SUMNER COUNTY, Tenn. -
Sumner County's new election software and system was a big hit among voters and poll workers Thursday.
The system, called an electronic pollbook or e-poll book, allows election officials to process voter information during an election.
The e-poll book also shortens the time a voter spends in line.
Marty Bowers, an election official working the Beach High School precinct told Nashville's News 2 the systems proves to be an upgrade.
"The system has made the whole process faster. The old process we had to look up in a ledger book, name and address and everything, and they had to initial it. Now they just scan their driver's license."
Like other polling places, voters in Sumner County have always stood in lines to check in with their voter ID card.
The lines were divided by the first letter of last names. In some instances there might be a dozen people standing in the line for A through G, while the T though Z line was empty.
With the e-poll book method, there is one line with the same number of poll workers cross-checking names and addresses by scanning the voter's driver's license.
Though the new system proved to be quicker, Sumner County Administrator of Elections Lori Atchley admitted there were a few problems.
Some of the problems were with scanners or printers caused several polling stations to open as much as 30 minutes past 7 a.m.
But she said most of the issues were "user errors" and once poll workers are more familiar with the system, the smoother election days will go.
"It's a better system once it gets worked out and it'll be great," Bowers said.
Atchley told News 2 that turnout was light compared to past elections, but that was likely because Democrats were not voting.
The polls remain open until 7 p.m.
