Department of State issues update for voters using Dominion Voter Assist Terminals for 2024 General Election

Voters using a Dominion VAT should be prepared for straight ticket/split ticket programming issue when marking their ballot

LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan Bureau of Elections (BOE) has identified an issue with the programming of Dominion Voter Assist Terminals (VATs) that will not stop voters using a VAT from marking their ballot but may make it more inconvenient than normal for some voters.

Every early voting site and polling place has at least one VAT, a device that voters with disabilities and others may use to assist them in marking their ballot. The voter then prints the ballot from the VAT and puts it through the tabulator.

Because of this programming issue, voters using Dominion ICX VATs will have to select either the "straight party" option if they wish to vote straight ticket or vote for each race on the partisan selection of the ballot if they wish to split their ticket. While this is the process used in some other states, it is not the standard in Michigan, where voters have the option to vote straight party but then override their party selection for individual races.

If a voter using the Dominion VAT votes straight party but then splits their ticket, the voter will receive an error message. The voter will need to go back and de-select their straight-party selection and vote for candidates in the races individually or vote straight party without splitting their ticket. As is always the case, the VAT will allow voters to review their selections before printing the ballot.

This issue only affects voters using VATs in counties that use Dominion voting equipment. A list of voting equipment by county is available online at this link: Voting equipment by county.

It is not possible to fix the programming for the affected VATs this close to the election. Although the issue will not stop people from voting or making their preferred selections, and it will not change anyone's votes, it will make the process more inconvenient for some voters using the VATs. The issue will be corrected for future elections.

For more information on VATs and accessible elections visit Michigan.gov/Vote.

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