Escambia County uses a "blended" system of voting and tabulation, with the optical scan method as the basis of the system. We use DS200 optical scanners at the precinct, and the 650 high-speed scanner at the Elections Office to process absentee ballots.

Due to federal and state mandates, we have recently added iVotronic direct recording electronic (DRE) voting machines -- better known as "touchscreens" -- to our inventory. To meet the mandate for a voting system accessible to those with disabilities, each precinct will have at least one iVotronic in addition to the DS200 optical scanner. Early voting will be conducted on DS200 optical scanners; the iVotronic will also be available for persons with disabilities and others who prefer using the touchscreen voting machine. The vendor for our voting equipment is Election Systems & Software.

The optical scan method of voting is a user-friendly method that makes voting both fast and simple. Just fill in the oval to the left of the candidate or issue you wish to vote for, as illustrated below:

The touchscreen method is simple as well. A poll worker will activate an electronic ballot and leave the voter in private to complete the ballot on the touchscreen. An audio ballot is available for non-sighted voters. Click here for a demo of the iVotronic DRE.

The results from the precints, early voting, and absentee voting are tabulated together at the Elections Office after the polls close, and are released to the public and posted on our website.