In the aftermath of the November 2000 Presidential Election, the Florida Legislature voted to decertify punch card voting systems. Beginning with the September 10, 2002 Primary Election, the Miami-Dade Elections Department is now utilizing a new voting system. A Direct Recording Electronic (DRE) Voting System with "Touchscreen" technology is now being used at the Polling Places and an Optical Scan Voting System is now being used for mail-in absentee ballot voting.
Using the new DRE Voting System voters can cast their votes by touching a computer screen with their finger or using a stylus. Following the directions on the computer system in the language of their choice (English, Spanish or Creole), voters can move from screen to screen making their selections. Once the voter has completed their votes on the last screen, they can review their ballot and may cast their votes or go back and change the decisions made. When they touch the position to cast their votes, a message appear on the screen that informs them that their votes have been recorded. Voters are not able to overvote using this system.
The system also affords voters who are blind or illiterate the ability to vote without the assistance of someone else. By using earphones and a special keyboard, voters will be talked through the voting process. The Voting System comes equipped with three memory chips and battery backups in the event of a power failure.
Illustrated Instructions on How to Vote
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