Unisys Assembles Election Solution Kit With Dell, Microsoft

Unisys Corp. is teaming with Dell Corp. and Microsoft Corp. to provide a fully integrated approach to election management for marketing to state and local governments, Unisys announced today.

The integrated approach to election management envisioned by Unisys of Blue Bell, Pa., includes voter identification and registration, ballot casting and tabulation and results reporting, according to company officials.

Unisys is prepared to tailor the solution to suit the particular needs of a state or county, said Kevin Curry, vice president and general manager of Unisys' Public Sector North America group.

"We can integrate end-to-end solutions that address all requirements, from voter registration and building voter information repositories, through voter identification and casting the ballot, to tabulating, consolidating and reporting the results," he said, "Or we can provide any of the discrete pieces of the process that states or counties want, in the way that will work best for them."

Local officials have said they will be cautious of companies rushing to market with solutions in the aftermath of voting irregularities that surfaced in several states during last year's presidential election.

"Outside companies need to understand the election process before they can assist us," Jane Hague, president of the National Association of Counties and council member of King County, Wash., told Washington Technology.

The announcement was not specific about what Dell of Round Rock, Texas, and Microsoft of Redmond, Wash., will contribute to the package.

However, the Wall Street Journal reported Jan. 11 that Dell will provide computers on which voters will either use a keyboard or a touchscreen to record their choices, and Microsoft will supply the software.