From Access Database to Access to the Ballot
At 13, Kyle Daigle got an unusual after-school assignment: help his town’s election office modernize a Microsoft Access database used to generate voter check-in lists. He had no prior experience with the tool, but he figured it out, building custom reports for the upcoming election. The success of that small project led to a PHP website for residents to check their voter registration status—and set Daigle on a dual path toward a career in software and a lifelong commitment to election access.
Daigle, now a Senior Director of Strategic Programs at GitHub, has returned to his hometown’s Registrar of Voters office for most election cycles since. His experience highlights a critical gap in the U.S. election infrastructure: elections are largely staffed by citizen volunteers, and the pipeline is aging. In a post-2016 survey, nearly 65% of jurisdictions said it was “very difficult” or “somewhat difficult” to recruit enough poll workers. Of those who did serve, 32% were aged 61–70 and another 24% were 71 or older.
The COVID-19 pandemic has made that demographic reality urgent. With older adults at far higher risk of severe illness, the coming November election will need new volunteers to secure polling places and keep access fair for all voters. Daigle argues that software engineers are well-suited to step up: their familiarity with digital systems translates directly to the election technology stack, helping to keep lines moving and troubleshoot issues on the spot.
The call to action is concrete. Voters should verify their registration status online. Those interested in serving can find information on becoming a poll worker through the U.S. Election Assistance Commission.
September 22, 2020 is #NationalVoterRegistrationDay. Daigle’s story is part of a series on the 2020 U.S. General Election from GitHub. Their first post, “Ready to vote in the U.S. 2020 elections?”, covers the basics of registration and mail-in voting.
