How Nevada Hopes To Restore Faith In The Democratic Caucusing Process

With Nevada set to participate in the nomination process on Feb. 22, Democrat officials there are scrambling to ensure that they won’t have to face a repeat of the quagmire that surrounded the Iowa caucus. But more than just making it as seamless as possible, caucus organizers are hoping to restore the faith of voters in the process.

Unsurprisingly, one of the first decisions made by the Nevada Democratic Party was to jettison the app used in Iowa, where Shadow Inc.’s app experienced service issues, delaying caucus results for days. Instead, Nevada will fall back on using paper ballots and scanners, but that isn’t to say they’re going completely low-tech.

Volunteers participating in the counting of results will be issued iPads with a pre-loaded “tool.” Information on the new tool – which officials insist is not the same as an app – and how it will be used is currently scarce. That’s due in part to few individuals having had hands-on time with these iPads on, coupled with their short notice implementation, according to the Associated Press.

Seth Morrison, who will be tasked with overseeing several precincts, told AP that he had been told that the tool was “professionally developed.” Party officials said they were hesitant to name the developer, citing concerns about cybersecurity. Critics worry that this lack of transparency, however, makes it impossible to independently evaluate the team behind the new tool.

Morrison said he has yet to spend any time using the new iPads and tool, and has been told to expect to get his hands on them a few days ahead of the caucus. During this time, he’ll need to train and sample his team of volunteers.

“They’ve been saying basically, ‘Don’t worry. Trust us.’ I’ve been hyperventilating for the last five days,” Morrison said.

Unlike Iowa, Nevada will offer early in-person caucusing between Feb. 15 and 18. This is due to the last minute change in how the caucus will be conducted. Though there is some concern that voters will be confused about the process or that this extra step will needlessly complicate matters.

According to a memo released Tuesday, early voters will be checked in by volunteers using a PDF with the voter roll open on an iPad; they will then enter information into an online check-in system using the iPad. Voters will then enter their choice on a paper ballot, which will later be scanned.

With the first two states having voted in the nomination contest, all eyes now turn to Nevada.