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Voting on Election Day

Voting in West Virginia on Election Day using the Election Systems & Software (ES&S) ExpressVote and DS200 voting machines involves a straightforward process that combines touchscreen technology with a verifiable paper record, ensuring accessibility and accuracy. Many counties in West Virginia, including Monroe County, have adopted this system to serve all voters, including those with special needs. Below is a step-by-step explanation of how to vote using these machines, supported by relevant provisions from West Virginia Code Chapter 3, which governs elections in the state.

Overview of Equipment

ExpressVote: A universal ballot-marking device that uses a touchscreen interface to allow voters to make selections. It prints a paper "summary card" with the voter’s choices in human-readable text and a barcode for tabulation. Certified under West Virginia Code §3-4A-8, it meets federal and state standards for electronic voting systems.

DS200: A precinct-based optical scanner and tabulator that reads the ExpressVote summary cards (or hand-marked paper ballots in some configurations) and tallies the votes. It provides immediate feedback on voting errors like overvotes. Its use is authorized under §3-4A-9 for tabulating votes in counties with electronic voting systems.

Both machines are part of West Virginia’s effort to comply with the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) and state law, ensuring a voter-verifiable paper trail and accessibility (§3-4A-1).

Voting Process on Election Day

Here’s how to vote in West Virginia on Election Day using the ExpressVote and DS200:

1. Check-In at the Polling Place

  • Time: Polls are open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. (§3-1-31).
  • Location: Vote at your assigned precinct, determined by your residence (§3-1-7). Find your polling place via the West Virginia Secretary of State’s website or your county clerk.
  • ID Requirement: Since January 1, 2018, voters must present a valid, unexpired form of identification (§3-1-34). Acceptable IDs include a driver’s license, passport, or voter ID card. If you lack ID, you may vote provisionally, and the canvassing board will verify eligibility (§3-1-41).
  • Process: A poll worker verifies your registration, confirms your ballot style (based on your precinct and party in a primary), and issues an activation card or blank thermal paper card for the ExpressVote.

2. Using the ExpressVote

  • Start Voting: Insert the blank thermal paper card into the ExpressVote machine. The poll worker activates it with your ballot style, which is encoded during check-in (§3-4A-13).
  • Make Selections: Use the touchscreen to select candidates or options. The interface is intuitive, with large text and audio options for accessibility (§3-4A-10). For write-in votes, use the on-screen keyboard.
  • Accessibility Features: Voters with disabilities can use headphones, a tactile keypad with Braille, a sip-and-puff device, or a rocker paddle to navigate and vote independently (§3-4A-3).
  • Review Choices: After marking all contests, a "review page" displays your selections. If you skip a contest, it shows “No selection made.” You can revise choices here (§3-4A-19).
  • Print the Summary Card: Once satisfied, press "Print" to generate a 4.25-inch thermal paper summary card. This card lists your choices in human-readable text and includes a barcode encoding your votes. Review the text to confirm accuracy—the barcode is for tabulation, but the text is your verification (§3-4A-19(c)).

3. Using the DS200

  • Insert the Summary Card: Take your printed summary card to the DS200 scanner, typically located nearby in the polling place. Feed the card into the machine yourself (§3-4A-18).
  • Error Detection: The DS200 scans the barcode and checks for errors:
    • Overvote: If you selected more candidates than allowed, an audio alert sounds, and the screen offers "Accept" (counts valid votes, nullifies the overvoted race) or "Return" (get a new card from a poll worker to revote) (§3-4A-20).
    • Undervote: If you skipped a race, it’s noted but not an error; the ballot is accepted.
  • Cast Your Vote: If no errors are detected, or you accept an overvote, the DS200 records your vote and deposits the card into a secure ballot box beneath it. The screen confirms “Ballot Cast Successfully” (§3-4A-27).

4. Exit the Polling Place

Return any activation card to the poll worker and leave. If you’re in line by 7:30 p.m., you’ll receive a permit to vote even if polls close (§3-1-31).


Key Features and Supporting Code

  • Paper Trail: The ExpressVote’s summary card provides a voter-verifiable paper record, mandated by §3-4A-19(c), allowing you to confirm your intent before tabulation.
  • Accessibility: Both machines comply with §3-4A-3, ensuring voters with disabilities can vote privately and independently, aligning with federal ADA and HAVA requirements.
  • Tabulation: The DS200 tabulates votes at the precinct level unless sent to a Central Counting Center (§3-4A-27). Results are printed after polls close for transparency (§3-4A-28).
  • Security: Machines are tested before Election Day (§3-4A-26), and the DS200 lacks internet connectivity in West Virginia, per state practice, enhancing security.

Special Situations

  • Provisional Voting: If your eligibility is questioned (e.g., no ID or registration mismatch), you vote a provisional ballot using the same ExpressVote process. The county canvassing board reviews it post-election (§3-1-41).
  • Spoiled Ballot: If you make an error on the ExpressVote and need a new card before printing, alert a poll worker. You’re entitled to up to three ballots (§3-1-38).
  • Recount or Audit: The paper summary cards enable manual recounts or audits if requested, per §3-4A-28 and §3-6-9.

Tips for Voters

  • Review your summary card carefully before inserting it into the DS200—your vote counts as printed.
  • Ask poll workers for help if needed; they’re trained to assist without influencing your choices (§3-1-33).
  • Visit this website or the Secretary of State’s site for sample ballots and machine demos.
  • This process, backed by West Virginia Code Chapter 3, Article 4A, ensures a secure, accessible, and verifiable voting experience on Election Day with the ExpressVote and DS200.