How to Vote Using Mechanical Lever Machines

Posted by Anonymous , 9/4/2007 Tags:VoteUsingMechanicalLeverMachines
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How to Vote Using Mechanical Lever Machines

Introduction

When using mechanical lever machines at the polls, you are assured supreme privacy because once you pull the lever upon entrance to the privacy booth, a curtain closes behind you. This action also tells the machine that you are ready to vote. You must continue using the lever after each candidate or ballot issue you cast a vote for.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Vote Using Mechanical Lever Machines

Steps

1

Step One

Find your polling station location by looking at the bottom of the voter registration card that you received in the mail when you registered to vote. If you do not have your voter registration card, but are registered, contact your County Clerk's office and they will be able to direct you to your polling station location.
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Step Two

Enter the privacy booth and pull the mechanical lever to close the curtain and begin the voting process. You will pull down a lever to select your choices for candidates and issues. The lever will automatically return to its original location to allow you to continue on another line of candidates or issues.
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Step Three

Continue to cast all of your votes. Mechanical lever machines are tabulating your votes each time the lever is pulled. There is no need to make any marks on paper or to turn in a ballot card to a polling official.
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Step Four

Finish voting and follow exiting instructions in the booth. Once you are through, the curtain will open and you are free to leave the polling station. If you have any questions or feel that the machine has malfunctioned in some way, please bring it to the attention of the poll workers. They are trained and qualified to answer any questions you may have and to re-direct you to properly functioning mechanical lever machines if needed.

Overall Tips & Warnings

  • Mechanical lever machines are no longer being made for voting precincts. They are in the process of being replaced by more cost-effective, efficient voting systems.
  • Interlocks in the mechanical lever voting machines prevent a voter from choosing more that one candidate in each category.
  • You may be asked to fill out a survey on your voting choices, or your voting experience with poll workers and using mechanical lever machines. Answer these questions honestly, as they will determine the future of our voting process.
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