Demonstration of Electronic Voting Machine

Take an On-Line Demonstration of Union County’s New Electronic Voting Machine Your Secure Vote

Union County Election Officials reviewed proposals of electronic voting machines, previewed demonstrations by various vendors, and finally recommended the vendor that offered the "best value" solution. The final recommendation that Diebold Election Systems, Inc. be selected was unanimous. (In August 2007, Diebold Election Systems, Inc., became a more independent structure and subsidiary of Diebold named Premier Election Solutions.)

The voting station you will use to cast your vote is an interactive touch screen system. For an online demonstration, click here.

Upon checking in at your precinct, a poll worker will present you with a voter access card. You will use the voter access card, which contains no personal information, to access and display your ballot at any available voting station. Once the card is properly inserted into the voting station, the ballot is displayed for your review. To make selections, simply touch the screen.

The touch-screen ballot station offers a summary page once you have moved through the entire ballot. Races that are highlighted on the summary screen indicate the race has been under-voted or overlooked. A touch of the screen on the under-voted race will prompt the station to return you to the under-voted race within the ballot and allow you to complete the voting process. You can also step back and forth through the ballot, changing any selection until the ballot is cast. Please remember, once you have touched the "Cast Ballot" button at the end of the summary screen, your vote has been cast.

The ease of use of the voting station enables virtually any personal to vote without constraint. The user-friendly touch screen promotes the use of a finger or virtually any object as the method used to make selections. Visually impaired voters can use the voting station with ease, as voice-guidance may be provided to step the voter through the entire ballot in privacy. Illiterate voters can also use this feature to simplify the voting process. The sensitive nature of the touch-screen and the ability to position the terminal screen at a right angle to the voting booth enables easy access for those individuals with unique accessibility requirements.

Your vote is stored in two separate locations within the voting unit. Ballot images are recorded to both locations simultaneously. In addition to these two internal sources, your vote is stored to a memory card that is locked into the voting system during the election. At the close of the election, the memory card is removed and used to tally the votes. The two internal sources and the memory card combine to create a three-prong audit process, ensuring that every vote is recorded and counted the way the voter intended.

A back-up power supply ensures that once the system has been activated for an election, the contents of the audit record will be preserved during any interruption of power to the system until processing and date reporting have been completed. If a power failure were to occur, your vote remains intact within the system.

Frequently Asked Questions DIEBOLD TSX™

Question:	Who has been selected to provide Union County’s electronic voting system?
Answer:	Premier Election Solutions, a wholly owned subsidiary of Diebold, Incorporated and a leading manufacturer and installer of electronic voting systems.
Question:	How does the voting process work on the new system?
Answer:	If you’ve ever used an ATM or even a microwave, you’ve used the same simple touch screen technology the new voting units employ. When you arrive at the polls, you’ll check in just as before, signing a voters certificate, and showing ID. Then, you’ll be handed a voter access card programmed with your ballot. Proceed to the first available unit. Insert the voter card in the slot at the upper right side and push it in firmly until it clicks. The first screen you’ll see is the Instructions Page. Read these carefully, and then touch NEXT to begin voting. The first page of the ballot is displayed. To make your choice, simply touch the box next to the candidates or questions. An "X" will appear next to your choice. To change your choice, touch the box a second time. The "X" will disappear. Then make your new selection.
Question:	How do I confirm my vote before I cast my ballot?
Answer:	One of the best features of the new touch screen system is that it will not permit you to over vote. After you have made all of your ballot selections you will see the Summary Page. This screen lets you quickly review your ballot and see if you missed anything. Offices that have not been voted are highlighted. To make a change, touch the specific box or touch button to move back through the previous screens. Make sure you’re satisfied with all of your choices. When you have no further changes, touch "cast ballot." Once you touch this button, you will see another screen, giving you a second chance to change your votes, or touch "cast ballot" where your vote will finally be recorded. After you cast your ballot, the machine will automatically eject your card. It is now blank. Please return your card to a poll official. The card will be reauthorized for another voter.
Question:	Are the new voting units accurate and reliable?
Answer:	Voters can be assured of the accuracy and reliability of the new touch screen units. Before being certified for use in Pennsylvania, these systems endured extensive testing of both hardware and software at a federal laboratory. The state and counties also have conducted tests on each voting unit. These units are freestanding. Because they are not connected to the internet or any other computer network, they cannot be penetrated by computer hackers. In the event of a power outage at the precinct, each unit can continue operating on battery power for several hours. Your vote is stored in three separate locations to assure that no vote can ever be lost. Even if the very unlikely event of an equipment failure. The voting terminals are manufactured by Diebold, a world leader not only in voting equipment, but also in ATMs and other products that safeguard billions of dollars in financial transactions each year.
Question:	Can I be assured of the secrecy of my vote?
Answer:	Although the technology has changed, your vote is just as secret and private as ever. The voter access card you receive at the polls contains no personal information about you or your voting history. In fact, it’s much like a hotel key card, which is reprogrammed for each hotel guest. It simply unlocks the machine and loads the ballot appropriate for you. The votes you cast on the touch screen terminals cannot be traced back to you in any way. Should the individual ballots from each machine need to be printed out, they are randomized so no vote can be associated with an individual voter.
Question:	How are votes recorded and reported?
Answer:	Your vote is recorded in three separate locations on the voting unit, assuring that no vote can ever be lost. The touch screen terminals record choices in flash memory, assuring that votes remain secure even in the unlikely event of a sudden equipment failure. The voting units use a form the Microsoft Windows operating system, the most widely used software in the world. In additional to two on board locations, votes are stored on a removable computer memory card, much like those found in laptop computers. After the polls close, a paper tape is printed showing the vote totals from each machine, and from all of the units in a individual precinct. These tapes, along with the removable PC cards from each unit, are collected and transported to the county elections office. There, the vote totals are compiled and the cards and tapes are kept in a secure location.
Question:	Please describe features that benefit the blind, visually impaired, or those with other disabilities.
Answer:	For the first time ever, the blind and visually impaired can cast ballots independently on the new touch screen voting units. To take advantage of this feature, a voter should inform the poll workers that they wish to make use of the audio ballot. With the audio ballot, voters are supplied with headphones and a numeric keypad. As candidates and questions are heard over the headphones, voters respond to prompts by touching the keypad. A poll manager can fully explain these features. For those who have only some visual impairment, a magnified visual ballot is also available. Every one of Union County’s 27 precincts will have a voting terminal equipped with the audio ballot. The new electronic system is a huge step forward in insuring that each and every voter can cast an independent ballot.
Question:	How do I cast a write-in vote?
Answer:	Just as with older systems, the new electronic voting units allow voters to cast votes for write-in candidates. To vote for a write-in, under the appropriate race touch the box marked Write-In. A keyboard is then displayed on the screen. Simply type in the name of the candidate. When you are done, touch the box marked Record Write-In. Your choice will then appear under the race onthe screen.