Standards

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Electronically Assisted Ballot Marker (ebm)

Primary definition

A machine that aids a disabled voter in marking a DOCUMENT BALLOT. A " VEDB that produces an executed, human-readable paper ballo t as a result, and that does not make any other lasting record of the voter's votes. ... One kind of EBM presents CONTEST CHOICES to the voter on an electronic monitor; after the voter finishes the ballot, the voter's choices are printed on a paper ballot that is the only record of the voter's choices. However, vote-by-telephone systems that are in use at the time of this writing are also EBMS. The voter uses an audio interface (remotely) and a paper ballot is produ ced (centrally). An EBM may mark ballot positions on a preprinted ballot or it may print an entire ballot (the latter kind are called EBPs); however, in any event, the ballot produced is assumed to be human readable and comparable to an MMPB." 2007 VVSG. Abbreviated EBM. Also ACCESSIBLE BALLOT PRINTER.

Also known asaccessible ballot printer · EBP · ballot marking device · BMD · electronic ballot marker · assistive ballot marker · voter assist terminal · VAT · ballot marking terminal · BMT
1 sources cited4 related termsReviewed Aug 10, 2026
NIST Election GlossaryView source

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NIST

A machine that aids a disabled voter in marking a DOCUMENT BALLOT. A " VEDB that produces an executed, human-readable paper ballo t as a result, and that does not make any other lasting record of the voter's votes. ... One kind of EBM presents CONTEST CHOICES to the voter on an electronic monitor; after the voter finishes the ballot, the voter's choices are printed on a paper ballot that is the only record of the voter's choices. However, vote-by-telephone systems that are in use at the time of this writing are also EBMS. The voter uses an audio interface (remotely) and a paper ballot is produ ced (centrally). An EBM may mark ballot positions on a preprinted ballot or it may print an entire ballot (the latter kind are called EBPs); however, in any event, the ballot produced is assumed to be human readable and comparable to an MMPB." 2007 VVSG. Abbreviated EBM. Also ACCESSIBLE BALLOT PRINTER.

NIST Election Glossary · 2024

Cite this term

Permanent URL · stable across revisions
Election Security Glossary. (2026). Electronically Assisted Ballot Marker (ebm). In Election Security Glossary. Retrieved August 23, 2026, from https://electionsecurityglossary.com/glossary/electronically-assisted-ballot-marker-ebm

Sources

1 cited · last checked Aug 10, 2026

01

NIST Election Glossary
NIST Election Glossary

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