Electronic Pollbook
ExpressPoll®
The industry-leading ExpressPoll application is designed to work seamlessly with ES&S’ Universal Voting System product family and tabulators, providing voters with a smooth voting experience from start to finish. Designed to meet the needs of various election types and workflows, ExpressPoll can accommodate all state-required configurations.
Security features:
- Physical and System Access Controls
- Encryption
Creating a smooth voting experience
from start to finish
Confidence for election officials
- Microsoft® Surface Go tablet utilizes Windows 10 Enterprise 2019 LTSC, which supports critical security updates from Microsoft through January of 2029.
- Helps reduce provisional voting by providing up-to-date absentee status or directions to the correct polling place.
- When used with ExpressPoll Connect, all updates are automatically sent and received in near real-time across the jurisdiction, without any action required by the poll worker.
- Generates voter, ballot and turnout reports on demand.
- Operates as a single-use device — poll workers cannot close down the application or start any other application on the tablet.
- ExpressPoll supports the issuing of a ballot.
Quick and accurate voter verification for poll workers
- On-screen prompts guide poll workers through each step of the process.
- Poll workers can confidently complete a voter look-up and issue the correct ballot using minimal steps.
- Voter records displayed in search results use actionable color coding, making it easy for poll workers to understand the relevant action they need to take and reducing the time it takes to process what should be a simple decision.
- Poll workers are able to quickly redirect voters who appear at the wrong polling location and provide detailed information on their current location.
Peace of mind for voters
- Provides a quick and efficient check-in process.
- Instills confidence that voters are in the correct polling location and were issued the correct ballot style.
Our poll managers told us ExpressPoll is fantastic — so simple to use. They can quickly and confidently understand what actions they need to take for each voter.”
Security you can count on.®
System application controls
ExpressPoll runs on a hardened tablet. This tablet comes pre-installed with Windows 10 and the ExpressPoll application that is approved for use in the jurisdiction. Besides ExpressPoll, no application can be installed or started on the tablet, and all unnecessary services and programs—including web browsers—are disabled or uninstalled. This locked-down configuration of the tablet prevents potentially disruptive updates. In addition, each tablet utilizes the following security services:
- Cryptographic functions of the Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0 chip within the motherboard
- A dedicated microcontroller to secure the tablet with integrated cryptographic keys
- Secure Boot, Microsoft’s BitLocker Encryption, and AppLocker allowlisting technologies to detect and resist tampering of the trusted Windows operating system
- Windows Defender to regularly protect against malware (malicious software) and viruses
Physical and system access controls
- ExpressPoll uses role-based security to manage access to features in the application and restrict sensitive functions to specific user roles.
- The ExpressPoll Terminal, Flip stand, and their dedicated cases provide physical protection to the ExpressPoll tablet during storage, transportation and typical use.
- Both cases can be further secured with locks and tamper-evident seals.
Secure data controls
- All data stored and accessed on the tablet is secured with AES-256 encryption and is password protected. Running code-obfuscating software reduces the risk of the data being decompiled and reverse engineered. If an ExpressPoll is unlawfully removed from a polling location, election officials can protect data from the unit remotely.
- Data is securely transferred between pollbooks and, if configured, to a host server usingAES-256 encryption. For pollbook devices to exchange voter data, the devices must be programmed with the same election, which prevents data contamination from other devices.
- Sharing information between a jurisdiction’s ExpressPoll tablets, such as when voters are identified and issued a ballot, ensures that no voter is able to vote twice.
- Neither the tablet nor the ExpressPoll application houses sensitive voter data, such as social security or driver’s license numbers. By default, poll workers must search for a voter by last name, first name, date of birth, voter address or voter party.
Network security
- The ExpressPoll tablet cannot connect to unsecured wireless networks, such as public networks that don’t require passwords, and requires a minimum of WPA2 wireless security. Also, the tablet does not use Bluetooth® technology.
- ExpressPoll is fully functional in an offline mode. This means network connectivity—whether with other tablets in the jurisdiction or with a host server—is not mandatory.
- When the ExpressPoll tablet connects to a secure network, data synchronizes with peers or the host server without interruption.
Need more information?
That’s why we’re here. The dedicated ES&S representative for your state can help you determine the best solutions for your jurisdiction.