USING THE BALLOT MARKING DEVICE (BMD)
- See the ballot on the display screen
- Listen to the ballot through audio headphones
- Touch Screen
- Key Pad (Braille)
- Sip & Puff Device
- Rocker Paddle
- Decide how you will access and mark the ballot.
- Insert your ballot into the feed tray.
- Select your preferred language.
- The BMD will guide you through the process of making your choices and reviewing your selections.
- To change a selection, select the contest or issue you would like to change and reselect the proper choice. Select "NEXT" to return to the summary screen.
- Select "Mark Ballot" to print your marked ballot.
- Take your printed ballot to the scanner area.
- If you would like assistance inserting your ballot into the scanner, a poll worker will assist you.
Remember…
There may be candidates and/or ballot proposals to vote for on the back.
The scanner will not tell you that you failed to mark an oval for one or more races or ballot questions. This is called “undervoting.” Look your ballot over carefully before you scan it. Be sure you voted for every race and every ballot proposal. Once the scanner accepts your ballot, you will not get a second chance to vote.
Do not use “X” or "√" or circle the oval.
In the first column of each row, the ballot will say how many choices you have. In most cases, it will say “Vote for ONE”, but in some cases it may say “Vote for any TWO”, “Vote for any THREE”, etc. Please read the ballot carefully so you do not overvote or undervote.
If you want to vote for a candidate who is not listed on the ballot, you must:
- completely fill in the oval in the area provided for write-in candidates and
- write or stamp the name of the candidate in that same box.
Problems & Solutions
Do not try to erase or change your ballot. Ask a poll worker for a new ballot. Each voter can request up to 3 ballots total.
If you overvote, your vote for that office or ballot proposal will not be counted. If you realize you have overvoted before placing your ballot in the scanner, ask a poll worker for a new ballot to fill out. If you insert a ballot with an overvote into the scanner, the display screen will show an error message with two choices. Select “Don’t Cast – Return Ballot”, and the scanner will return your ballot so you can ask a poll worker for a new ballot to fill out. If you choose “Cast Ballot”, the scanner will keep your ballot and your vote will not be counted for the contest in which you overvoted, but the rest of your choices will count.
There will be a magnifying sheet available. You can also ask to use a Ballot Marking Device (BMD).