Optical scan and DRE voting machines: All about the technology that the United States will use to vote in the 2024 elections

There are only a few hours left to know the outcome of one of the most acclaimed elections in recent years in the United States. Kamala Harris and her Democratic proposal against former President Donald Trump and his Republican ideals. Youth and social justice against traditionalism and the vision of “America First”. On November 5, 2024, the whole world will be watching the results of the election. More than 66 million voters are expected to cast their ballots, and polls indicate that the two sides are currently tied.

Nearly 250 million citizens are eligible to vote in the United States, but for whatever reason, it is estimated that only a quarter of them will actually cast a ballot. One of the main reasons that can discourage voting is a lack of confidence in the possibility of manipulation. Therefore, in this article we will discuss the technologies that will be used to define the new protagonist of the White House.

How will U.S. technology work in the 2024 elections?

In U.S. elections, there are different types of voting machines that vary depending on the state and county. There are two main technologies: optical scan and direct recording electronic (DRE) machines.

First, optical scan machines are used to record and count the votes. Citizens can mark their decision either manually or with a ballot marking device. These ballots are placed in the scanning machine to read the contents and count the votes automatically. This system allows the votes to be calculated electronically while retaining a paper copy. This is very useful for verifying the results in later audits.

DRE voting machines, on the other hand, allow voters to make their choices by directly touching a screen. They store the votes in a digital memory, and some offer the ability to print a paper receipt (so the voter can confirm his or her choice before completing the process).

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