Voting
Equipment
VOTING
EQUIPMENT USED BY THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS
The voting
equipment used in the City of East St. Louis polling places and
for early voting is the M100
scanner-tabulator manufactured by Election Systems & Software.
This equipment uses optical scan paper ballots. The voter fills
in the ovals next to the names of the candidates of his/her choice
and then inserts the ballot into the scanner/tabulator ballot
box.
For a further
description and instructions on using the optical scan ballot
and equipment, please click
here.
The Board
of Elections also supplies each polling place with equipment designed
to allow voters, including those who are visually or physically
challenged, to vote unassisted. The AutoMARKTM was first available
to voters at the March 21, 2006 Primary election.
The AutoMARKTM
Voter Assist Terminal (VAT) is used to mark the ballot selections
of voters who are visually impaired, have a disability, or who
are more comfortable using the VAT.
Ballot choices
and instructions are displayed in large text print on the touch
screen monitor, as well as read by the audio system. Voters enter
their selections by touching buttons on the screen, pressing keys
on the Braille keypad, or using an ADA device (such as puff-sip
or foot pedal).
The VAT marks
your ballot with your selections and returns it to you. You can
then submit your marked ballot in the normal manner for tabulation.
The VAT has
several privacy features. Audio volume can be increased or decreased
as desired, and the screen can be turned on and off for privacy.
If you want to use the audio system to listen to ballot choices
and instructions, you will use the audio keys on the keypad (shown
here) to control audio sound. Headphones with disposable earpieces
may be provided by your election officials.
The VAT also
has a ZOOM MODE feature which enlarges the text on the screen,
and a High Contrast mode which gives contrast to the screen resolution,
for those who are visually impaired.
Board of Elections
staff will be happy to demonstrate our equipment in the office.
Please call for more information at 618-398-3778.