| Four Methods for Voting in West Virginia |
| Four different methods of voting are currently being utilized in the State of West Virginia. With the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) the state was provided financial assistance in purchasing new voting systems. Use the links or scroll down to learn more about the four systems and which counties will now be using those systems on Election Day and view an on-line demonstration. |
| Direct Recording |
Barbour
Berkeley
Boone
Brooke
Cabell
Calhoun
Doddridge
Greenbrier
Hancock
Jackson
Lincoln
Logan
Marion
Marshall
Mason
Mercer
Mingo
Monongalia |
Monroe
Morgan
Ohio
Pleasants
Pocahontas
Preston
Putnam (Early)
Raleigh
Randolph
Ritchie
Roane
Summers
Tyler
Wayne
Wetzel
Wirt
Wood |
The Help America Vote Act (HAVA) required that all voting precincts have one visually impaired accessible voting booth. This important Act makes it possible for a visually impaired voter to vote in privacy for the first time by providing an audio ballot. The voter then makes his/her choices by pressing a specific braille button.
Thirty-five counties in West Virginia use the iVotronic Touch screen with Paper Trail exclusively. Therefore, not only will each precinct have a HAVA Compliant voting terminal but it will also have voting terminals that are similar to the HAVA Compliant terminals – these voting terminals are very similar to the HAVA Compliant system but with one difference – no audio ballot.
The iVotronic allows the voter to select a candidate or issue by "touching" the screen. The technology is similar to what is used in an ATM. The system then prints the selections on the attached printer for review by the voter. Each machine is equipped with specific instructions to guide the voter through the voting process.
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| Optical Scan |
Clay
Fayette
Gilmer
Grant
Hampshire
Hardy
Jefferson
Kanawha
Lewis
|
McDowell
Mineral
Nicholas
Pendleton
Putnam
Taylor
Tucker
Upshur
Webster |
An optical scan ballot is a specially designed paper ballot which is marked by the voter with a special pencil or pen then tallied by a computer "reader". The layout is very similar to the standardized tests given in school, the voter darkens an oval next to a candidate’s name in order to enter a vote.
With the help of HAVA all of the precincts in these counties will also have a HAVA Compliant Direct Recording unit with paper trail. These units are equipped with an audio ballot available along with braille buttons for use in maneuvering through the ballot and making selections. These units will enable voters who have visual impairments to vote unassisted for the first time.
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| Paper Ballot |
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Braxton
Wyoming |
Paper Ballots are still marked with an "x" to select the preferred candidate and then counted at the polling place by a team of five election officials called a "Counting Board".
With the help of HAVA all of the precincts in these counties will also have a HAVA Complaint Direct Recording unit with a paper trail. These units are equipped with an audio ballot along with braille buttons for use in maneuvering through the ballot and making selects. These units will enable voters who have a visual impairment to vote unassisted for the first time.
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| AutoMARK |
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Harrison
Jefferson
Kanawha-M100
Lewis |
The AutoMARK was an option given to the counties in order to meet their obligations under the Help America Vote Act. Four counties have chosen this option as their means of compliance.
This voting system actually uses the Optical Scan ballot. The voter inserts the ballot into the machine and uses the AutoMARK touch screen to make his/her choices. When the voter is finished, the unit marks the ballot for the voter and the voter retrieves his/her ballot and places it in a ballot box.
Voters in these counties will also have the option of utilizing an optical scan ballot. An Optical Scan Ballot is a specially designed paper ballot which is marked by the voter with a special pencil or pen, then tallied by a computer "reader". The layout is very similar to the standardized tests given in school, the voter darkens an oval next to a candidate’s name in order to enter a vote.
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