# Trailer | The Systems Behind the Ballots: How ISEs are Strengthening Elections

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/problem-solved-the-iise-podcast-342916/trailer-the-systems-behind-the-ballots-how-ises-are-strengthening-elections
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/problem-solved-the-iise-podcast-342916/trailer-the-systems-behind-the-ballots-how-ises-are-strengthening-elections.md
Podcast: [Problem Solved: The IISE Podcast](https://stenobird.com/podcast/problem-solved-the-iise-podcast-342916)
Published: 2026-01-20T10:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://podcast.iise.org/episodes/trailer-the-systems-behind-the-ballots
Audio file: https://media.transistor.fm/f8aff4eb/9848fa28.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/problem-solved-the-iise-podcast-342916/episodes/trailer-the-systems-behind-the-ballots-how-ises-are-strengthening-elections
Duration seconds: 68

## Resource

Elections are one of the most complex systems we rely on. They're decentralized, human-driven, time-critical, and under constant scrutiny. And while hundreds of decisions are made under the surface, most of us only see the final result. In this upcoming episode of Problem Solved , IISE’s Keith Albertson sits down with Dr. Natalie Scala of Towson University to explore the systems behind the ballot and how industrial and systems engineers are strengthening elections. From polling places to poll worker support, supply chains and trust in outcomes, Dr. Scala explains how classic ISE tools are being applied to one of the most consequential systems in society all while remaining nonpartisan. This conversation goes beyond politics and into process, people, and design. https://www.drnataliescala.com/ Natalie M. Scala, Ph.D., is a professor and professor and cyber fellow in the College of Business and Economics at Towson University and co-director of the Empowering Secure Elections research lab. She is a faculty affiliate at the University of Maryland Applied Research Lab for Intelligence and Security, and has shared her expertise, research and work regarding elections security in conference presentations, articles for ISE Magazine and a Season 1 episode of Problem Solved in 2020. Learn more about The Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers (IISE) Problem Solved on LinkedIn Problem Solved on YouTube Problem Solved on Instagram Problem Solved on TikTok Problem Solved Executive Producer: Elizabeth Grimes Interested in contributing to the podcast or sponsoring an episode? Email egrimes@iise.org

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## Transcript

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