The Vanguard Flex is a universal ballot marking device (BMD) that produces a human-readable paper ballot. It is a hardware component of the Verity Vanguard 1.0 suite, certified by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) to the VVSG 2.0 standards. The device provides an electronic interface for voters to mark their selections, which are then printed onto a paper ballot for tabulation by a separate scanner.

Voting and Tabulation Process

The voting process begins when a poll worker provides the voter with a paper ballot or a VotePass activation ticket generated by Vanguard Boost. The voter inserts the paper into the device’s front-facing feed to initiate the session. Using a 15-inch touchscreen or accessible peripherals, the voter makes selections in their preferred language and can adjust text size or contrast as needed. Before the final record is created, the device presents a digital summary of all selections for a final review. Once the voter confirms their choices, the integrated thermal printer produces a paper ballot containing human-readable text. Notably, the Vanguard Flex does not use barcodes or QR codes to encode voter intent, ensuring the data used for the count is identical to the text verified by the voter. After printing, the voter must manually transport the ballot to a tabulating device, such as the Vanguard Vault, to cast their vote.

Technical Design and Hardware Specifications

The Vanguard Flex is engineered for portability and high-availability operation, weighing 16 pounds and featuring a nested design that allows for compact storage and transport. The device’s integrated thermal printer requires no ink or toner and is compatible with multiple ballot sizes, ranging from 8.5″ x 11″ to 11″ x 17″. To ensure continuous operation during power interruptions or movement within a polling place, the Flex utilizes a “Smart Battery” system with two hot-swappable batteries that allow the unit to remain powered without requiring a reboot. Security is maintained through a hardware-augmented Secure Boot process that verifies the digital signature of the firmware at every startup. Physical ports are protected by a patented sliding door system designed for the application of tamper-evident seals. For administrative tracking, an integrated e-ink Vanguard ID smart label displays device status and election identification, which remains visible even when the unit is not powered.

Accessibility and Usability

As part of its VVSG 2.0 certification, the Vanguard Flex underwent rigorous “User-Centered Design” (UCD) evaluation to ensure an independent voting experience for all users. The hardware includes a tactile controller with a directional wheel and two buttons, as well as support for assistive technology like sip-and-puff switches. A dedicated headphone jack provides full audio navigation, and the 15-inch touchscreen is positioned at an angle optimized for both standing voters and those in a seated position.