BBV: Survey of Primary Ballot Systems (Optical Scan)

[RedEagle]

I could use some feedback on what other counties in other states do with partisan primaries when optical scan is the voting system used. This would be a primary where the voter does not have to declare a party but must vote only in one party's primary except for nonpartisan issues. (Not a blanket primary) However, any feedback is welcome regarding how the primaries are handled.

1. Are separate ballots for each party used?

2. If so, how are nonpartisan issues handled?

3. Do you have to mark a party preference on the separate ballot? (Hey, I don't know why if it's a ballot for one party only, but I need to ask the question. Perhaps marking it tells the machine that the votes should only go to one party's candidates)

4. Does the state/county use a consolidated ballot instead?
(All-in-one)

5. If a consolidated ballot is used, do you have to mark a party preference or is your vote invalidated if you happen to mark a vote for someone outside of the party?

6. Do you know who the vendor of the system is, (ES&S, Diebold, Sequoia,....) and if you have this information also: the model numbers of the systems and the software version numbers, etc.

Thanks for any input on this.