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Prepare to see changes when going to vote in November




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With early voting beginning Oct. 18, voters might want to know what to expect when they cast ballots.

Wilson County has new voting equipment that differs from the equipment the county used for the November 2020 election.

The equipment, which cost $341,000, is designed to be more efficient, provide a “paper trail,” and accelerate the voting process. Voters also will notice a couple of differences in procedures:

•Photo identification will be scanned.

Instead of simply looking at photo-identification documents, the clerk who checks voter registration also will scan each voter’s photo ID for verification before each voter signs a poll book.

•Voters have a second chance after printing their ballot cards.

After voters sign in, they will be offered a blank card to vote.

“Once they insert the blank card in the ExpressVote unit, a screen will appear,” county Election Administrator Olga Marrero explained. “They will see their respective voting precinct along with what is on that ballot.”

Following instructions on the screen, voters mark and review their ballots, and print out the card.

So far, the procedure is fairly routine, but now the voter has an opportunity to make sure the printed card reflects his or her choices. If not, the card will be nullified, and the voter can recast his or her ballot.

“When a voter is satisfied that the ballot has accurately recorded his or her votes, that voter can then insert the ballot into a DS200 unit, which records and counts the votes.”

ID required for Texas voters

Texas generally requires registered voters to present a photo identification before they are permitted to cast a ballot. Although a Texas driver license is the most common ID presented, several forms are acceptable:

•Texas Election Identification Certificate issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS)

•Texas Personal Identification Card issued by DPS

•Texas Handgun License issued by DPS

•U.S. Military Identification Card with photo

•U.S. Citizenship Certificate with a photo

•U.S. passport (book or card).

For exceptions and exemptions to the photo ID requirement, visit VoteTexas.gov.

gripps@wcn-online.com