Electronic Poll Books aka Badger Books
The Village of Trempealeau is implementing Badger Book, Wisconsin’s official electronic poll book, to improve election efficiency and security. This system, developed by the Wisconsin Elections Commission (WEC) in 2017, and are the first municipality in Trempealeau County to implement this tool.
Benefits of Badger Book
-
Faster voter check-ins and registrations
-
Simplified absentee ballot processing
-
Smoother polling place operations with fewer errors
-
Improved data accuracy and post-election updates
How It Works
Before elections, voter data is securely loaded onto Badger Books using ENCRYPTED USB Drives. On Election Day, they handle:
✔ Voter check-ins
✔ Absentee ballot processing
✔ Election Day registrations
Afterward, participation data is securely uploaded to WisVote, using ENCRYPTED USB Drives.
Security Measures
-
No internet connection – data is transferred via encrypted USB drives only.
-
Password protection – only authorized poll workers can access it
-
Secure local network – devices communicate only within the polling place
Optional for Municipalities
Using Badger Books is not required—municipalities decide whether to adopt them. WEC provides the software for free, but local governments must purchase the hardware.
Commitment to Secure Elections
The Village of Trempealeau is dedicated to fair, secure, and efficient elections. Badger Books help modernize the process while maintaining public trust. Anyone is welcome to attend the Public Tests held prior to each election day to gain insight into how these processes work.
For more details, contact the Wisconsin Elections Commission at (608) 261-2028 or epollbook@wi.gov. More resources are available at elections.wi.gov.