Voter with white hand and black sweater touches screen of a white ExpressVote voting machine

Election Systems & Software

ExpressVote

Make / Model: ES&S ExpressVote
Equipment Type: Ballot Marking Device or Hybrid BMD/Tabulator

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Overview

White ExpressVote voting machine with blue screen showing ES&S logo sits on white table. A game controller style tactile interface and black headphones are attached to the machine
Scott Ball, San Antonio Report
Voter with long, straight black hair and gray sweater inserts ballot into ExpressVote voting machine
Election Systems & Software
White ExpressVote ballot card with upper right corner cut. Printed on card is black barcode and voter selections of races from November 2016 election
Andrew Appel, Freedom to Tinker

The Election Systems & Software (ES&S) ExpressVote is a ballot marking device (BMD) that combines touch screen voting with an integrated thermal printer. The ExpressVote is typically used as an accessible voting device in jurisdictions that use hand-marked paper ballots for most voters; however, the device is also used by all voters in many jurisdictions.

The ExpressVote can be deployed in one of two configurations: either as a marking device only, or as a marking device combined with additional integrated scanning and tabulation capabilities. These configurations are not interchangeable; jurisdictions typically choose to deploy their preferred configuration, and it does not change.

When configured exclusively as a ballot marking device, which is how most jurisdictions deploy it, the ExpressVote does not have scanning or tabulating capabilities. Accordingly, after reviewing choices and printing the summary card, the voter must insert it into a separate ES&S tabulator to cast their vote. The scanner most commonly used with ExpressVotes is the ES&S DS200 and, as of 2023, the DS300. When configured as a tabulator, the voter reviews their selections as printed on their summary card and then reinserts the card into the machine for tabulation.

In both configurations, to begin the voting process, voters insert a blank thermal paper card; a voter’s ballot style is often encoded on the blank card during the voter check-in process, so the ExpressVote automatically displays the proper version of the voter’s electronic ballot. The voter then marks their choices on the touchscreen display. After voters are finished marking all their preferred choices, the device presents a “review page” that allows voters to double-check their choices on their ballot. If a voter skips any contests, the screen indicates “No selection.”) After voters have had the opportunity to review all choices on the summary page, they print a summary paper record of their choices.

In all versions of the ExpressVote, the device can also be configured with additional accessible features for voters with disabilities. ExpressVotes support accessible voting through a tethered Audio-Tactile Interface (ATI), which is a “game controller” style console that includes tactile navigation buttons. The ATI can also support headphones for voters who are blind or visually impaired, or paddles or sip-and-puff devices for voters with dexterity impairments.

Whether configured as a marking device only, or with tabulation capabilities, the format of the ExpressVote printed vote record is the same: the device prints 4.25” thermal summary cards, which are more narrow than standard letter-size paper. The summary cards list voters’ choice(s) in each contest, rather than all options, like a traditional format ballot, and the ExpressVote encodes the voter choices in a machine-readable  bar code.

Tabulators for the summary cards always count votes by reading the computerized bar code, not the human-readable text that the voter sees. Depending on how jurisdictions choose to configure the ExpressVote, the method of casting the ballot differs. Those two methods are described below.

ExpressVote Configured as a BMD/Tabulator

White man with bald head and glasses wears a blue collard shirt and holds a blank white ballot card next to an ExpressVote voting machine with a blue and white screen that displays an image of the machine. The voting machine is white and sitting atop a black rolling cart with a black hood
Shawnee Mission Post

Although most jurisdictions deploy the ExpressVote as a ballot marking device only, ES&S also configures the device as a tabulator. At the time of purchase, jurisdictions can elect to use ExpressVote with an optional “kiosk” that also includes a paper chute and receptacle to store voted summary cards. When used along with other software features, this configuration allows the ExpressVote to scan and count votes on the same device that voters use to mark choices and print their summary cards.

When used in “tabulator mode,” the ExpressVote can be configured to either return marked summary cards to voters for manual review, before re-insertion into the device for scanning and tabulation; or to allow the voter to automatically cast their vote after an on-screen review only (i.e. without physically removing and reinserting the card). In either case, after the paper summary card is cast, the paper path drops the card into the attached chute, and voted summary cards are held in the attached receptacle.

Voting Process

White ExpressVote voting machine with blue and white screen showing contests
Animated white hand with dark pink nail polish touches voting machines screen to make a selection of candidate Giles
White ExpressVote voting machine sits on table with white and blue display screen showing voter's selections
White voting machine screen with blue button reading "Print Card"
Animated white hand sets a white ballot card on a black and gray scanner
Animated white hand with dark pink nail polish retrieves a white ballot card from a white voting machine
Election Systems & Software

After you check in, a poll worker will direct you to a voting station and set you up with a ballot marking device.

 

 

 

 

  • Make your selections by touching the screen.
  • Use the PREVIOUS and NEXT buttons to switch between contests on the ballot.

 

 

 

  • Review your selections on the summary screen.
  • Check that you have voted all the contests you want to vote and confirm your selections.
    • You do not have to vote every contest.
  • Check the maximum number of candidates you are allowed to select for each office.
    • You may select fewer than the maximum number of candidates.
  • To make a change, touch the contest and change your selection.

 

 

  • If you are satisfied with your selections, touch PRINT CARD to print your ballot.
  • Confirm your selections on the printed ballot.
  • If you want to make a change after the ballot is printed, you will need help from a poll worker to start over.
    • Give your spoiled ballot to the poll worker.

 

 

If using the ES&S ExpressVote configured as a Ballot Marking Device

  • Take your printed ballot to the ballot scanner and insert it into the scanner.
    • A poll worker may be nearby to help you.
  • If you see a message saying the ballot was NOT successfully cast, you may need to review your ballot again.
    • If you do not understand the message on the screen, ask for help from a poll worker.
  • Your ballot is cast when you see a confirmation screen on the scanner.

 

If voting on the ES&S ExpressVote configured as a Hybrid BMD/Tabulator

  • Insert the ballot back into the ExpressVote. The ballot will be scanned and deposited into a secure container.
    • A poll worker may be nearby to help you.
  • If you see a message saying the ballot was NOT successfully cast, you may need to review your ballot again.
    • If you do not understand the message on the screen, ask for help from a poll worker.
  • Your ballot is cast when you see a confirmation screen

Videos

Disability Rights North Dakota: ExpressVote 101

Demonstration of the ExpressVote as a BMD from Cooke County, TX

Demonstration of ExpressVote as a BMD/tabulator from Johnson County, KS

ExpressVote BMD Poll Worker Training from Iowa

Resources

ES&S ExpressVote usage as BMD in November 2024 (click for details)

Illustrated map of the United States showing in blue where the ExpressVote is in use for the November 2024 elections

ES&S ExpressVote as BMD/Tabulator usage in November 2024 (click for details)

Illustrated map of the United States showing in blue where the ExpressVote BMD/tabulator is in use for the November 2024 elections

Manufacturer Profile

11208 John Galt Blvd
Omaha, NE 68137
877.ESS.Vote (877.377.8683)
531.200.4047

essvote.com

Election Systems & Software was founded in 1979 as American Information Systems Inc. (AIS), it merged with Business Records Corp. the following year and changed its name to ES&S. It is now a subsidiary of McCarthy Group, LLC, and McCarthy Capital. As of 2007 it was the largest manufacturer of voting machines in the United States, claiming customers in 1,700 localities. As of 2007 it had approximately 350 employees; 2005 revenues were $117 million. ES&S announced its purchase of AutoMARK Technical Systems on January 28, 2008.