QVF Help Desk Offering "On-Call" Support:  The QVF Help Desk will offer "on-call" support throughout the holiday week-end.  If you are in need of assistance, please call (517) 202-3487.  In addition, any general questions that you may have over the holiday week-end regarding the January 15, 2008 presidential primary may be directed to Sue McRill at 1-517-242-5136.

Ballot Proofing for the January 15, 2008 Presidential Primary Election: County clerks are reminded that one "proof" ballot for each election scheduled in your county must be forwarded to the Bureau for review prior to production.  Ballot proofs may be submitted by e-mail to Sue McRill at McRillS@Michigan.gov.  If corrections are required, a corrected version of the ballot will be requested. 

Our goal is to ensure 1) uniform conformance with all applicable provisions of Michigan election law and the Rules Promulgated for the Administration of Electronic Voting Systems and 2) that all ballots are prepared in accordance with the applicable technical requirements established by the voting equipment manufacturers.  

Those responsible for the production of ballots must pay close attention to all legal and technical ballot production standards.  The legal standards which must be observed when producing ballots for the upcoming January 15, 2008 election are reflected in the ballot samples which were forwarded to all county clerks under separate cover.  To obtain a copy of the technical standards that must be observed when preparing ballots, please contact your voting system vendor.  The following contact information is provided for your convenience.

Election Systems and Software, Inc. (ES&S)

Ray Caddell, ES&S Manager
Print Services
Phone: (402) 970-1240 

Miller Consultations and Elections

6119 28th Street SE, Suite 2D
Grand Rapids, Michigan 49546
Attn: Jeff DeLongchamp, President
Phone: (616) 464-2283
 

Premier (formerly Diebold) Election Systems, Inc.

Diebold Elections Help Desk
1-866-307-7689
DESHelp@diebold.com

Instructions for Using the QVF Absent Voter Module to Issue Ballots for the January 15, 2008 Presidential Primary: A new feature, designed to document the issuance of absent voter ballots for the January 15, 2008 Presidential Primary, is now available within the QVF Absent Voter (AV) module.  The new feature works as described below:  

• Click on Democratic, Republican or Non-Presidential.  This same prompt will appear each time the user clicks on "Send Ballot."  If a ballot type is selected when the ballot is sent it will not be necessary to select a ballot type again when the ballot is received.  However, if the software was not used to track the issuance of the ballot, this same prompt will appear each time the user clicks on "Receive Ballot." 

Questions related to this new feature should be directed to the QVF Help Desk at 1-800-310-5697.

AutoMARK Programming:  The Bureau of Elections will not provide AutoMARK programming for the January 15, 2008 presidential primary election.  For this reason, county and local clerks are required to either contract with a vendor for AutoMARK programming or perform the programming themselves.  Arrangements have been made with the vendors listed below to provide this service.  Costs associated with AutoMARK programming are subject to reimbursement in accordance with law. 

While Election Systems and Software (ES&S) is prepared to provide AutoMARK programming services for all jurisdictions, there are two alternatives: 1) local units that use Accuvote optical scan equipment may contract for programming with Premier Election Solutions (formerly Diebold Elections Systems, Inc.) and 2) local units that use Optech Insight optical scan equipment may contract for programming with AutoMARK Techincal Systems LLC (ATS).

Vendor contact information:

Elections Systems & Software  

Contact: Jaime Kennedy
Phone: 1-877-377-8683, Option #6
Email: ElectionServices@essvote.com
 

Premier (formerly Diebold) Election Solutions

Primary Contact: Juan Serratti
Phone: 1-469-675-8990 X1165
Email:  Help@PremierElections.com
Secondary Contact: Premier Help Desk (staffed 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Central Time)
Phone: 1-866-307-7689
Email:  Help@PremierElections.com 

AutoMARK Technical Systems LLC

Primary Contact: Kurt Deckleman
Phone: 1-630-916-0030
Secondary Contact: Gary Olivi
Phone: 1-630-916-0030

Presidential Primary Candidate Pronunciation Guide and Ballot Header Graphic: The attached links have been forwarded to the three vendors listed above for use in preparing AutoMARK programming for the January 15, 2008 presidential primary election.  To ensure statewide uniformity, counties, cities and townships that intend to perform AutoMARK programming internally must also adhere to the instructions and standards reflected in these documents. 

Pronunciation Guide

Automark Header