State ranks high for online-voting system

State residents who vote online this presidential election year may find the process more user-friendly than ever.

A recent Pew Center on the States study ranked Maryland second in the country for the accessibility and services provided to online voters — including technology university staff members developed — with Minnesota leading the pack. The study, "Being Online Is Still Not Enough," analyzed the State Board of Elections website and the Maryland Elections Center website, the latter of which is operated by this university's Center for American Politics and Citizenship.

The MEC website — which the center developed in 2008 before launching it in 2009 — stood out because of the accessible information and unique services developed over the past several years, according to CAPC Coordinator Michael Charlebois.

"The site has a lot of easy-to-use information," Charlebois said. "We keep it up to date and make sure it has all the content the voter needs."

One of the website's most innovative features is an online absentee ballot system that allows voters to download ballots instead of waiting for them to come in the mail — a service Charlebois said is especially beneficial to students voting out of state as well as disabled individuals and military personnel. He added that the absentee ballot system received positive feedback when the center surveyed students on the system last year.

In addition, the website provides easily accessible information for each voter, including their voting status and polling location, as well as information on who funded campaigns and how officials raised money for them. Voters can also download sample ballots to look at prior to Election Day.

"I think it's vital that voters have easy access to information about their polling place and how to get their absentee ballot," CAPC Research Director Michael Hanmer said. "The Maryland Elections Center website has made great strides in allowing them to do that."

Junior government and politics major Zach Cohen, the Student Government Association's director of governmental affairs, said these services are especially vital for student voters.

"One of the biggest obstacles for students to vote is access to absentee ballots or polling places," Cohen said. "The more digital the process can be, the more accessible it'll be for students."

CAPC Director Paul Herrnson said much of the information provided on the website was collected by undergraduate students to give them the opportunity to work on public policy topics.

"Our mission is to address major public policy issues of today and help students address them for tomorrow," Herrnson said.

While the website currently focuses on the state legislature, Herrnson said the site might widen its scope in the face of the upcoming presidential election.

"The website deals primarily with state government, but we'll probably branch to the federal government later this year," Herrnson said.

saravia@umdbk.com