Here’s how the voting process works in US

The ballot paper which is being used in the ongoing 2024 US presidential election is a black print on a white background with a small oblong-shaped bubble printed next to each candidate’s name for voters to fill to show their preference.

The ballot can be long — two or three white pages.

In addition to presidential candidates, the ballots will also include races for the House and Senate, along with local initiatives and proposals, such as funding for community services.

Voters will need to select either Kamala Harris or Donald Trump for president. Instead of marking an “X” in a box, citizens will fill in a bubble, which is expected to take about 10 minutes to complete.

How do voters cast their votes?

The U.S. does not utilize an online voting system, and voters are assigned specific polling places within their districts. These polling locations typically include public buildings like convention centers, libraries, schools, and community centers, where voters complete their ballots in private booths. Voters can find information about their designated polling stations through the state’s poll locator portal, provided by the nonpartisan nonprofit organization Vote.org.

Hand-marked ballots

The majority of voters in the U.S. will receive hand-marked paper ballots, where they will fill in an oval or square next to the name of their chosen candidate. According to the nonpartisan organization Verified Voting, nearly 70% of registered voters reside in areas that utilize these hand-marked paper ballots.

Ballot-marking digital devices

Some jurisdictions provide ballot marking devices (BMDs) that allow voters to cast their votes on a digital device.

A paper record will be produced by the device. About 25% of registered voters live in jurisdictions that use BMDs for all voters.

Direct recording electronic (DRE) voting

A direct recording electronic (DRE) voting system is utilized by a small percentage of voters, allowing them to cast their votes by pressing a button or using a touchscreen, with the votes being directly entered into the computer system.

According to the Council of State Governments, states such as Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Texas employed DRE machines in 2020.

Some DRE systems are equipped with a Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail printer, which generates a paper record of each vote that voters can verify before it is finalized in the computer. Approximately 5% of registered voters reside in areas that use DREs for all voters.

What ID is required to cast a vote in the US?

Thirty-five out of 50 states require voters to show some form of valid ID while 25 of these states seek a photo ID, including a driver’s licence or passport, to allow an individual to cast a vote, Al Jazeera reported.

Voters in 15 states, including Nevada, are not bound to bring IDs at polling stations to take part in the US vote. However, they will be asked to sign their name there and their signatures will be compared with the signature and ID they provided when they registered to vote.

In some states with no ID restriction, voters are asked to show their identities if it is their first time voting or if they did not provide valid ID at the time of registration.