The Elections Division at the Kitsap County Auditor’s Office is inviting the public to view its new ballot counting system which includes a new way for voters to mark their ballots. The new “fill in the box” marking system replaces the “connect the arrow” system that was in place for the past 18 years.

“We hope citizens will take advantage of this opportunity to come see the new ballots before they arrive in the mail in July,” Kitsap County Auditor Walt Washington said. “I am certain they will find the new marking system to be much more user friendly.”

The open house to view the new ballots will run from 2 p.m. to 4p.m., Wednesday, June 19, at the auditor’s office, located at 619 Division St. in Port Orchard.

The Elections Division will also display its new digital scan ballot counting system, which replaced the previous optical scan system. Officials say that the new system improves efficiency by digitizing several processes that were completed manually before.

“We are already realizing improved efficiencies thanks to our new system,” Elections Manager Dolores Gilmore said. “This open house is a unique opportunity for citizens to see a demonstration of this new system before it’s officially deployed for the Primary Election.”

The Elections Division purchased the new ballot counting system from Hart InterCivic, an Austin, Texas based company. Kitsap is the 25th county in Washington to use this system, in addition to numerous other counties using Hart equipment nationally.

Images of the new system and ballot are available at facebook.com/KitsapCountyAuditor.