Travis County officials are letting voters try out the county's new voting system ahead of the November elections.
The new system still requires voters to make their selections electronically, but those machines no longer store votes in memory. Instead, a human-readable paper ballot is produced for voters to verify their choices.
A voter would then insert the paper into an electronic ballot box which will automatically scan and tally their vote. The paper ballot will be secure inside the box and used to verify the electronic results. The previous voting system didn’t produce a paper trail making it difficult, for example, to verify vote counts if there were voting irregularities.
Travis County Clerk Dana DeBeauvoir said the county spent $9 million for approximately 2,000 ballot-marking devices, 500 electronic ballot boxes, training and outreach. She said the change was needed to replace 18-year-old equipment and to have a system with a paper trail.
DeBeauvoir said officials have held a dozen events to prepare voters for the change and have more
scheduled. You can try out the machines ahead of the elections at the times and locations below.
Tuesday, Sept. 24
10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Texas Votes!
University of Texas West Mall
Guadalupe at 23rd St., Austin
Tuesday, Sept. 24
11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Huston-Tillotson University
Davage-Durden Student Union
900 Chicon St., Austin
Friday, Sept. 27
5 p.m. - 7 p.m.
YMCA North Austin
1000 W. Rundberg Lane, Austin
(in Travis County Precinct 2)
Wednesday, Oct. 2
6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
South Austin Recreation Center
1100 Cumberland Rd., Austin
(in Travis County Precinct 4)
Friday, Oct. 4
5 - 7 p.m.
Pflugerville ISD Rock Gym
702 W. Pecan St., Pflugerville
(in Travis County Precinct 1)
Tuesday, Oct. 8
4 - 6 p.m.
Travis County Community Center-Oak Hill
8656 Tx. Hwy. 71, Austin
(in Travis County Precinct 3)
Friday, Oct. 11
10:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.
University of Texas-Austin
Perry-Castañeda Library
101 E. 21st St., Austin
Saturday, Oct. 12
12 - 2 p.m.
League of Women Voters
1609 Shoal Creek Blvd, Suite 202, Austin
Monday, Oct. 14
12 -2 p.m.
St. Edwards University
Ragsdale Student Union
3001 S. Congress Ave., Austin
Wednesday, Oct. 16
1 - 4 p.m.
Disability Rights Texas
2222 W. Braker Lane, Austin
