AAMSCO Identification Products and Datacard Group Partner for State of Arkansas’s New Voter ID Card Program

Mon, Oct 07, 2013 20:11 CET

New voter ID program will go into effect in 2014 and will require individuals living in Arkansas to show an identification card at the polls when they vote.

Datacard Group, the world leader in secure ID and card personalization solutions, and AAMSCO Identification Products, an Arkansas-based company specializing in card personalization solutions and an Enterprise Solutions Provider for Datacard Group, today announced that they have partnered to offer the Arkansas Secretary of State’s Office services, support, software and hardware solutions for a new voter ID program that will be rolling out in 2014.

The new voter ID card program will require citizens to show photo identification in order to vote at the polls – which will be mandated via a new state law that was recently passed, Act 595, going into effect January 1, 2014. After consulting with AAMSCO to determine specific needs for the program, voter ID card requirements and design preferences, the state purchased a total of 98 Datacard®SP25 Plus card printers—which will be installed in the 75 county clerks offices—as well as Datacard ID Works®identification software, and cameras for photo capture. AAMSCO will also be providing local services, support to the state.

“We are very pleased to team with Datacard Group on this project, as their technology is widely regarded in the industry,” said Geoff Riordan, president of AAMSCO. “The Arkansas Secretary of State had specific requirements that we had to meet, and not only were we able to meet them and ensure that they have the technology solutions and local support required for the new voter ID program, but we were also able to come in under budget so that they can use those funds to help educate individuals as they roll this out.”

Each county clerk office will personalize their own voter ID cards for citizens living within the designated county. Individuals will have their cardholder information and photo captured by the county offices, and then the voter ID cards will be personalized immediately on the Datacard SP25 printers – photos, county clerk signature and a watermark for security and authentication purposes will all be printed on the cards.

“When organizations and/or government entities implement a new ID card program, it’s important that they partner with a company that can help them navigate through the various technologies and offerings in the market,” said Kathleen Phillips, vice president of global channel strategy and operations for Datacard Group. “AAMSCO brought immense expertise and advice to the state. The combination of that—along with Datacard Group’s products—provides a very powerful solution that will enable the state to have a cost-effective and streamlined process for issuing voter ID cards.”