Voting Systems In New Hanover County
New Hanover County employs two types of voting equipment for each election-- the M100 and the iVotronic. Each of these systems is certified nationally and by the State of NC. The M100 utilizes optical scanning technology to read voter marks/choices on paper ballots in order to calculate results. All 43 polling places allow for paper ballot voting. All polling places also have in place a DRE (direct record electronic) touchscreen voting machine called the iVotronic. Among other benefits, the iVotronic is ADA compliant, allowing even for blind voters to vote independently and privately using a headseat with an audio ballot.
In recent years there has been much debate regarding the security and accuracy of voting systems in general. The New Hanover County Board of Elections thoroughly tests each machine to be used in every precinct before it is used by the general voting public for each election. Although there have been public discussions about the dangers of "electronic" voting, the New Hanover County Board of Elections ensures that all electronic votes are "backed" by a paper print out to serve as a paper audit in the event of any discrepancy. Also, the iVotronic is not connected to any network, keeping it secure from hackers. Data is transmitted from the polling place to the Board of Elections on election night by hand delivery. Results are uploaded to software on non-networked computers, in a locked room, in order for results to be compiled.
Any organization, group, or individual may make an appointment for a demonstration of the voting equipment. Please call 910-798-7330 at least two weeks in advance for scheduling and speak with Michelle Mrozkowski, Information Systems Tech for the Board.
M100 OPTICAL SCAN SYSTEM
(Video)
To ensure voter intent and ballot integrity, the ES&S Model 100 has the ability to alert voters to overvoted races and undervoted or blank ballots. In the event of overvoted and undervoted situations, the model 100 can immediatelly return the ballot to the voter, displaying the specific race in question in the LCD display. Voters may then instruct the Model 100 to "Accept" or "Return" the ballot through the simple push of a button. Returned ballots provide voters the opportunity to privately revise and then recast their ballot.
iVotronic Touch Screen Voting System
(Video) (Interactive Demonstration)
The iVotronic touch screen voting system puts leading-edge election technology at voters' fingertips. Voting is accomplished simply by touching on the ballot screen.
Its ADA-compliant audio ballot feature supports visually impaired voters.
Voter intent and ballot correctness are guaranteed before ballot casting. Overvotes cannot be accepted by the iVotronic, and the voters are privately alerted of any undervotes during the final ballot review process. The privacy of all voters - including those visually - is maintained with the iVotronic. Only the voter is informed of the overvote/undervote situations. The iVotronic also provides a final "Review" screen, allowing voters to validate all ballot choices before casting their ballot.
The iVotronic in North Carolina contains a "Real Time Audit Log" (RTAL) printer. The RTAL printer serves the voter in such a way as to record votes cast when the voter make selections on the voting screen. Each voter's print-out serves as the official ballot for the iVotronic, therefore the voter cannot take the print-out with him as a "receipt" after voting. If a recount is requested, the RTAL print-out will be counted in the same fashion as the traditional paper ballot.
The iVotronic's three independent but redundant memory paths ensure that no votes will ever be lost or altered. The iVotronic innovation audio ballot feature, in combination with braille-embossed navigation buttons, enables visually impaired voters to efficiently vote in complete privacy. The electronic text or graphic bit map ballot formats are clearly displayed in large fonts.