VotingWorks

Open-source software, commercial off-the-shelf hardware, and paper ballots.

This guide walks you through the complete process to set up, test, and operate the voting system on election day.

If you have questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to the VotingWorks team by emailing [email protected] or calling (510) 426-9991.

System Overview

VotingWorks consists of two subsystems:

  1. Central System: all equipment necessary for use at election central for, election programming, central batch ballot scanning, results tabulation and reporting.

  2. Precinct System: all equipment necessary for use at the precinct to scan hand-marked ballots.

Central System

VotingWorks Central System includes two products:

  1. VxAdmin: the main tool for local election administrators, which programs elections, tabulates and reports results on election night.

  2. VxCentralScan: a central scanner used for rapidly scanning absentee or vote by mail ballots.

Central System: VxCentralScan (left) and VxAdmin (right)

Precinct System

VotingWorks Precinct System consists of one product:

  1. VxScan: a voter-facing precinct scanner that scans paper ballots and notifies voters of ballot issues for second-chance voting. All of the scanning components come in a tamper evident suitcase and the ballot box is collapsed.

Voters at the precinct vote on hand-marked paper ballots.

Precinct system: scanning components in case and collapsible ballot box

Assembled VxScan & Ballot Box

Paper Ballots

All votes cast using VotingWorks equipment are on paper ballots for security and post-election auditing.

  • Hand-marked paper ballot

    • All absentee or vote by mail voters will receive a hand-marked paper ballot. Absentee ballots may be scanned by election administrators using a high-speed central scanner (VxCentralScan) or the precinct scanner (VxScan).

    • Most in-precinct voters will receive a hand-marked paper ballot that is printed on-demand or by a print vendor. Precinct ballots are scanned by voters using a precinct scanner (VxScan).

Sample Hand-Marked Paper Ballot

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