…VotRite stands at the forefront of paperless, hackproof election technology, catering to a diverse range of clients from small towns to large cities, universities to community colleges, and various organizations and is dedicated to ensuring equal access to voting for all individuals, irrespective of race, age, gender ethnicity, or economic status where there’s no chance of fraud using our systems from Left to Right…
As a part of our series about “Big Ideas That Might Change The World In The Next Few Years” we had the pleasure of interviewing Angelica Kapsis.
Angelica Kapsis is co-founder, VotRite and brings a wealth of experience working with voters with disabilities and is fervently committed to ensuring that everyone gets the right to vote in order to foster cohesion and success in both the community and the individual. Kapsis is also a U.S. Navy veteran.
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we dig in, our readers would like to get to know you a bit. Can you please tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?
I first had a business working with special needs, which we call the uniquely abled. I worked for many different organizations learning all fields I could, in all positions I could, associated with marginalized populations and the uniquely abled, as I had to know exactly how to achieve one goal in particular — the freedom to choose what you want. Something this population deserved. A successor to VotRite, my father’s creation, I planned to generalize one step further — freedom to make informed choice. The right to vote, once one can make informed choice, is the very definition of freedom that has allowed people like me to create such success in my former business and by doing so, assisting to serve the total population and include all on my team, my democracy.
Can you please share with us the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?
I did an expo in Louisiana, where an advocacy group represented by persons with disabilities viewed our product and compared it to others using a checklist they created. When they reached VotRite, we had an extended discussion and they began “ordering off a menu,” so to speak, customizing the disability settings as they’d have them. We also met the criteria on their original checklist, not to brag, but we won popular vote that day. I was so excited, I implemented every single point they requested and revamped the entire program for Louisiana. Although, the reward did not pan out as anticipated at the time I’d hoped, I decided one day to bring the system to some of my uniquely abled athletes in New York, whom I have been training for years, through fitness. Without much explanation, they accomplished it with ease. One athlete with quadriplegia, used the head mouse to vote for her brand new chair color. It was a hit, I felt I had won.
Later, I won big. A few of them committed to working with or for me, whichever permits, as a Poll Worker. This may very well become their careers one day. I knew then the value of taking such care of the voter. We trained together, the system was customized to order, they succeeded. They are now equals among the voting population and they are such high achievers, they want to contribute long-term to our democracy and to VotRite. It is one of the most honorable achievements of my life so far and I hope to have the opportunity to see it through.
Which principles or philosophies have guided your life? Your career?
I want to participate in many things that improve the quality of all of our lives. I have really gained exposure growing up. I was a first responder, candy striper, I served my country, I volunteered for over 15 years, and I worked many jobs I might not have been expected to. I wanted to learn how to live a quality life experience, and with that I learned how valuable people are to my experience.
Upon maturing, I now also understand how to accommodate a large number of people, specifically the ever so diverse population called America, and I am always looking for a foundation to create something of quality for those that have allowed me the opportunity to learn. I have dedicated time to the uniquely abled for that specific reason, as well. It has proven invaluable to molding me into the executive at VotRite that is capable of this very achievement.
Ok thank you for that. Let’s now move to the main focus of our interview. Can you tell us about your “Big Idea That Might Change The World”?
VotRite is a relevant, evolved, tested and approved concept that allows a fundamental process essential for the survival of our democracy to be achieved with ease, ongoing. It will alleviate any strain we might feel about trusting our system and it will allow us to participate again, like we were taught to expect growing up, which it is now my generation’s time for.
How do you think this will change the world?
VotRite stands at the forefront of paperless, hackproof election technology, catering to a diverse range of clients from small towns to large cities, universities to community colleges, and various organizations and is dedicated to ensuring equal access to voting for all individuals, irrespective of race, age, gender ethnicity, or economic status where there’s no chance of fraud using our systems from Left to Right.
Keeping “Black Mirror” and the “Law of Unintended Consequences” in mind, can you see any potential drawbacks about this idea that people should think more deeply about?
Potential drawbacks could be learned behaviors in each individual. Fortunately, I have training in that. Once we achieve cohesion as a democracy, we choose what we want, all the time. What drawback?
Was there a “tipping point” that led you to this idea? Can you tell us that story?
We have been tipped, spilled, shaken, you name it when it comes to our election process. Some of the current vendors are first and foremost not of this country. The idea that a foreigner could dictate the process that maintains our government structure and its success, having not been part of such a structure, led to this idea of an American product serving the needs of the American people and its government.
What do you need to lead this idea to widespread adoption?
A lot less effort than the people are used to giving in this current environment. They have been accommodating the needs of many diverse populations immigrating here recently, we have prioritized inclusion and understanding others to the point that we are not always sure if we can speak freely at home, today.
I’d like the people to simply show up, vote how they know how, and let us provide this service. The results are immediate, there is an offered paper trail where we can approach this idea of trust together and verify the results. Once, we agree it is 100% accurate, as it is, we can relax, make adjustments where needed, and have an effective system in place. One problem solved. On to the next.
How we usually are. We don’t get stuck, we are always capable of facilitating and supporting others. We won’t get stuck on this either, with VotRite. America provides enough to always deserve a quality life. This is simply an amenity we are afforded in a democracy and it will be an effective process that remains in place, while we choose what else we enjoy experiencing, as it usually is, historically.
What are your “5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Started” and why.
- Everything you learned and practiced growing up may not be immediately relevant to the career path you end up in:
I thought as a kid, I would master everything so I had permission to use it. I had qualifications from fire suppression to diving, mechanics to medicine. It may have been every field aside from business, and here we are. We are absolutely here now.
2. People can be absolute allies or simply absolutely similar to it when it comes to big business, who knew how big:
I was so forthcoming when I entered the business field. I was so accustomed to the etiquette in the human services field, the labor of love field. Then, I realized, my intentions were never heard of in the business field, especially when dealing with potential investors or competitors seeking, well, what they seek.
3. Your heart is almost enough to achieve, it is not enough:
My advice is, if you feel invested in something and you know you are a good fit, you then focus on building skills you do not have yet to achieve it. They are skills you have simply not developed, until you focus on where the heart is at. Your intention is good, now become capable of achieving it.
4. Not many, aside from you, weigh extracurricular activities and volunteer work when addressing business goals:
My background is diverse. I enjoy many things and I find relevance from many sources when discussing business and subsequent implications. Those that studied a business trajectory, know what they are exposed to. This was an endearing day of edification for me as I was welcomed to my executive role at VotRite.
5. When they stopped accepting master resumes:
I went to a resume writing class, just to check-in and update my beautiful 2 page, thorough resume. I left, wondering if we’ll get a vote on it someday.
Can you share with our readers what you think are the most important “success habits” or “success mindsets”?
For this role, you play many roles. The contribution you can make is enormous, and you do not quit until you are satisfied with that contribution.
Marcus Aurelius wrote “don’t forget, keep in mind, and always remember.” A habit is as consistent as that discipline, practicing and applying it will provide success until the contributor is satisfied.
Some very well known VCs read this column. If you had 60 seconds to make a pitch to a VC, what would you say? He or she might just see this if we tag them 🙂
Think how refreshing it would be if elections were not only 100 percent fair and accurate but totally believable regardless of which political side you’re on? Well, VotRite’s Paperless, Hackproof Electronic Voting System Will Finally Make Election Results Believable Left and Right!
How can our readers follow you on social media?
https://www.facebook.com/VotriteVotingTechnology/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/votrite-systems/
Thank you so much for joining us. This was very inspirational.
VotRite: Angelica Kapsis’s Big Idea That Might Change The World was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.