CHENANGO COUNTY – For the first time, Chenango County will be implementing an electronic voter check-in process and allowing for early voting opportunities.

According to Chenango County Democratic Party Commissioner Carol Franklin, KNOWink Poll Pads will be at each polling site for future elections. Franklin described the Poll Pads as iPads that will have the names of voters eligible to vote in the November 5 General Election.

She said Chenango County has approximately 70 of the Poll Pads, and is in the process of training poll inspectors on how they’re used.

“The important thing to note is – these devices won’t be connected to our voting system, this is just to keep track of who is eligible to vote,” said Franklin.

She said poll workers will ask for your name, even if they know who you are, and then query your name in the Poll Pad database.

“The state is hoping that this will also help with the early voting, because it is supposed to prevent people from voting twice,” she added.