Modular accessible voting systems and methods

1 . A method comprising:

obtaining a plurality of tabulators, each of the plurality of tabulators having a user interface capable of receiving voter selections;

obtaining at least a first ballot printer, the first ballot printer being interchangeably affixable to any one of the plurality of tabulators;

mechanically affixing the first ballot printer to a first one of the tabulators;

operating the first ballot printer to print at least a first ballot according to voter selections received at the first tabulator; and

operating at least a second one of the tabulators to tabulate at least a second ballot, the second tabulator not being affixed to any ballot printer.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the second ballot is a hand-marked ballot.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein obtaining at least a first ballot printer comprises obtaining a plurality of ballot printers, each of the ballot printers being interchangeably affixable to any one of the plurality of tabulators.

4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising electronically connecting the first ballot printer to the first tabulator.

5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

obtaining at least a first hands-free ballot adapter, the hands-free ballot adapter being removably engageable with any one of the plurality of tabulators; and

mechanically affixing the first hands-free ballot adapter to the first tabulator and to the first ballot printer.

6 . The method of claim 5 , further comprising operating the first hands-free ballot adapter to direct a printed ballot from the printer paper output to the tabulator paper input.

7 . The method of claim 5 , wherein a number of hands-free ballot adapters obtained is less than a number of ballot printers obtained.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a number of ballot printers obtained is less than a number of tabulators obtained.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the first plurality of tabulators are operated using application software, and wherein the application software is the same for all of the first plurality of tabulators.

10 . A system comprising:

a tabulator having a top surface, a tabulator paper input, and a tabulator paper output;

a ballot printer, the ballot printer being removably mechanically affixable to the top surface of the tabulator, the ballot printer having a printer paper output; and

a hands-free ballot adapter, the ballot adapter being removably mechanically affixable between the tabulator and the ballot printer, such that when the ballot printer and the ballot adapter are affixed to the tabulator, the ballot adapter is operable to direct a printed ballot from the printer paper output to the tabulator paper input.

11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the ballot adapter and the ballot printer include complementary electrical connections configured to be engaged when the ballot adapter is affixed between the tabulator and the ballot printer.

12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the ballot adapter includes at least one motor for driving a ballot through the ballot adapter, and wherein power for the motor is supplied to the ballot adapter through the complementary electrical connection with the ballot printer.

13 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the ballot printer is configured to transmit a signal regarding ballot feeding to the tabulator.

14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the tabulator is configured to synchronize ballot feeding based on the signal.

15 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the signal is an optical signal.

16 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the tabulator further includes a touch screen that is foldable between at least a first configuration in which the touch screen is substantially even with the top surface and a second configuration in which the touch screen extends upwards from the top surface.