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This study asks the question “to what extent do electronic election systems affect perceptions of election legitimacy in the U.S.?” The use of these systems is growing in the U.S. and abroad. Frequently, the justification for using electronic technology in election administration is that it reduces human-induced error – accidental error or intentional fraud – making elections cleaner and more credible. This study examines the effects on perceived election legitimacy of two electronic election technologies: electronic poll books and biometric voter identity verification. Poll books are record-keeping devices that allow election officials to determine which individuals are eligible to vote and where. Voters match their identity in the poll book to confirm they are eligible to vote. Electronic technology exists and is used for both poll books and voter identity verification. This pre-registered study tests these ideas in a pair of survey experiments conducted with samples of voting-age adults in the U.S.
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This content will become publicly available on September 16, 2026
Rage Against the Machine?: Assessing Election Administrators’ Perceptions of Electronic Voting Systems
Concerns over foreign and domestic interference have raised questions about the legitimacy of U.S. elections. While research has explored election administration and public views on electronic voting, little attention has been given to election administrators’ perspectives. This study addresses that gap by examining how Georgia election officials perceive the use of electronic pollbooks (e-pollbooks) for voter check-in. The research hypothesizes that administrators view e-pollbooks as enhancing democratic legitimacy and election security. To test this, the paper presents findings from an NSF-funded online survey conducted two months before the 2024 general election. The survey was distributed to all 159 Georgia county election administrators and received IRB approval. It asked respondents to evaluate the security, reliability, ease of use, and fairness of various voter check-in systems, along with broader characteristics of elections in their counties. The results offer insight into how those managing elections assess the tools that support electoral integrity.
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- Award ID(s):
- 2131538
- PAR ID:
- 10642758
- Publisher / Repository:
- APSA Preprints
- Date Published:
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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