Legal Definitions - poll book

Definition: A poll book is a list of all the people who are eligible and registered to vote in a particular voting district. In the past, poll books were used to record votes before the introduction of the secret ballot. Nowadays, electronic poll books are replacing the older paper-based ones.

For example, in the United States, electronic poll books are used in a majority of states. These e-poll books allow voters to sign in electronically and poll workers to scan driver’s licenses to pull up voter information. They can also redirect voters to the correct polling place, find real-time updates of voter history, see turnout numbers, and check whether a voter has already voted at another polling place.

However, there are concerns that e-poll books could pose greater security threats than the traditional paper-based ones and are more subject to cyber attacks.

In the United Kingdom and former British colonies, poll books are usually called “electoral rolls.”

Historically, poll books were used to record votes before the introduction of the secret ballot. Voters used to publicly raise their hands and have their names recorded in a poll book to have their vote recorded for an election.

Overall, a poll book is an important tool for ensuring that only eligible voters are allowed to vote in an election. It helps to prevent voter fraud and ensures that the election results are accurate.