Voting Instructions for People With Disabilities

Welcome to the 2012 Oregon General Election

This ballot marking program will allow you to mark, review, and print your ballot for return to your county's election office.

Accessing the Online Ballot Marking Tool

For screen reader compatibility, we recommend JAWS with Internet Explorer or NVDA with Firefox. Using JAWS with Firefox has known compatibility issues that can lead to a confusing screen reader experience. The tool is also compatible with iOS systems using Chrome and VoiceOver.

Java scripting must be enabled in your browser’s settings to access the ballot’s full functionality. If you are unable to switch between single contest and full ballot views, if the “check ballot for mistakes” button does not work, or if you are unable to print, please ensure that Java scripting is enabled in your browser’s settings, or use a different browser and/or screen reader.

Marking your Ballot

Select and Mark One Contest at a Time
If you would prefer to have only one contest at a time on the screen, select the “View one race at a time” button. You may switch back to view the full ballot at any time by selecting the “View full ballot” button.

To vote for a candidate

Select the empty check box next to your choice.
To change your selection, first unselect the box with your initial choice to remove your selection, and then make a new selection.

If you do not wish to vote for any of the selections, leave all of the boxes empty. You are not required to vote in each contest.

To write-in a candidate:

You may vote for a candidate whose name does not appear on the ballot. Check the box next to “Write-In”, and then type your candidate’s name in the text box.
If you change your mind, you may write a different name in the box, or you may unselect the box next to your write-in name and make a different selection.

Reviewing the Ballot

At the end of each contest, you may select “Check for Voting Mistakes” to see if your vote will be counted. At the end of the ballot, you may select “Check Ballot for Mistakes” to see if you have marked the ballot properly.
If you chose to not vote for a particular contest, an alert will display letting you know that you have undervoted. You do not need to vote in every contest. Your votes for other contests will still be counted.
If you voted for more candidates than allowed for, or if you voted both yes and no to a measure or recall, an alert will display letting you know that you have overvoted. An overvote will result in your vote not being counted for that contest. Your votes for other contests will still be counted.
If you wish to change any of your selections, select "Go to beginning of ballot” and you can change the way you marked any contest.
When you are done marking your ballot, select the “Show summary of votes” button at the bottom of the ballot.
After you review your ballot, you may return to your ballot to make any necessary changes, or you may print your ballot using your browser’s print function so that you can return it to your county elections office.

Returning your Ballot

After printing your marked ballot:

Enclose your ballot in your secrecy envelope.
Place the sealed secrecy envelope into your return identification envelope.
Sign the ballot declaration where indicated on your return identification envelope.
Apply appropriate postage and mail your ballot—or—return your ballot to any Oregon drop site.

Important: You must return your ballot to the election office for your vote to count! Your ballot must be received by the election office by 8:00 p.m. on November 6, 2012.

Return by Fax

Only available to Uniformed Service members and U.S. Citizens residing outside the United States.

You may fax your ballot and the voter attestation to your county's election office, at the fax number listed on your attestation. Your ballot and signed attestation must be received no later than 8:00 p.m. on November 6, 2012. By returning your voted ballot using a facsimile machine you acknowledge that you have waived your right to a secret ballot.

Important: You must return your ballot to the election office for your vote to count! Your ballot must be received by the election office by 8:00 p.m. on November 6, 2012.

Return by Email

Only available to Uniformed Service members and U.S. Citizens residing outside the United States.

You may email your ballot and the voter attestation to the email address listed on your attestation. Your ballot and signed attestation must be received by no later than 8:00 p.m. on November 6, 2012. By returning your voted ballot using email you acknowledge that you have waived your right to a secret ballot.

Important: You must return your ballot to the election office for your vote to count! Your ballot must be received by the election office by 8:00 p.m. on November 6, 2012.

FAQs

How do I print my ballot?

After you have reviewed your selections on the ballot summary page, you will use your browser’s print dialog box. Make sure your printer is plugged in and turned on, and has paper and ink.

Once I have printed my ballot, am I done with the voting process?

No. You have two options for returning your voted ballot to your county's election office. Option 1: Return by mail. Option 2: Return to a ballot drop site. If you are a member of the Uniformed Services or are a United States citizen living abroad, you may also return your ballot via fax or email.

Has this election been designed for accessibility?

Yes. This election has been designed to improve the voting experience for voters with disabilities by allowing voters to mark their ballot online. The system alerts you to overvoting or undervoting, ensures that the selection made for a candidate is clear, allows for a ballot review, and permits the voter to mark their ballot in privacy.

How does this online process help me if I am vision impaired?

The system has been designed to work with screen-reading utilities such as JAWS and Window Eyes, as well as on-screen magnifiers and keyboards.

What web browsers are compatible with the election software?

Internet Explorer, Firefox, Google Chrome, and Safari are all compatible with the election software. These are all free and available for download online. For best results, please ensure that your Internet browser is up to date and that Java scripting is enabled.

Can I mark my ballot using a mobile device such as BlackBerry or an iPad?

This election is compatible with Safari and Android mobile browsers. It is not supported by the BlackBerry web browser at this time.

I have more questions. Who should I contact?

If your questions are not answered in the Frequently Asked Questions or Voting Instructions, contact your county's election office.

Accessibility Information

The online ballot marking program has been designed specifically to enable blind and visually impaired voters to cast a secret ballot. The online pages have been created in consultation with disability groups and specialists to be responsive, simple to navigate and linear.

Features of the Online Ballot Marking System

Well constructed web pages with logical top to bottom information flow.
Clearly labeled form elements.
Consistent placement of page content and page navigation.

Voting with Windows Screen Readers

The system has been designed with accessibility in mind, but the process of voting online involves extensive navigation of complex forms. This reliance on forms means that you will need a strong familiarity with use of forms mode in your screen reader, such as knowing how to switch between forms entry mode or page navigation mode.

For best results, it is recommended you review the page in navigation mode first, to understand its layout and general operation, and then activate forms mode and use the tab key to move between each group or candidate in the ballot.

When you wish to select a candidate or choice that you have landed on, use the space bar on your keyboard to select that candidate or choice.

For best results using a screen reader, we recommend JAWS or Window Eyes with Internet Explorer, or NVDA with Mozilla Firefox. Using JAWS with Firefox has known compatibility issues that can lead to a confusing screen reader experience.

Voting using VoiceOver on a Mac

The Oregon online ballot marking tool requires Java scripting for full functionality. Safari does not support Java scripting, so some navigation tools will not work properly, but the tool will still function generally. Using a browser such as Chrome, which does support Java scripting, is recommended.

You can use the standard webpage navigation and interaction features of VoiceOver to review and mark contests on the Online Ballot Marking System.

When you are on the box for the candidate or choice that you wish to select, press the Space bar to make the selection. Note that VoiceOver will announce the selection after you press the Space Bar.

All ballots must be received by the County Elections office by 8:00 p.m. on November 6, 2012