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Voting Systems
Voting Systems Certification
The Secretary of State is responsible for certifying voting systems for use in California.
Once a system is certified, any county may purchase that system for use in conducting their
elections. The certification process itself is a rigorous examination of the accuracy,
reliability, and user friendliness of the system. All voting systems are tested, both by
a national testing authority and also by a California technical expert, prior to certification.
Before any system is certified for use, a public hearing must be held to solicit public comments.
For information on procedures for approving, certifying, reviewing, modifying, and
decertifying voting systems, vote tabulating systems, election observer panel plans, and
auxiliary equipment, materials, and procedures, please click on the link below.
Voting Systems Certification Procedures (pdf format)
Internet Voting
Although there has been some discussion concerning Internet voting systems, as of yet there are no
certified Internet voting systems in California. The previous Secretary of State established a task force to
study Internet voting, and the task force recommended that, due to security and other concerns,
the state should take a "go slow" approach to Internet voting. In order for Internet voting to
take place in California, the Legislature would have to change the current law to permit it. To
view the Internet Voting Task Force Report, please click on the link below.
Internet Voting Task Force Report
As new voting technologies emerge, the process of certification by the Secretary of State is the
"filter" where all proposed systems must undergo rigorous scrutiny to insure they operate accurately, efficiently, legally,
and reliably.
Voting Systems Used by Counties
For the November 2, 2004 Primary Election
A. OPTICAL SCAN
1. Mark-a-Vote: Butte, Contra Costa, Lake, Madera, Santa Cruz, Sonoma,
and Sutter.
2. Optech Eagle: Amador, Kings, Mariposa, Mono, Monterey, San Francisco and San Mateo.
3. Model 100/550/650: Colusa, Nevada, Sacramento, Solano, Stanislaus, and Tuolumne.
4. AccuVote-OS: Fresno, Humboldt, Kern, Lassen, Marin, Mendocino, Modoc, Placer, San Diego, San Joaquin, San Luis Obispo,
Santa Barbara, Siskiyou, Trinity, and Tulare.
5. InkaVote: Los Angeles.
B. DATAVOTE
1. Datavote: Alpine, Calaveras, Del Norte, El Dorado, Glenn, Imperial, Inyo,
San Benito, Sierra, Ventura, Yolo, and
Yuba.
C. TOUCHSCREEN / DRE
1. AVC Edge: Napa, Riverside, San Bernardino, Santa Clara, Shasta and Tehama.
2. AccuVote-TS: Alameda and Plumas.
3. iVotronic: Merced.
4. eSlate: Orange.
How Different Types of Voting Systems Work
The Secretary of State certifies voting systems for use. Each county then chooses which certified system they want to use. There are currently three different types of voting systems used in California elections.
Optical Scan
This is a system similar to the standardized tests given in school.
To cast a ballot, the voter:
• Signs in at the polls and receives a paper ballot along with an approved marking device.
• Marks the appropriate position on the ballot. The names of the candidates may be printed on the actual ballot or on a sheet alongside the ballot. After making his or her selections, reviews the ballot and then places the ballot in a secrecy envelope or folder.
• Returns his or her ballot to the poll worker. The ballot is then counted by an optical scanning machine, either at the polling place or at a central location.
Punch Card Datavote is a punch card voting system, but differs in at least two ways from “chad” producing punch card systems. First, the names of the candidates are printed on the ballots. Second, the system uses a lever punch to prevent chads.
To cast a ballot, the voter:
• Signs in at the polls and receives a paper ballot.
• Inserts the ballot into the tray and under the clear plastic cover from the left side of machine.
• Marks the ballot by moving the punch lever next to each of his or her selections and completely depresses the lever to punch out a cross (+).
• After making his or her selections, reviews the ballot and then places the ballot in a secrecy envelope.
• Returns his or her ballot to the poll worker.
Touchscreen / DRE
Touchscreen, or direct recording electronic, systems are the newest type of voting systems in California. Rather than marking a piece of paper, the voter casts his or her ballot electronically.
To cast a ballot, the voter:
Signs in at the polls.
Either individually or with the aid of a poll worker activates the machine.
Marks the ballot by touching a screen or using a keyboard style interface.
After making his or her selections, a review screen will appear allowing them to verify his or her choices.
Casts his or her ballot.
Security Measures for Touchscreen/DRE Voting Systems
In response to concerns about the security of touchscreen/DRE voting systems, the Secretary of State’s office has required these systems to meet 23 additional security measures before these systems can be used in the November election.
These additional security measures require:
That every voter be given the option of casting a paper ballot. If you would prefer to use a paper ballot instead of a touchscreen/DRE, you may request one when you sign in at the polls.
That the system’s source code must be made available for analysis by independent experts.
That no telephone, wireless, or Internet connections are permitted on the machines.
That the county engage in a comprehensive poll worker training program.
Click here to get more information about these security measures.
Copyright 2000 California Secretary of State. Privacy Statement
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