Voting System
Voting at the Polls
At your polling place, you will be asked to show photo and signature identification. Your Driver’s License is ideal since it contains your photo and signature. If you do not have proper identification, you will be given an affirmation form to fill out before voting. If you make a mistake on your ballot, take it to a poll worker and you will be given a new ballot. You are entitled up to three ballots.
How to Mark Your Ballot Correctly
To vote, completely fill in the oval next to your choice.
- Use only the marking device provided in the voting booth
- If you make a mistake, don’t hesitate to ask for a new ballot. If you erase or make other marks, your vote may not count
- To vote for a candidate whose name is not printed on the ballot, fill in the oval and write the candidates name on the blank line provided for such a write-in candidate
Select a Candidate
You must completely fill in the oval for your vote to count. Any other mark may not be read by the scanner.
- Do NOT use a check mark
- Do NOT mark the oval with an X
- Do NOT circle the oval
Write In a Candidate
You must write in the name and fill in the oval next to the name, for the write-in vote to count.
Also, the write-in candidate must be a qualified candidate. Check with your precinct clerk for a list of qualified write-in candidates.
Voting Terminology
Spoiled Ballot
When you make a mistake on your ballot, this is considered a Spoiled Ballot and you may ask for a replacement. You may receive up to two replacements or a total of three ballots.
Overvote
An Overvote is when you vote for more than the number of candidates allowed in a race. If a race is overvoted, the Optical Scanner will return the ballot to the voter. The voter must then return the spoiled ballot to the clerk and receive a new ballot.
Undervote
An Undervote is when you do not vote in a particular race. That race will not be counted. The Optical Scanner will not return the ballot to the voter unless the entire ballot is blank.