Oregon elections officials are testing iPads to help people with disabilities vote in today’s special election in the state, after choosing the Apple device over Windows and Android tablets.
It’s a very small program, for now, but pilot is getting attention across the country because Oregon pioneered the idea of having everyone vote by mail. Oregon is testing the Apple device as a way to replace a bulky laptop-based system nearing the end of its life, reports the Associated Press.
Under the program, elections workers take the iPads to voters. Apple donated five iPads for the test, and the state spent $75,000 to create the voting software, which still requires the ballot to be printed out and mailed to the elections department, according to the AP report.
As of yesterday, about 12 people had voted via iPad, reports the Oregonian.
Politico reports that Oregon elections officials tested the iPad vs. an Android tablet, a Windows-based tablet, the Lenovo Thinkpad and a traditional laptop at meetings of accessibility groups prior to rolling out the pilot program.
