A coalition of good-government groups just released tips for the state’s new voting system of paper ballots and scanners, which is in use statewide for the first time this year.

1- Don’t try to cross out or erase any mistakes you might make on your paper ballot, request a new ballot instead;
2- All poll sites will also have ballot marking devices – terminals that can help guide voters needing assistance, or voters in general, through the ballot and offer numerous accessibility features, including audio for voters who are blind, hand-held controls or a “sip and puff” switch for voters with physical disabilities, and larger print size and contrast for voters with low vision.
3- When the poll worker gives you your paper ballot, don’t forget to ask for your privacy sleeve/folder to help hide your choices from public view; and
4- If you insert your ballot into a scanner and get an error message, beware of pressing the green “Cast” button. It will cast your vote without giving you the chance to have your ballot returned to correct.

The state Board of Elections has a website with information about the new voting system and videos of how to use it. The state Comptroller’s Office, which did reports on problems with the new system during the primary in September, has set up a toll-free hotline for Election Day: 888-672-4555.

Neal Rosenstein of the New York Public Interest Research Group said voters should not give up if their names aren’t on the voter rolls at the polling site. ”First, make sure you’re at the right poll site for your election and Assembly district. If that doesn’t solve the issue, ask for an affidavit ballot.

This will allow you to cast a vote. Your registration will be checked later, and if you are registered, your vote will count,” he said in a statement.

If a scanner breaks down, voters should ask to use a different scanner at the poll site, said Katie Doran of the League of Women Voters. “If all the scanners break down, you can still cast your vote as long as there are paper ballots and a voter registration book at the poll site. Just mark your paper ballot and give it to a poll worker for safekeeping until scanners are up and running again. The ballots will be placed in a secure receptacle that is part of the scanner and scanned in when the equipment is working again,” she said.

Voters should make sure they don’t “over vote” by casting more votes for a certain race than are needed, said Larry Norden, senior counsel at the Brennan Center. ”If you do overvote, the scanner will alert you but don’t be confused by its unclear messaging. Press the red button to get your ballot back. Get an entirely new ballot so your vote counts in every race,” he said.

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(Source: LoHud)