Voting Systems For Tomorrow's Primaries In Montana & South Dakota

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Montana

Democratic Governor- Brian Schweitzer

Montana hold a Democratic Party Presidential primary on June 3. A Republican caucus was held February 5. The primary is open to all voters.

Montana has a statewide paper ballot system, with the AutoMARK used statewide for voters with disabilities, and ES&S scanning equipment used in most counties. 12 counties, with approximately 2% of the state's nearly 628,000 registered voters, hand-count their paper ballots. 29 counties, with approximately 60% of the state's registered voters, use the ES&S M100 precinct scanner. 7 of these counties, with nearly 40% of the state's voters, use central-count scanners as well. Montana allows no-excuse absentee voting, so it is likely that many ballots in these 7 counties will be counted centrally.

The remainder of the state's 56 counties uses ES&S central count scanners, including the M650 in 8 counties, the M150 in 5 counties, and the Optech 200 in 2 counties.

South Dakota

Republican Governor- Rounder

South Dakota will hold closed primaries for both the Democratic and Republican parties on June 3. The state has over 550,000 registered voters.

South Dakota has a statewide optical scan system, with the AutoMARK for voters with disabilities in all polling places. All ballots are scanned centrally, though 31 counties use the ES&S M100 for central counting. The remaining 35 counties use the M650.