The 5 Best Vote-by-Mail Processing Technologies For Elections

Voting by mail has become a pivotal component in the evolving landscape of elections, necessitating efficient and secure processing technologies to handle the increasing volume of mail-in ballots. Implementing advanced processing systems is crucial for ensuring timely and accurate election results.

What are the best vote-by-mail processing technologies for elections? Consider these options available to election officials and organizations seeking reliable solutions.

1. Tritek’s Correct Elect

Tritek is a trusted provider of advanced mail processing and vote-by-mail ballot envelope solutions, offering customizable systems that cater specifically to the election industry. It has decades of experience and a strong track record. Tritek’s patented technologies have been successfully implemented in cities and counties nationwide, providing reliable and efficient processing for elections.

One of Tritek’s standout solutions, Correct Elect, is designed to optimize vote-by-mail operations. This system is fully customizable and capable of processing all types of ballot envelope designs, whether for small or large volumes.

Tritek’s Correct Elect system — backed by its exclusive patent on pilot processing — delivers full audit trails, real-time status reporting, and precise ballot process management. This ensures traceability and security throughout the entire vote-by-mail process.

The system includes features like signature verification and barcode/optical character recognition to cross-check voters’ signatures against a registered voter database. This enhances accuracy and security while reducing labor costs.

Additionally, the Correct Elect solution sorts ballots based on various criteria such as precinct, polling place, zip code, and more. Multiple workstations allow for simultaneous review, and additional layers of verification can be implemented to increase accountability.

Tritek’s technology integrates seamlessly with existing voter registration systems, providing up-to-date reports on signature processing and ballot status. The ability to customize workflows and incorporate real-time data is essential for efficient election administration.

Tritek offers election officials the reliability, flexibility, and security needed to streamline the vote-by-mail and absentee ballot sorting and processing system. The Correct Elect system enhances regulatory compliance, improves accuracy, and supports election transparency.

2. BlueCrest’s Relia-Vote

BlueCrest offers a comprehensive, end-to-end solution for vote-by-mail processing with its Relia-Vote® system. This integrated, secure option efficiently handles both outbound and inbound mail ballots, making it ideal for municipalities and counties of varying sizes.

Relia-Vote helps election officials maintain election integrity, ensure compliance with state and USPS regulations, and reduce the costs associated with manual polling stations. It is highly customizable and capable of automating critical processes such as ballot printing, packet assembly, tracking, signature verification, and sorting.

The system includes robust features like high-speed industrial inkjet printing for ballot production, flexible inserting machines for mail packet assembly, and advanced sorting systems that process ballots quickly and securely.

The Relia-Vote Ballot Manager is cloud-based software that provides complete transparency throughout the voting process, from production to return. It allows for real-time tracking, full audit trails, and secure validation of voter signatures, ensuring compliance and enhancing election security. The system also integrates seamlessly with existing voter registration databases, further streamlining election workflows.

BlueCrest’s proven technology supports high-volume operations, with systems already in use across over 60 U.S. counties and handling a significant portion of the 2020 election mail. BlueCrest has a global presence and over 20 years of experience, offering a reliable, secure, and scalable solution for vote-by-mail and absentee ballot processing.

Relia-Vote by BlueCrest provides a complete, automated solution that ensures integrity and accountability at every stage of the process. It’s ideal for election officials seeking to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and transparency in vote-by-mail operations.

3. Kodak Alaris Mail-in Ballot Processing Solution

Kodak Alaris offers a comprehensive, high-performance mail-in ballot processing solution that is designed to meet the growing demands of modern elections. Mail-in ballots are becoming more prevalent, and their technology is built to address the challenges election officials face in handling large volumes of ballots quickly and accurately.

The solution boasts a significant boost in efficiency, enabling a single operator to process up to 1,000 ballots per hour, a 95% increase in productivity compared to traditional methods. This speed is critical in ensuring ballots are processed immediately upon arrival, helping to streamline the election process.

A key feature of Kodak Alaris’s system is its advanced signature verification technology, which automatically captures signatures from ballot envelopes and compares them to the voter registration database. This automated process enhances accuracy by flagging any discrepancies for further manual review, reducing human error and maintaining the election’s integrity.

The solution also prioritizes security with features like automatic date, time, and sequence number imprints on each ballot. It can also detect ballots intended for other counties or elections, which helps prevent mistakes and fraud.

In addition to its technological capabilities, Kodak Alaris is committed to sustainability. Its scanners are Energy Star certified, and the company also holds EPEAT (Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool) certification, further demonstrating its commitment to environmentally responsible products.

Beyond the technology itself, Kodak Alaris provides extensive customer support, including professional installation, training, and on-site maintenance. This ensures election offices are well-equipped to handle the high volume and complexity of mail-in ballot processing.

4. Runbeck Election Services’ Agilis Ballot Sorting System

Runbeck Election Services offers a robust and efficient solution for managing high volumes of mail-in ballots through its Agilis Election Mail Sorting & Processing System. The system is designed to address the specific challenges faced by election offices, ensuring streamlined, timely processing of voter ballots while maintaining stringent accountability.

With the ability to sort up to 18,000 mail packets per hour, Agilis is particularly suitable for jurisdictions handling large numbers of absentee or mail-in ballots. The system’s flexible design includes up to eight sorting pockets, with the option to add more, enabling it to scale according to a county’s needs.

One of the standout features of the Agilis system is its use of high-definition cameras to capture voter information and signatures for verification, seamlessly integrating with Voter Registration Systems. This helps ensure the accuracy and validity of each ballot, with an optional Automated Signature Recognition software enhancing the manual verification process.

The system also includes detailed reporting and audit capabilities, with tray tag printing for document retention. Additionally, Agilis can identify and reject envelopes that do not meet specified size or thickness requirements, improving quality control. For added convenience, an in-line envelope opener option reduces manual labor when preparing verified ballots for tabulation.

Beyond its technology, Runbeck places a strong emphasis on security, with comprehensive measures to protect both physical and digital data. The company — operating for over 50 years — is also SOC 2 Type II certified, ensuring that its systems and processes meet high standards for security and effectiveness.

5. OPEX’s Ballot Opening Solution

OPEX is a leader in automation technology, offering specialized solutions for high-volume document and mail automation. Its automated ballot opening and extraction systems are designed to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of mail-in ballot processing, addressing challenges such as tight deadlines and staffing shortages.

OPEX’s solutions are already trusted by over 74 voting districts across the United States for their ability to quickly and securely open absentee and mail-in ballots. The OPEX Model 72 can open up to 3,600 envelopes per hour, reducing manual labor by up to 60%.

The system uses innovative milling-cutting technology to ensure ballot integrity by minimizing the risk of envelope or ballot damage. It also offers tracking features to guarantee that no ballots are accidentally lost or thrown away. This high-speed, automated process significantly reduces the time needed for mail-in ballot opening, with up to 78% less time required compared to manual methods.

OPEX’s suite of solutions includes systems such as the OMATION Model 306 and Series 410, which are capable of handling even larger volumes of mail. They offer enhanced sorting and sequencing capabilities, providing election officials with greater control and visibility throughout the ballot opening process.

OPEX has over 50 years of experience, and its commitment to innovation and operational efficiency makes it a strong contender for jurisdictions seeking to streamline vote-by-mail processes. Its scalable, secure, and high-speed systems ensure elections meet deadlines and maintain the highest levels of accuracy, making OPEX an excellent choice for vote-by-mail processing technology.

Choosing the Right Vote-by-Mail Processing Technology

Selecting the best vote-by-mail processing technologies for elections is a critical decision for ensuring a secure, transparent, and efficient electoral process.

When determining which one to use, it’s essential to assess your specific requirements, such as volume, compliance, and integration needs. By investing in the right technology, election officials can improve operational efficiency and build public trust in the vote-by-mail process.

Bharat Kumar

Bharat is an editor and staff writer for The Next Tech. A recent addition to the news team, he is involved in generating stories for topics that spread across The Next Tech's categories. His interest in Consumer Tech and AI Tools help bring the latest update to our readers. He is always up to learn new things and is a die-hard fan of Call of Duty Saga(s).

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