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Geo-Enabling Elections

Courses to help you get started on integrating geographic information systems (GIS)

table of contents

Election officials manage more voting information these days, and errors in data like voter registration assignments can lead to a scenario every election administrator wants to avoid: voters getting the wrong ballots in the mail or at the polls.

“Geo-Enabling Elections” is a five course series that explores the use of geographic information systems (GIS) to increase the accuracy and reliability of election data.

The Center for Tech and Civic Life created this tool as part of the US Alliance for Election Excellence in collaboration with the National States Geographic Information Council.

What you’ll need

What you’ll need

  • Computer with internet access 
  • Colleagues whose responsibilities include election data management such as voter registration information
Getting started

Getting started

About this series

Integrating geographic information systems (GIS) with voter registration and other election processes can improve data accuracy, limit risk, save resources and time, and boost voter confidence. These “geo-enabled elections” systems also provide opportunities for innovative, interactive tools that help election offices do everything from inform voters about wait times on Election Day to update precinct maps during the recent redistricting process.

Each 60 minute course in this series highlights one of NSGIC’s five best practices for geo-enabling elections, written by a team of election officials and their GIS partners.

Series Objectives

  • Explore key concepts, terms, examples, and potential partners with case studies from local and state officials
  • Implement best practices for developing, maintaining, and sharing geospatial information
  • Audit precinct assignment accuracy so the right ballot gets to the right voter

Target Audience

  • State and local election administrators with the staffing capacity to facilitate technically complex, cross-governmental partnerships
  • GIS professionals seeking to understand the specific opportunities and challenges of working with elections offices and their data
  • Others looking for an overview of the scope and impact of geo-enabled elections approaches
GIS101: Convening a Team of Specialists

GIS101: Convening a Team of Specialists

This course will help you identify local & state partners to support your future GIS work and goals, prioritize initial conversation topics with partners to set your team up for success, and communicate the benefits of partnering with peer offices on GIS projects. 

Access the course materials:

GIS102: Collecting & Sustaining a Voting Unit GIS Layer

GIS102: Collecting & Sustaining a Voting Unit GIS Layer

This course will help you identify the steps to build a voting unit GIS layer, implement a plan for updating precinct boundaries using GIS software, and develop documentation to maintain your voting unit GIS layer.

Access the course materials: 

GIS103: Implementing a Geocoding Strategy

GIS103: Implementing a Geocoding Strategy

This course will help you define and discuss geocoding and a geocoding strategy, and describe the geocoding process in an election administration context.

Access the course materials: 

GIS104: Assembling Best Available Contextual Layers

GIS104: Assembling Best Available Contextual Layers

This course will help you identify the contextual data needs in your office, use complementary spatial data like aerial imagery to improve election data accuracy, and utilize GIS data to support resource allocation decisions.

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GIS105: Defining & Implementing Data Validation Processes

GIS105: Defining & Implementing Data Validation Processes

This course will help you describe how validation practices are a necessary part of geo-enabled elections, and practice developing audit plans to ensure accurate voter placement.

Access the course materials: 

Customizing for your office

Customizing for your office

Any tips for customizing this resource for my office?

These courses offer a variety of best practices when adopting GIS in your election offices. A component of this work is identifying key partnerships that can help you throughout the process. It’s recommended that you spend time thinking about who those right partners are in your state, and creating a system that works well with your existing processes.

How do I know if this resource is helping?

You know you’ve developed a functional geographic information system if there is a reduction of election data discrepancies, and your data becomes easier to quality control.  

Which Standards of Excellence does this resource support?

  • Voting Operations

Which Values of Excellence does this resource support? Why?

Values for the U.S. Alliance for Election Excellence define our shared vision for the way election departments across the country can aspire to excellence. These values help us navigate the challenges of delivering successful elections and maintaining our healthy democracy.

Alliance values are nonpartisan and designed by local election officials, designers, technologists and other experts to support local election departments.

You may find this tool especially helpful for this Value:

  • High integrity. Using geographic information systems (GIS) can help boost election data accuracy and efficiency. 
  • Voter-centricity. Ensuring election data accuracy helps voters more easily verify that they’ve been included in the correct voting districts.

To learn more about the Values for Election Excellence, and to see the full list, visit the Alliance website.

Sharing feedback

Sharing feedback

How was this resource developed?

This resource has been developed based on research, but has yet to be tested with voters or put into practice. Share your experience with this resource and improve it for your peers by reaching out to support@ElectionExcellence.org.

How do I stay in touch? 

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