practices.”