ePollbooks: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

When are ePollbooks being introduced in SLO County?

During the June 2, 2026, Statewide Direct Primary Election. This follows a many months-long review, contract, procurement, and implementation process.

Can they print out ballots?

No. They can’t print ballots. What they can print is a receipt upon check-in that lists the voter’s assigned ballot type (ballot type = specific contests on that ballot).

Will the ePollbooks verify a voter’s signature?

No, because California elections law does not require signature verification for in-person voting. Voters will be asked to verbally state their name and address and then sign the ePollbook under oath.

How will they change the polling place experience?

In June: Voters will no longer sign a paper roster but instead an electronic one – and poll workers will be able to look up voters more quickly, facilitating a more efficient check-in.
Poll workers will also be able to print a list of voters who checked in and voted each hour, simplifying the legally required process of updating the outside index. Additionally, the ePollbooks will relay information to the Elections Command Center regarding supply levels and check-in times at the various polling locations.
In future elections: Later, we will make use of the ePollbooks’ full functionality. The next step will be to utilize their ability to confirm a voter’s status (including whether or not they have already voted) in real time; this will enable voters at polling locations to put a mail ballot into the ballot box without a return envelope, meaning that it requires no additional verification steps and that it will be counted along with precinct ballots that day. Importantly, this is not going to be an option for voters in this election.

Why aren’t we deploying all of the ePollbooks’ functionality during the June 2, 2026, election?

We are taking the rollout of this new technology in stages, giving both poll workers and voters time to adjust to new processes.

Can the ePollbooks interact directly with the voter registration database?

The County’s official voter registration database is the system of record. An ePollbook is strictly for voter check-in, eligibility verification, and ballot issuance tracking.
Before each election, we securely export voter data into each ePollbook, providing what is essentially a snapshot in time. After the polls close, that information gets synced back into the official voter registration database to update each individual’s official voter history.

Does implementing ePollbooks mean that I can vote at any polling location?

No. Importantly, in-person voters must still vote at their assigned polling location. ePollbooks are simply a tool that makes processing voters at a polling location easier and more efficient. Additionally, they have functionality that connects back to the Elections Command Center to provide updates on polling place activity.

Does having ePollbooks mean that our polling places are now Vote Centers?

No. SLO County remains a traditional polling place county. The CA counties that have adopted the Vote Center model have done so by adhering to very specific legal requirements, after careful planning and significant financial investment in facilities and equipment. They require trained and background-checked staff, not traditional community poll workers. They are also required by law to be open for four to 11 days leading up to and including Election Day, meaning that many of our current, valued polling locations would be unavailable.
To read more about the Voter’s Choice Act and Vote Centers, see More Days, More Ways to Vote :: California Secretary of State

Do ePollbooks eliminate mail ballots?

No. Per California law, counties are legally required to mail a ballot to every registered voter by the 29th day before an election. This is not a choice or something that can be changed or determined by a county elections official or this new technology.

What company produces the ePollbooks that SLO County has?

Are ePollbooks certified by the Secretary of State?

Yes. For more information about ePollbook testing and certification, see OVSTA :: California Secretary of State