Stop, Look, and Listen:

New Voting Machines are Coming Your Way!

This November, Connecticut voters will be using new voting machines.  Good-bye to lever machines.  Hello to paper ballots, optical scanners and special privacy booths.

What should you expect when you get to the polls on Election Day?

Checking-in.  First, you will see the demonstrator table staffed by an election official to answer your questions, show you a sample ballot and allow you to view a quick video overview of the voting process.  Please remember to bring an ID with you.  Next, check in as usual.

Getting your ballot.  After the check-in, the ballot clerk will hand you a paper ballot and direct you to a privacy booth for completing your ballot.  The booths will be equipped with felt-tipped pens and magnifying sheets for your convenience.  Completely fill the ovals near the names of the candidates of your choice, paying attention to the number of choices permitted for each race.  If you have questions about how to mark the ballot correctly for the candidates of your choice, you may always ask an election official for further instructions.

The optical scanner.  Take your completed ballot to the scanner – there will be at least one in each polling place – and insert it into the machine.  For privacy, folders are available to cover your completed ballot.  You may insert it either right side up or down.  The machine will scan it, count it and store it in a locked compartment.

Errors.  Whoops!  Did you mistakenly vote for too many candidates in one race?  Did you circle the name instead of filling in the ovals?  Are there any stray marks on the ballot?  The scanner will reject the ballots immediately, returning it back to you to pick up so you can check it for errors.  Voting officials stationed next to the scanner will assist you in determining the problem by reading the message in the machine’s display window.   Take your ballot back to the ballot clerk to get a new one, if needed.  The spoiled one will be invalidated and you can start over again.

If your organization or group would be interested in a short session describing the new process in more detail, please contact Jean Rabinow at LWVCT. We urge you to make voting a priority on Election Day!  Come early and bring a friend.  It’s your world, your voice, your vote.  Every vote counts.

8/6/2007

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©2008 The League of Women Voters of Connecticut, Inc.  All Rights Reserved.