VxDesign
Last updated
Last updated
VotingWorks provides all customers access to VxDesign, which is a web application that enables election officials to quickly program an election and design ballots. Election definitions created in VxDesign can be imported into VxAdmin and created ballot PDFs can be used for ballot printing.
When you login to VxDesign, you can either select an existing election, load from an election file, or create a new election.
For state elections in New Hampshires, you can import files from the state EMS to automatically generate election definitions compatible with VotingWorks.
For local elections, you can begin the election programming process by selecting Create Election.
To program an election, you'll need to enter the following information:
Election Info (Title, Date, Jurisdiction, etc.)
Geography (Districts, Precincts, Splits, etc.)
Contests (Candidates, Ballot Measures, etc.)
Entering election programming information simply requires editing an interactive form and saving your entries. The process is shown below.
Once complete, you're ready to design your ballots!
After all election information is entered, VxDesign automatically lays out a ballot using best ballot design practices from the Center for Civic Design. To view your ballot styles, simply select View Ballot under the list of ballot styles.
In the ballot preview, you'll see a proof of your ballot style on the screen, select Export PDF to print a sample ballot.
The first design, may not be the optimal design, however. VxDesign allows you to adjust the template by adjusting the density of contests (smaller font-size, line-height, etc.) or the length of the paper.
To adjust these settings, select Ballot Layout, select your changes, and select Save to view the changes.
In the example below, we've modified the original ballot density so that the contests fit on fewer sheets.
Once you've finished editing and proofing your ballots, you can adjust the Tabulation settings to prepare the election definition for machine configuration. In this tab, you have the ability to customize adjudication reasons and scanner sensitivity.
The last step in the process is to export your election definition and ballot PDFs. To do so, simply select Export from the side menu and either select Export All Ballots or Export Ballot Definition.
