The process to outfit our elections with the latest and greatest equipment began in 2023 with the intention of making the process easier for voters while maintaining the accuracy and security that they expect. Every voter can vote with confidence knowing every vote counts!​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ 

The DS300

The City of Virginia Beach began using the DS300 poll place scanner and tabulator with the 2025 General Election and the early voting period that preceded it. This equipment is an updated version of the DS200, which had been used since 2015.

The DS300 is a digital scanner. Virginia Beach voters will continue to use a paper ballot ) to make their selections. The DS300 scans and counts the paper ballots, which are kept for one or two years, depending on the election.

Voting with the DS300

Casting a ballot will be the same as it has been in the past for Virginia Beach voters. Once checked in, you will receive a paper ballot to make your selections.

1. Fill in the oval next to your candidate or answer.
   1. For write-in votes, fill the oval next to the write-in space and fill in the candidate’s name.
2. Once you have completed your ballot, insert your ballot into the DS300 to be counted. Your ballot can be inserted in any direction. Please do not fold the ballot.
3. A “thank you for voting!” message will be displayed to confirm that your ballot has been counted. If a different message appears, please alert one of the election officials for assistance.

When marking your ballot, it’s important to completely fill the oval next to your selection. Other marks such as partially filled ovals, circles or check marks may not be tabulated.

Security and Accuracy

The DS300 has layers of physical and digital security to ensure each unit to protect against tampering. This includes tamper-evident seals, secured cases for transport and storage, and locked-down operating systems.

About the Vendor

The DS300 is manufactured by Election Systems & Software (ES&S), headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska.