Direct Recording Electronic (DRE)

The most recent configuration in the evolution of voting systems are known as direct recording electronic, or DRE’s. They are an electronic implementation of the old mechanical lever systems. As with the lever machines, there is no ballot; the possible choices are visible to the voter on the front of the machine.

The voter directly enters choices into electronic storage with the use of a touch-screen, push-buttons, or similar device. An alphabetic keyboard is often provided with the entry device to allow for the possibility of write-in votes.

The voter’s choices are stored in these machines via a memory cartridge, diskette or smart-card and added to the choices of all other voters.

In 1996, 7.7% of the registered voters in the United States used some type of direct recording electronic voting system.