Staff from the Butler Bureau of Elections demonstrated the county's new paper ballot voting system at Slippery Rock University Oct. 22. All counties in the state are required to select a new, voter-verifiable paper record voting system by the end of the year, according to the Pennsylvania Department of State. During the demonstration, "voters" filled out a dummy ballot asking them to select their favorite cartoon family on a Scantron-like form. After filling out the dummy ballot, "voters" were shown how to slip their ballot into the scanner. Ballots were rejected if too many circles were filled in or if the scanner identifies other problems on the ballot. Once accepted by the scanner, the ballot drops into a plastic container attached to the scanner that cannot be accessed by anyone until it arrives at a courthouse.
