Pathways of Votes California: I

Mainlining your choices

Voting in person is the shortest distance between you and democracy. You arrive at a local Vote Center and identify yourself by name, address, birthdate, and signature. Election workers check the computerized registered voter database and confirm which (in Ventura County, for example) of over 250 different ballots fits your precinct address. At another station a paper ballot specific to your precinct races is printed. You then go to a booth and mark your choices. You may choose to use a computer terminal to mark and print your ballot, but your choices are reflected in a private proprietary QR code only readable by tabulator computers at the Registrar of Voters offices. Either way you the voter deposit your unfolded ballot in a locked sealed ballot bag. At the end of each voting day this bag is transported by two election workers directly to the Registrar of Voters office. Here they are sent through a tabulator scanning computer for counting. Damaged or mistaken ballots are re…