The VotingWorks VxMark (BMD), VxScan, and VxCentralScan run on commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) hardware. VotingWorks’ software is open source and available on GitHub. The BMDs are enclosed in light carrying cases, each of which contains a COTS touch-screen tablet running VotingWorks’ software. The setup also includes a card reader. The VotingWorks BMD is designed to sit in its case atop a desk or table.

The Center for Democracy & Technology announced its support for VotingWorks in late 2018. VotingWorks’ systems were first used in in a single precinct in Choctaw County, Mississippi in the state’s 2019 primary. The machines were tested again and then used countywide during the general election. In February of 2020, the town of Fulton in Rock County, Wisconsin ran a mock election on the VotingWorks BMD using the VxScan and Microsoft’s ElectionGuard, which interpreted the voter’s smart card and created a paper ballot. In the 2020 general election, the BMD was available only to voters in Choctaw County, Mississippi. The scanner was used in a handful of Mississippi counties for mail ballot tabulation. In 2022, more Mississippi counties and a few New Hampshire towns added VotingWorks’ systems.

A voter using the VotingWorks VxMark (BMD) is checked in by a poll worker and receives an activation card to use with the BMD. The check-in card stores the voter’s appropriate ballot on a chip. To begin voting, the voter first inserts their activation card where directed in the smart-card reader, which populates the BMD with the voter’s appropriate ballot.

Voters can change the font size and contrast on the BMD’s screen. Voters can also use assistive technology to mark their ballots. The voter is always shown how many contests there are total and in which contest they are voting at any time (e.g. “This is the 1st of 20 contests.”)

To make a selection on the screen, the voter selects the box that displays their chosen candidate’s name(s). When selected, the box will be filled with color and framed, with a check mark appearing to the left of the candidate’s name(s). The voter can select “see more” to view more candidates in a particular contest. To move to the next contest, the voter selects “Next.” The voter is not required to vote in each contest. Voters are prevented from overvoting and receive a warning when attempting to vote for too many candidates in one contest. The voter must deselect a candidate before selecting another candidate.

After voting in or skipping all of the contests in an election, the voter reaches the review screen, which displays their choices for each contest. The voter can select “change” next to a particular candidate to return to that contest and change their selection. The voter then returns to the review screen. On the review screen, the voter is notified of any undervotes with a message, “You may still vote in this contest”.

When the voter is satisfied with their selections, they select “I’m ready to print my ballot.” The voter then removes the card from the BMD and proceeds to the printer to create and obtain their voted ballot. The VotingWorks printing station erases the data on the voter’s card.

The voter’s printed ballot is a summary of their selections; the ballot does not show all candidates in each contest. The ballot is printed with a non-human readable QR code, which encodes the voter’s selections. The voter should review their ballot before taking it to a scanner or depositing it in a ballot box. When finished, the voter returns their card to a poll worker. Depending on the jurisdiction, voters use the VxScan or county officials tabulate ballots centrally.

VotingWorks: How We Vote Here

VotingWorks usage in November 2024 (click map for details)