Federal legislation passed by Congress, the Help America Vote Act (HAVA), requires that each polling place be equipped with a voter assist terminal for individuals with disabilities. These devices are designed to provide voters with disabilities the opportunity to vote independently and privately. HAVA requires the devices must be available for the 2006 elections. Funding for the purchase of the equipment was allocated by the federal government to each state. The State of Minnesota has certified the AutoMARK from Election Systems and Software for use in Minnesota to meet the HAVA requirement to provide a voter assist terminal. Hennepin County purchased the equipment for each city with HAVA grant funds from the State of Minnesota. As a result, the AutoMARK will be available in every Orono polling place for voters with disabilities for the upcoming Elections.

How does it work?

The voters receive the same optical scan paper ballot whether they will vote using a pen or the AutoMARK ballot marking device. The AutoMARK is a tool - an “electronic pen” - to assist the voter in marking the ballot. The AutoMARK has special features to assist voters with disabilities that make it difficult to mark an optical scan paper ballot (i.e. blind, poor eyesight, unable to hold a pen). When the voter inserts the ballot into the AutoMARK, an electronic version of the ballot appears on the screen. The screen provides options for reverse contrast, enlargement for easier reading, or for being turned off for privacy if a voter chooses to access the ballot by using earphones and keypad. The recorded audio description of the ballot can be used in place of or in conjunction with the visual version on the screen. The voter makes selections by the touch screen, the keypad, or alternative adaptive method.

The AutoMARK ballot marking device provides voters the opportunity to review and verify their selections. Upon the voter’s direction, the AutoMARK marks the ovals on the optical scan ballot. The voter then inserts the ballot into the M-100 ballot counter used by all voters in the precinct. The voting process remains the same for voters who do not need the assistance of the AutoMARK for marking a ballot. Votes are tallied by the ballot counter to produce precinct results.

Want to learn more?

Demonstrations of the new voter assist terminals will be available at City Hall prior to the 2006 Primary election.