With early voting ending on Nov. 1, and Election Day on Nov. 5, here’s what you should know about the county’s voting system.
In a nutshell
Bastrop County implemented a new setup in 2022, after approval from Commissioners Court. The new method of polling includes the ExpressVote ballot machine, and the DS200 scanner and tabulator—combining digital and print capabilities.
How it works
The arrangement incorporates a three-step process:
- Vote: When the voter checks in, they receive a blank ballot that they will then take to and insert into the ExpressVote machine. Using the touchscreen, the voter can follow the prompts to make their selections.
- Review: After reviewing their ballot, the voter will be prompted to print it and review the printed ballot one last time.
- Scan: The voter will then take their printed ballot to the DS200 and insert it into the machine to be scanned and saved. Once the ballot has been cast, a message will appear on the screen that reads, “Thank You for Voting.”
According to the Texas Secretary of State's website, the following measures are taken to ensure accuracy:
- Voting machines in Texas are not connected to the internet. In order to be certified in Texas, the machines cannot even have the capability of connecting to the internet.
- Only software certified by the Texas SOS can be loaded on voting equipment. As an added security measure, Texas law requires software to go through a validation process to verify that the source code of any voting software was not altered in any way.
- All voting machines are required to be tested for logic and accuracy three times—twice before each election, and once immediately after.
Stay tuned
For more local election coverage from Community Impact, visit communityimpact.com/voter-guide.
