{"id":2916552,"date":"2025-08-12T07:50:54","date_gmt":"2025-08-12T14:50:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/?post_type=blog&p=2916552"},"modified":"2025-08-12T07:59:34","modified_gmt":"2025-08-12T14:59:34","slug":"marion-county-or-transforms-ballot-security-with-the-election-management-solution","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-solutions\/local-government\/marion-county-or-transforms-ballot-security-with-the-election-management-solution","title":{"rendered":"Marion County, OR, transforms ballot security with the Election Management solution"},"author":318082,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_searchwp_excluded":""},"categories":[22851,22841,22871],"tags":[780512,780502,773452,780492,29481],"industry":[],"product":[42661],"class_list":["post-2916552","blog","type-blog","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-national-government","category-local-government","category-state-government","tag-ballots","tag-chain-of-custody","tag-customer-success","tag-election-management","tag-elections","product-arcgis-solutions"],"acf":{"short_description":"Marion County, Oregon, uses the Election Management solution to improve ballot chain of custody.","flexible_content":[{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

ArcGIS Solutions helps you make the most of your GIS by providing purpose-driven, industry-specific configurations of ArcGIS.<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

When voters drop their ballots at a polling location or drop box, they are placing great faith in their local election officials, a responsibility that officials\u2014often under intense scrutiny\u2014do not take lightly. Yet many election organizations still rely on outdated paper-based processes to manage ballot chain of custody, creating gaps in accountability.<\/p>\n

The Election Management solution by ArcGIS Solutions was designed to help organizations run efficient election operations and monitor election day performance. The solution integrates location intelligence and real-time data collection, facilitating secure operations, informed voters, and trusted outcomes\u2014before, during, and after election day.<\/p>\n

One of the most important parts of an election is documenting the handling and transfer of ballots. Transparent and trustworthy elections rely on ballot chain of custody, which can be especially challenging for counties managing mail-in ballots and multiple drop boxes across a voting district. Here’s how one forward-thinking county is using Election Management to significantly improve how they track ballot chain of custody.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

Finding solutions<\/h2>\n

Marion County, Oregon, is nestled in the heart of the Willamette Valley. Home to Salem, the state capital, its population\u2014two thirds of whom are registered voters\u2014is spread across nearly 1200 square miles, as are its 21 ballot drop-site locations.<\/p>\n

For years, county election officials used paper forms to track supplies and ballot chain of custody, but it was a challenge to maintain verifiable documentation and efficiently archive records. Later, they began digitizing communication using text messages, but to archive records, staff either had to take screenshots of the messages or use software to export them into PDF files.<\/p>\n

Election officials began exploring ways to improve ballot chain of custody and provide better security for their drivers. Then, in early October 2024, they learned about the Election Management solution, \u00a0a configurable set of maps and apps available within the county\u2019s existing ArcGIS organizational account. The county deployed, set up, and configured the solution, having it up and running within a day and a half. By the November election, the solution was in place and ready to go.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2916772,"id":2916772,"title":"2BallotSiteMapDeskTabletInset","filename":"2BallotSiteMapDeskTabletInset.png","filesize":518134,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/07\/2BallotSiteMapDeskTabletInset.png","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-solutions\/local-government\/marion-county-or-transforms-ballot-security-with-the-election-management-solution\/2ballotsitemapdesktabletinset","alt":"Desktop showing a ballot site map. Photos and information about each site is listed on the left and a map is on the right with red point features dotting the map. A tablet is inset, showing one drop site, with an image and detailed info on the left.","author":"318082","description":"","caption":"Voters can visit the county\u2019s website to discover their nearest drop site, its location, and its hours of operation. ","name":"2ballotsitemapdesktabletinset","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2916552,"date":"2025-07-31 19:02:53","modified":"2025-07-31 19:05:01","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/png","type":"image","subtype":"png","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1000,"height":611,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/07\/2BallotSiteMapDeskTabletInset-213x200.png","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/07\/2BallotSiteMapDeskTabletInset.png","medium-width":427,"medium-height":261,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/07\/2BallotSiteMapDeskTabletInset.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":469,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/07\/2BallotSiteMapDeskTabletInset.png","large-width":1000,"large-height":611,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/07\/2BallotSiteMapDeskTabletInset.png","1536x1536-width":1000,"1536x1536-height":611,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/07\/2BallotSiteMapDeskTabletInset.png","2048x2048-width":1000,"2048x2048-height":611,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/07\/2BallotSiteMapDeskTabletInset-761x465.png","card_image-width":761,"card_image-height":465,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/07\/2BallotSiteMapDeskTabletInset.png","wide_image-width":1000,"wide_image-height":611}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

Transforming processes<\/h2>\n

Organizations that deploy Election Management receive several configured apps that can be customized as necessary to fit each organization\u2019s needs. For example, the Marion County GIS team easily adapted the solution\u2019s ArcGIS Survey123 collection form to include a drop-down list of different ballot box types and configured the form to work with QR codes.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"quote","author_name":"Phillip King","author_profession_organization":"Election Support Specialist","image":false,"text":"The solution has dramatically improved our ability to manage our drop site pickups and keep a detailed record of ballot chain of custody."},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

Now, when a driver arrives at a drop-box location, they pull up the form on their mobile device and scan the QR Code affixed to the drop box, capturing date, time, location, and other important data. The driver enters their departure time and taps to send the form. The data is immediately visible on a live dashboard monitored by drop-site coordinators, who can then track ballots from the minute a driver picks them up from a drop site.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2916752,"id":2916752,"title":"BallotCollectionDashboard","filename":"BallotCollectionDashboard.png","filesize":1572180,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/07\/BallotCollectionDashboard.png","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-solutions\/local-government\/marion-county-or-transforms-ballot-security-with-the-election-management-solution\/ballotcollectiondashboard","alt":"Dashboard showing locations on the left and a map on the right. The map has an orange line feature representing routs and blue point features representing ballot drop sites.","author":"318082","description":"","caption":"The Ballot Collection Dashboard app allows drop-site coordinators to track a driver\u2019s route and see exactly what time they arrived and departed each drop site they visited. ","name":"ballotcollectiondashboard","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2916552,"date":"2025-07-31 18:59:06","modified":"2025-07-31 19:00:28","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/png","type":"image","subtype":"png","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":2586,"height":1860,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/07\/BallotCollectionDashboard-213x200.png","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/07\/BallotCollectionDashboard.png","medium-width":363,"medium-height":261,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/07\/BallotCollectionDashboard.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":552,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/07\/BallotCollectionDashboard.png","large-width":1502,"large-height":1080,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/07\/BallotCollectionDashboard-1536x1105.png","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1105,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/07\/BallotCollectionDashboard-2048x1473.png","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":1473,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/07\/BallotCollectionDashboard-647x465.png","card_image-width":647,"card_image-height":465,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/07\/BallotCollectionDashboard-1502x1080.png","wide_image-width":1502,"wide_image-height":1080}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

Election officials are thrilled with how well the solution has improved the accuracy, reliability, and speed of the county\u2019s data collection. \u201c[This] solution increased our effectiveness in deploying staff for ballot processing in the office,\u201d says Acting Elections Manager Mesa Confer. \u201cWe experienced minimal downtime thanks to the ability to monitor the status of incoming ballots in real time.\u201d<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

Improving security<\/h2>\n

Streamlining the ballot collection process has helped election officials ensure better security for their volunteer drivers. \u201cWith mail-in balloting and the use of multiple drop boxes, in order to assist in ballot security, it is vital to have some form of \u2018chain of custody\u2019 to provide the maximum amount of ballot security possible,\u201d says Ron Hall, a drop-site coordinator. He adds that that the county\u2019s adoption of the Election Management solution is a huge step forward in ensuring that the county\u2019s electoral processes are as secure as possible for everyone involved. \u201cNot only are citizens assured that what they have deposited into a drop box is securely and timely retrieved and processed,\u201d he says, \u201cBut\u2026ballot couriers tasked with ballot retrieval are protected from possible maleficence and accusations.\u201d<\/p>\n

Acting Elections Manager Mesa Confer concurs. \u201cThis solution allowed our team to generate a live and easily accessible record of ballot chain of custody,\u201d she says. \u201cIt also enhanced our drivers’ confidence in their personal safety by documenting and allowing on-site staff to view the location of drivers in the field, which is especially important given the increasing threats to election workers.\u201d<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

Learn more<\/h2>\n

For more information about the Election Management solution, check out the following resources:\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n