• Absentee Voting
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• Voter Assistance
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Voter Assistance

In compliance with the Help America Vote Act, a federal law passed by Congress in 2002, New Hope and communities throughout the country will add new ballot marking machines to make it possible for voters with disabilities to mark their ballots independently and privately. It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3, Vote!

Voters will receive the same optical scan paper ballot whether they use a pen or the new AutoMARK ballot marking equipment. The AutoMARK voter assist equipment does not tally or store votes. Rather, it is a ballot-marking system designed to provide privacy and accessibility to voters who are blind, vision-impaired, have a disability, or a temporary condition, such as a broken arm, that would make it difficult to mark a ballot in the conventional way.

The process is simple:

1. Voters with special needs will first insert the ballot into the AutoMARK machine. It will scan the ballot. The voter may then use a touch screen, Braille pad, foot pedal, headphones, or a sip and puff appliance to make their selections.
2. After the voter has made his or her selections, a summary screen will enable them to review their choices.
3. The voter will then be prompted to confirm their selections and mark their ballot. When the ballot has been marked the AutoMARK machine returns the marked ballot and the voter places the ballot into the secrecy sleeve provided.

Vote! The voter then inserts their marked ballot into the optical scan machine where their vote is tabulated.

The AutoMARK voter assist equipment will be at each of New Hope’s polling locations. The equipment will be available for demonstrations at City Hall beginning August 1 during normal business hours. Election judges will also be available on Election Day to show people how to use the new machines.