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How to Vote

In suburban Cook County, voters can choose to vote an optical scan or touch-screen ballot.

Touch-Screen Voting Machine

"It's That Easy" Video
This 3-minute video highlights the Clerk's new voting equipment.

View the video

Similar to an ATM machine, voters make selections by touching the names of candidates on a computer screen. The machine displays a paper record of the selections for the voter to verify before the ballot is cast. (See instructions below.)

Touch-Screen Voting Instructions

Voting Instructions

English*

Español*

(*) = Documents Require Adobe Acrobat Reader

Insert card all the way into yellow slot until it 'clicks.'

Insert card all the way into yellow slot until it 'clicks.'
Card remains inside until you finish voting.

Select language and begin voting.

To vote, press candidate name.

To make a change, press the

mark of your initial choice

and make a new selection.

To go to next screen, press 'continue.'

To go back to previous screen, press 'go back.'

To vote for a write-in candidate, press 'write-in.' A keyboard will appear.

Type a name.

When finished, press 'OK.'

After the last page of the ballot, a Review Screen will appear.

After the last page of the ballot, a Review Screen will appear.
Skipped contests will appear in red.

		To make a change, press the desired contest.
		When finished, press 'continue' until you reach the Review Screen.

Insert your ballot into the optical scan machine.

Print paper record of your ballot.
After you review your paper record, press 'cast ballot' to finish voting. Your paper record will remain secret and secure inside the sealed printer. Your activation card will eject.

Return card to election official.

Optical Scan Ballot

Voters make selections by drawing a line connecting the arrow next to their choices. After voting, the voter places the ballot card into the optical scanner, which checks for errors before storing it in a secure ballot box. (See instructions below.)

Optical Scan Ballot
Similar to a standardized test, voters make selections by marking circles directly on the ballot next to the names of the candidates they prefer.

Sample of an optical scan ballot*

After voting, the voter places the ballot into a machine that scans it for errors before storing it into a secure ballot box.

Optical Scan Voting Instructions

Make a bold

To vote, draw a line to connect the arrow’s

head to its tail next to your selection.

Only use the pen provided to you.

You do not have to vote for every race.

To vote for a write-in candidate, write the name on the line provided and make a line completing the arrow.

Security Shield

After voting, place the ballot underneath the security shield.

Insert your ballot into the optical scan machine.

Insert your ballot into the optical scan machine. Your ballot will eject if the machine detects an overvote or other error.

If you make a mistake or change your mind, ask an election official for a new ballot.

For information call: (312) 603-0906 \| En Español llama: (312) 603-6767 \|	: (312) 603-6769
TDD: (312) 603-0902