By Connecticut law all voting machines are tested before the 10th day prior to every election, including primaries, special elections and referenda.
The voting systems used in Connecticut are the optical scan and DRE.
Optical Scan: With this system, you will receive a card or sheet of paper, which you take over to a private table or booth. The card has the names of the various candidates and ballot measures printed on it. With a pen or pencil, fill in a little box or circle or the space between two arrows. When you are finished filling out all the cards, you may bring the cards over to a ballot box, where poll workers will show you how to put the cards in the box. In some places, you may feed the completed cards or papers into a computer device which checks your card or paper on site to make sure you have voted the way you want to and counts the votes.
Direct Recording Electronic (DRE): This is the newest kind of system in use in the U.S. All the information about who and what you are voting for is on an electronic screen, such as a TV or computer screen. DRE’s (also known as IVS, Interactive Voting Systems) are used in CT to ensure access to voting independently by all voters.
It is available for all those with accessibility needs. This technology ensures access for all voters in their local polling place. The assistive technology includes an amplified headset to hear the name and office of each candidate for those who need it. The touch-screen makes it easier for those who have difficulty marking their ballot.
The accessible voting device is set-up in every polling place for all primaries and elections. Voters do not need to contact anyone in advance. Be advised that depending upon the nature of the ballot at the specific election, the process of listening to the candidates, recording your choices, and verifying the selections can take anywhere from 10 minutes to 30 minutes for a municipal ballot. (source: Adapted from the Greenwich, CT website)
There are many variations of DREs because many companies are inventing new ones, and many cities, counties and states are trying them out. Usually, after you have signed in, the poll workers will give you a card which you slide into a device to start your voting session.
Some of these devices will show all of the candidates and ballot choices on one screen. Often, with these big screen devices, you push a button next to the name of the candidate you want to vote for (or yes or no on a ballot measure). On other DREs, the screen is set up to show pages. On each screen or page, there will probably be one thing to vote on. For example, on one screen or page, you might vote for president. Then you might move to the next page to vote for senator. Often these small-screen devices have a touch screen, where you touch the screen next to the name of the person you want to vote for. Other devices have a key pad. Some have a keyboard, so that you can write in the name of someone you want to vote for.
You let the system know you are finished voting by pushing a button, touching the screen or entering something on a keypad.
To learn more about Accessibility Voting and Rights, please watch this video created by the organization Disability Rights CT.
You can learn more about voting systems by checking out the Elections Assistance Commission's (EAC) resource.