Paper Ballot Specifications

The following defines the minimal specifications for VxSuite paper stock. Ballot layout requirements are enumerated in Hand Marked Ballots and Machine Marked Ballots in the System Overview.

Hand Marked Ballots

VxSuite supports a wide range of paper for hand-marked paper ballot style printing within the following supported specifications:

• Width: 8.5"

• Length: 11", 14", 17", 22"

• Weight: 105-177gsm

• Coating: uncoated

• Opacity: >90%

• Color: white or any pastel color >70 brightness (to ensure it binarizes to white when scanned).

• Watermarking: none

• Ink: typical oil-based or soy-based inks are appropriate for printing presses; typical laser toner or inkjet ink are appropriate for smaller printers & copiers.

• Folding: ballots should not be folded through bubbles.

• Bleed-through: bleed through should not be present when using recommend paper weight (105-177 gsm) and marking method (ball point pen).

• Margins: the paper margins listed below are required for proper timing mark interpretation and adequate space for VxCentralScan imprinting outside of the ballot selection area and timing marks:

  • Left/right: 5mm (0.19685 in)

  • Top/bottom: 12pt (0.16667 in)

Ballot Marking Device Ballots

VxMark requires a specific type of thermal paper ballot stock as required by the VSAP BMD 150 component:

• Manufacturer: Mitsubishi

• Model: Thermoscript TF 1467

• Width: 8"

• Length: 13.25"

• Corner Cut: 16mm, 45° cut, top-right of thermal coated side

TF 1467 paper is only provided in one configuration on white paper with a weight of 140gsm and thermally coated on one side. VxMark expects the thermal side to be fully blank and therefore pre-printing attributes such as watermarking, ink, and margins are not applicable. Similarly, these ballots are only to be used with ballot marking devices and attributes specific to hand-marking such as folding and bleed-through are also not applicable.