# VotingWorks Overview This guide walks you through the complete process to set up, test, and operate the voting system. If you have questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to the VotingWorks team by emailing or calling **(510) 426-9991**. ## System Overview VotingWorks consists of two subsystems: 1. **Central System:** all equipment necessary for election programming, central batch ballot scanning, results aggregation, adjudication, and reporting. 2. **Precinct System:** all equipment necessary for use at the precinct to scan hand-marked ballots and provide an accessible ballot marking device for voters who need or prefer assistance marking a ballot. ### Central System VotingWorks Central System includes two components: 1. **VxAdmin**: the main tool for local election administrators, which programs elections, tabulates and reports results on election night.

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

### Precinct System VotingWorks Precinct System consists of two portable, self-contained products: 1. **VxScan**: a voter-facing precinct scanner that scans paper ballots and notifies voters of ballot issues for second-chance voting. 2. **VxMarkScan**: an accessible ballot marking device with a printer that produces a voter-verifiable paper ballot.

Voters at the precinct vote on hand-marked paper ballots and cast their ballot into VxScan, with the option to instead vote and cast one's ballot on VxMarkScan if requested. ## Paper Ballots All votes cast using VotingWorks equipment are on paper ballots for security and post-election auditing. There are two types of VotingWorks paper ballots: * **Hand-marked paper ballot** * All absentee voters will receive a hand-marked paper ballot that is printed by a print vendor. Absentee ballots are 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 by a third-party printer to hand mark. Precinct ballots are scanned by voters using a precinct scanner (VxScan).

* **Machine-marked paper ballot** (via ballot marking device) * In-precinct voters may request to use the accessible ballot marking device (VxMarkScan), which prints a voter verifiable paper ballot and deposits it into the attached ballot box. Election administrators or poll workers later scan the machine-marked paper ballot at a high-speed central scanner (VxCentralScan).

{% hint style="info" %} VotingWorks provides technical support through the email and phone number listed at the top of the page. Upgrades and defect correction are defined in the customer's contract and scheduled through VotingWorks support system. {% endhint %} {% hint style="info" %} All functions in this user manual can be performed by one individual unless otherwise stated. {% endhint %} --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://docs.voting.works/vxsuite-user-manual-v4/readme.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.