Voting Systems & Equipment
Citizens Guide to Voting Systems explains the voting systems in Michigan. You can determine which voting equipment is used in your area and learn how to use the equipment through a short video tutorial – or you can find voting system information in the 2006 Biennial Precinct Report
Additional video files showing how to use voting equipment provided in Michigan:
Optical Scan (standard)
AutoMARK Voter Assist Terminal for people with disabilities:
The AutoMARK Terminal was purchased by the Secretary of State for every jurisdiction in the State of Michigan. Forty-three hundred machines and related programming software were purchased statewide, using $34,000,000 in federal funding. Since August 8, 2006, there is a minimum of one AutoMARK Terminal in every polling place in the state. The AutoMARK ensures that the State of Michigan and local jurisdictions comply with federal Help America Vote Act requirements for access to voting by persons with disabilities. The AutoMARK provides an opportunity for many voters with disabilities to vote privately and independently, further reducing barriers to voting.
The AutoMARK Voter Assist Terminal is a ballot-marking device. It resembles a fax machine with a large flip-up screen. Voters can use the machine to mark their ballots through the use of the touch screen, Braille keypad or with the aid of their personal equipment such as a sip/puff device or foot pedal that can be plugged into a port on the front of the terminal. Voters can view the ballot on the touch screen or listen to an audio version of the ballot using the provided headset. The AutoMARK touch screen features magnification and contrast features. The audio ballot can be easily adjusted for volume and speed. For voters with vision impairment, the screen can be turned off for added privacy. The audio ballot, keypad and touch screen can be used interchangeably. A voter can make selections using the keypad and then switch to the touch screen and vice versa if preferred.
The AutoMARK does not tabulate or record votes. It is only a ballot-marking device, designed to aid a voter in marking a traditional paper optical scan ballot. To use the AutoMARK, a voter inserts a ballot into the terminal. Once a voter has indicated all of his/her vote choices, the AutoMARK prints a marked ballot that is returned directly into a secrecy sleeve to ensure privacy. The ballot can then be inserted into the tabulator either by the voter or another person without violating the secrecy of the ballot.
For questions or comments related to the implementation of the AutoMARK Voter Assist Terminal or to provide feedback from a personal experience, please contact your city or county clerk.
