(I’m listening to “Let the Good Times Roll” by The Cars)

Voting usually involves a sizable time commitment to stand in long lines and get your eligibility checked before finally proceeding to the voting booth. But after it’s over, do you ever get a lingering suspicion that your effort may have been in vain and your vote will not actually be counted?

The recent November 3 election in my town, Takoma Park, Maryland, saw the first-ever use of a voting system that would allow you to verify that, in fact, your vote was counted and your time was not wasted. It also lets you play the role of being your own elections monitor to ensure that your vote went to the candidate of your choice.

The system involves the use of paper ballots and specially designed ink that prints a unique three-letter code once you have marked your choice. The voter writes down the serial number of their ballot and the codes. After the polls close in the evening, they can go online and type the serial number of their ballot and see an image of it. Then they can check that the three-letter codes that were revealed when they made their choice are in fact the same ones on the ballot they see on the computer screen.

Of course, on the technical and transparency side, there is more to it, and I encourage you to check out this article.

Also, in full disclosure, I did not do my civic duty and go to the polls, where our mayor was up for re-election and there were a few contested and uncontested city council representations at stake. Otherwise I would now be able to report on my own test of the new system. Next year I promise to do better.