The voter pulls a lever to indicate a choice. A pulled lever automatically returns to its original position, causing a counter wheel within the machine to tally the votes. The machines had been installed in most big cities by 1930 and were used by over half the nation's voters by the 1960s. Used by 20.7 percent of voters in 1996. A small clipboard-size device is used for recording votes.
Voters punch holes in the cards opposite their candidate or ballot-issue choice.
Ballots are placed in a ballot box or fed into a computer vote-tabulating device at the precinct. The technology was first used in Fulton and De Kalb counties in Georgia in 1964. Used by 37.3 percent of voters in 1996. Candidates and issue choices are preprinted next to an empty rectangle, circle, oval or an incomplete arrow to be filled in by voters. The computer selects the darkest mark.