Sequoia/Dominion ImageCast

Your polling place utilizes a ballot marking machine called the Sequoia/Dominion ImageCast Marker.

Any voter may use the ballot marking device.

The ImageCast consists of a ballot marking terminal …

and a ballot scanning station for verification of your marked paper ballot.

The system begins by using a blank ballot. 

When vote selections have been completed by you, your completed ballot is printed.

Ballots are created using a visual interface on a screen with an Audio-Tactile Interface or ATI. 

Also, you may request the use of an audio interface with headphones, or through the use of a Sip-N-Puff device, and, if provided in your poll site, a paddle device.

At the beginning of the voting session, you will be asked by the poll worker what assistance, if any, is requested.  Some examples of assistance include but are not limited to:

·  if you would like to receive audio instruction through the use of headphones,

·  if you are requesting the use of the Sip-N-Puff interface, or

·  if you are requesting the use of the paddles.

Navigation through the voting process is provided through the use of hand-held controls called an Audio Tactile Interface or ATI.  The controls allow you to adjust volume, pause and repeat audio messages, and even adjust the audio tempo.

With the ATI, you can also request help, or navigate forward and back and up and down the display screen to select your ballot choices.

The ImageCast has Zoom and Contrast controls to permit you to adjust the visual display.

On the front of the ballot box, there are two visual control buttons, a yellow button and a green button.

The yellow button allows for Zoom control, allowing the ballot to show larger font sizes on the screen.

There are three Zoom settings.  To adjust the zoom, press on the yellow button for the font size to change to the setting that you prefer.

Please note that you will need to wait a few seconds after each pressing before the font size changes.

The green button allows for Contrast control.

The green button has two contrast settings.  Press the green button once to switch from black information on a white background to white information on a black background.

The ImageCast can also provide audio instructions in addition to a visual display screen. 

Let the Election Inspector servicing the ImageCast know at the initial start of your voting session, if  you would like to receive audio messages of your ballot choices.

However, if both audio and visual formats are to be used at the same time, please observe that the visual display does not match the audio word for word.

You will note a slight delay between the time a selection is made through the ATI and the selection is registered by the ImageCast.

If you choose to use the Sip-N-Puff option, you may provide your own personal sip-n-puff device or use one provided by the Board of Elections.  Gloves are provided and used for sanitary purposes so each voter has a clean straw.

SOE – include some instructions on how the ImageCast navigates with the Sip-N-Puff.

If a paddle interface is supplied at your poll site, you can also choose to mark your ballot using a paddle. 

Plugging in the paddle device allows you to navigate through your ballot using Yes or No inputs.

The Election Inspector will set the ImageCast machine to your ballot setting.

When you are ready to start the voting process, please insert the blank ballot into the ImageCast ballot printer unit slot.

The paper will be drawn into the printer’s slot.

Next, affix the privacy sleeve to the printer unit’s slot to receive the printed ballot when you have completed your selections.

When ballots have been programmed with languages in addition to English, you will be given a choice of language to select from.  You will make your selection using the ATI.

The ImageCast will provide instruction on navigating the ballot process.

The ImageCast will read your ballot and display on a screen your ballot choices. 

The contest names and candidate names are highlighted in yellow as you move through the ballot so that you can see where you are on the ballot.

If you choose to enter a write-in candidate, the ImageCast will provide you with instructions on how to scroll through the alphabet forward and back to make selections.

Once a write-in name has been entered, if you want to make a correction, you may delete the entire name and start over while staying in the write-in screen.

When vote selections have been completed by you, the ImageCast will perform an Initial Review of your ballot selections by displaying a summary review screen of your ballot.

The ImageCast will prompt you with two options: 

• Review your ballot choices by selecting the "Blue Downward Arrow", or

• Change or Edit your ballot choices by selecting the “Red X Select” button.

Review:  The contest names and candidate names are highlighted in yellow as you move through the ballot so that you can see where you are on the ballot, and, the ImageCast will read your choices back to you through the headphones, if you are using an audio interface.

When the review process is completed, you will be prompted to Accept and Print the ballot by selecting the “Red X Select” button.

If you want to resolve an under-vote or change a vote, during the initial review process, you will select the “Red X Select” button to edit ballot choices. 

The ImageCast will start with the first race that appears on the ballot – not necessarily the under-voted contest.

To prevent the ImageCast from erasing your previous selections, you must quickly scroll to the under-voted contest or a contest that you would like to change, if any.

Alternately, you can re-select all choices during the initial review process before the ballot is printed.

Once you have confirmed your ballot choices, the ImageCast ballot printer will produce a completed paper ballot for insertion into the ImageCast scanner.

Note:  The ImageCast will notify you in both a visual and audio format that the ballot is being printed.  The printing time may take a few minutes to print both sides of the ballot.

When the ImageCast has completed printing your ballot, it will deposit the completed ballot into the privacy sleeve as it emerges from the printer, to preserve your privacy.

After your ballot has been printed,

The paper ballot is then inserted into the ImageCast Ballot Verification Scanner which reads the ballot, and permits you to review your ballot selections through audio and visual display.

The system automatically draws the ballot from the privacy sleeve into the unit.

The system performs an initial review of the ballot.

When ballots have been programmed with languages in addition to English, you will be given a choice of language to select from.  You will make your selection using the ATI.

You will be prompted by the ImageCast with two options.

To Skip the ballot Review process; select the Red “X” or “Select” button.

To Review your selections which have been printed on the ballot, Press the Blue Downward Arrow.

The contest names and candidate names are highlighted in yellow as you move through the ballot so that you can see where you are on the ballot, and, the ImageCast will read your choices back to you through the headphones, if you are using an audio interface.

When the review is complete, you may either reject or cast your ballot.

To Reject or spoil the ballot, you will select the “Blue Downward Arrow” button on the ATI.

The ballot will be returned to you in the privacy sleeve.

You must then return the spoiled ballot to the appropriate Election Inspector.

To vote a replacement ballot, the appropriate Election Inspector provides a replacement ballot and initializes a new voting session for you to begin.

To “Accept” and cast the ballot, you will choose the “Red X Select” button on the ATI.

Once you confirm your selections, the scanner will deposit the ballot into an internal compartment of the ballot box and the voting process is completed.

Please note that once the ballot is cast, you may not receive a replacement ballot.

The Sequoia ImageCast allows a voter to vote a paper ballot in privacy.

The Audio Tactile Interface allows voters with sight challenges to complete their ballot.

Voters can listen to the selections over headphones,

or look at an display screen with an image of the ballot that can adjusted for size and contrast.

"Sip n Puff" devices and paddles (where provided) may also be used by voters who are unable to use the touchscreen or hand-held access device called an ATI ( Accessible Tactile Interface).

Poll Workers are always available to provide you with any assistance you may need. 

They will be stationed in various areas in your poll site, including the area near the ImageCast, for easy access to you, should you need or want their help.

Pollworkers are always on hand to provide instruction, or when requested by you, to assist in the use of this equipment as directed by you.

After you have signed-in at the Voter Check-In table, you’ll need to select which voting machine works best for you.

The ImageCast voting machine features a ballot marking terminal…

and a ballot scanning machine.

A privacy sleeve is provided for you to cover your ballot choices during the transportation of the ballot in the poll site.

Features, such as providing audio messages through the use of headphones, the Sip-N-Puff device, tactile controls and, where provided voting paddles, are available to any voter.

If you cannot easily view your ballot on the screen, you can vote by listening to ballot options through headphones.  The voting system’s messages will prompt you on how to make your ballot selections, and how to confirm the choices you made, using the ATI.

However, if both audio and visual formats are to be used at the same time, please observe that the visual display does not match the audio word for word.

You will note a slight delay between the time a selection is made through the ATI and the selection is registered by the ImageCast.

The Sip-n-puff device provides independent ballot access for voters who have limited dexterity.  The voting system’s messages will prompt you on how to make your ballot selections, and how to confirm the choices you made, using the Sip-n-Puff.  

A paddle interface may be provided at your poll site.  The paddle device provides for  independent ballot access for voters who have limited dexterity.  The voting system’s messages will prompt you on how to make your ballot selections, and how to confirm the choices you made, using the paddles.  

Poll workers will take every precaution to ensure that voters are provided with sanitary voting supplies, by using ear covers for those using the head phones, one-time use straws and filter for the Sip-n-Puff device, as well as gloves and sanitary wipes.