HomeMy WebLinkAbout5.a. Demonstration of AutoMARK voting equipmentAGENDA ITEM: Demonstration of AutoMARK voting
equipment
AGENDA SECTION:
Consent
PREPARED BY: Amy Domeier, City Clerk
AGENDA NO. 5a.
ATTACHMENTS: Product overview handout
APPROVED BY:
RECOMMENDED ACTION: None,
4 ROSEMOUNT
CITY COUNCIL
City Council Regular Meeting: September 5, 2006
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
SUMMARY
New to voting in 2006 is an additional piece of equipment that will be available in Rosemount
precincts Dakota County has purchased a Voter Assist Terminal (ES &S Automark) to assist voters
with disabilities and other special needs with marking their ballots privately and independently. This
maclune will be used in conjunction with the AccuVote Tabulator. The ES &S AutoMark does not
tally or store votes; rather it is a ballot-marking system designed to provide accessibility to voters
who are blind, vision impaired, or have a disability or condition that would make it difficult or
impossible to mark a ballot in the usual way.
By adding this device to a polling Location, compliance is ensured with the federal Help America
Vote Act (HAVA) 1-IAVA requires that all polling locations be equipped with at least one disability-
accessible voting machine.
Election Systems
Software
MAINTAINING VOTER CONFIDENCE. ENHANCING THE VOTING EXPERIENCE.
PRODUCT OVERVIEW
ES &S AutoMARKT" Voter Assist Terminal
Election Systems Software (ES &S) and AutoMARK Technical Systems, LLC (formerly Vogue Election Systems) have teamed up to offer
the ES&S AutoMARK. The ESES AutoMARK is a breakthrough ballot- marking technology that allows voters with disabilities and other
special needs to mark a ballot privately and independently when using an optical scan voting
system. The technology was developed based on input from election authonties and disability
organizations. The ES&S AutoMARK voter assist terminal 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, or have a disability or condition that would
make it difficult or impossible to mark a ballot in the usual
way. Even a temporary condition, such as a broken arm,
could make it difficult for a person to mark a ballot. In
addition, the technology provides language assistance
to voters who are more comfortable speaking a
different language or who need help to better
understand written instructions.
The AutoMARK is fully,
qualified to the Latest
2002 Federal Voting
System Standards.
KEY FEATURES
The ES&S AutoMARK guarantees that an
optical scan balloting device will capture
voter intent. No more overvotes No more
mismarked ballots. Unique software
applications ensure that no more than the
proper number of candidates can be chosen
for each race. A summary page verification
process allows voters to notice any skipped
races or undervotes and to change their
selections before printing
An audio function, which allows blind voters
or those with severely impaired vision to
listen to the choices through headphones.
AutoMARK is a trademark of AutoMARK Technical Systems, LLC
The ability to protect current systems allows
jurisdictions to use existing optical scanner,
hardware /software solutions. Simply adding
an ES &S AutoMARK device to a polling
location ensures compliance with the federal
Help America Vote Act (HAVA) and eliminates
the need to reinvest in a new ballot style or
tabulation system HAVA requires that all
polling locations be equipped with at least
one disability- accessible voting machine.
A sip /puff tube is used by voters who are not
able to use the touch screen or touch pad.
A zoom feature enable the voters to increase
the font size of each race listed on the
optical scan ballot This may be especially
helpful for voters who are sighted but have
limited vision.
The ES&S AutoMARK offers multiple
language capability to ensure that all
citizens in a diverse population exercise
their privilege to vote. Visual and audible
ballots in multiple languages can be stored
on a single machine.
The system supports write in candidates.
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