Here’s your guide to how to vote using the new voting machines. Early voting begins Monday.
1 — Check in
To check in, give your driver’s license to the poll worker, who will scan in your ID. Pollworkers also have the option to manually search for a voter, but still need to see acceptable photo identification. All voters will need to tell the poll worker if they want a Republican or Democrat ballot. Voters who ask for a Democrat ballot will be told there are no contested primary races. They will be offered a Republican ballot, or can choose not to vote. Democrat voters who live in the Franklin Community Schools district will have the option to vote on the school referendum via a non-partisan ballot. Republican voters who reside in the city of Franklin will see the question on their Republican ballot. An activation slip, or receipt, will be printed for you to hand to a judge (poll worker), who will then walk you to an available voting machine.
[sc:text-divider text-divider-title=”Story continues below gallery” ]Click here to purchase photos from this gallery
2 — The terminals
The voting machines stand independently and have side panels for privacy. Instructions for how to use the terminal will appear on the voting machine screen.
3 — Just for you
When you get to the machine, a judge will insert an activation card (it looks like a credit card) to pull up the appropriate ballot. Once the judge removes the card from the machine, your ballot will appear. The judge will walk away, allowing you to cast your ballot in private.
4 — The ballot
Use buttons down the left and right sides of the screen to select the name of the candidate or answer to the referendum question.
5 — Change your mind?
Once you’ve touched a candidate’s name or answer to a question, an “X” will appear in a checkbox beside it. If you change your mind or pick the wrong candidate, you can easily change or cancel a selection:
To CANCEL a selection, push the same button again.
To CHANGE a selection, cancel the original selection, then push the button next to the correct candidate or answer you want to vote for.
6 — Next page, if there is one
Unless you live in the city of Franklin or Greenwood, your ballot will be just one page. Voters who live in the city of Franklin will make selections regarding the Franklin Community Schools public question on the first page, and choose Republican candidates for city offices on the second page. To go to the next page, simply push the button beside the word “Next” in the bottom right corner. At the end of the first or second page, depending on your ballot, push the button beside the word “Confirm” in that same bottom right corner.
7 — To review or not to review
Once you are done voting, you will have the option to review your ballot before submitting it. If you wish to review your choices, simply push the button beside the word “Review.” If you do not wish to review your choices, you can cast your ballot.
8 — Cast vote
Once you’re ready to submit your ballot, two small red lights will appear above a large red button to the right side of the display on the machine. If you do not wish to review your choices, go ahead and push the red button. If you do wish to review your choices, follow the steps listed in No. 7, and then push the red button. Once you’ve pushed the red button, the two small red lights will disappear, which lets you know your ballot was cast.
9 — Wrap it up
Make sure you see the following message before walking away from the voting machine: “Thank you. Your vote has been successfully recorded.” Once you see that message on your screen, you are free to leave. Voters are no longer required to sign out before they leave a vote center.
