Vermont launches mobile polling program

(NECN: Anya Huneke, Barre, VT) - Many are expecting record turnout on Election Day this year, including in Vermont, where some who might not have even had the opportunity to vote will cast their ballots. It's all thanks to a pilot mobile polling project. In her 96 years, Alice Late has never missed an opportunity to vote. She's had her favorites through the years, including FDR and, a bit later, Bill Clinton. Today, she cast her ballot in the latest election, and though she's keeping her choice to herself, she's as impassioned as ever. Late's job as a voter has been made easier this time around. She's one of about 100 residents at the Rowan Court Health and Rehab Center in Barre, Vermont, and this year, the polling station came to them. Vermont is implementing a mobile polling pilot project to give hard-to-reach populations across the state, such as seniors, better access to voting. Residents are assisted by two trained voting officials -- one Democrat and one Republican. The idea behind that is to prevent any bias, and also to cut down on voter fraud. Vermont Secretary of State Deb Markowitz says the hope is that this program will help regularize the voting process for those in assisted living and nursing homes, who often vote by absentee ballot. The results will be passed on to researchers at the University of Pennsylvania and the American Bar Association. Harold James gives mobile polling the thumbs up. For him, voting was a must do this election. He put a lot of thought into his decision, and was glad he could so easily make it official.