CHRISTMAS EARLY IN COUNTY CLERK’S OFFICE
WHEATON, IL – New voting equipment has arrived to the DuPage County Clerk’s Office. Staff is busy unpacking the Hart InterCivic Verity paper voting system featuring 100 percent paper ballots scheduled to be in place for the 2022 Primary election.
“Our office couldn’t be more excited about new voting machinery if it were delivered by reindeer pulling a sleigh. Some of the staff opening the boxes were young children when the previous equipment was purchased 20 years ago,” County Clerk Jean Kaczmarek says. “We’re anxious to share the next generation of equipment with voters and election judges in 2022.”
DuPage is very proud to be the first county in Illinois to use complete on-demand ballot printing for both Early Voting and Election Day voting. Not only are we upgrading to the most secure, transparent, and user-friendly voting system on the market, but we are also saving the County money by printing only the ballots needed by voters so there is no waste. Finally, and most importantly, our County’s new system will ensure all voters have the same voting experience; there is no different size or shape of ballot for voters with disabilities. Voters can use a fully accessible ballot marking device and that device produces a ballot that looks like all others. Everyone will be treated equally.
Austin-based Hart InterCivic has 109 years of election experience with 780 customers in 19 states. Hart’s voting systems are designed, engineered and built in the USA.
The next-generation Verity system was certified by Illinois this year meeting the highest election security standards. Verity is never connected to the internet, making it impossible to hack. The Verity Scan allows reliable audits of voter intent with digital captures of all scanned ballots. The system offers automatic counting for write-in votes, ranked choice voting capability, faster and reliable recounts and multiple language options.
Every aspect of operations is anticipated to become more efficient with the new system, including quicker lines in polling places and easier start-up and shut-down for election judges. Hart will integrate well with the KNOWiNK poll pads for checking in voters.
Jean Kaczmarek
DuPage County Clerk
630.407.5572
