Actual Vote Android Instructions

First, download Actual Vote onto your Android device if you haven’t yet.

Then take a practice recording. You can print out our Practice Poll Tape, set it on a table, and record it. This is what you’ll practice recording with Actual Vote. (Or if you’re pressed for time, you can just record your wall.)

Then get your Android device and follow these steps:

1. Launch the Actual Vote mobile app.

2. Press “OK” on the Welcome screen.

3. Tap “Sign in” then choose a Google account to use. If you don’t have one, create one.

4. Actual Vote needs permission to use your camera and location so you can video-record poll tapes and so that we’ll know where the recording came from. Tap “Give Permission”.

5. Tap “Allow” on the next three permissions screens.

6. Now select your Home Base—that’s just the state and county in which you intend to use Actual Vote. You can always change this later in the “My Profile” section. Press “OK” when you’re done.

7. Now we’re at the Home Screen. There’s a Suggested Next Step box at the top. Press “Next >” to see more suggestions. Now press the “Record” button in the middle of the screen.

8. This brings up the New Recording box. If you want to skip this, press “Cancel”.

If you want to enter the name of the precinct you’re at, read it off the poll tape. On the practice poll tape, the precinct is “Corvus 01” (see green box). So enter “CORVUS 01” in the box.

9. This brings up the Record area. Focus on the top of the poll tape and press the “Record” button. Slowly record the tape from top to bottom, making sure all the numbers are legible. Then press the “Stop” button.

Then you have the option of pressing “Retry” to make another recording or “OK” to accept your current recording. This will cause your recording to be uploaded to this website and take you back to the Home Screen.

It’ll also send America Counts an email notification that you’ve submitted a poll tape recording and helped to strengthen democracy!

10. Look for the “Upload Successful” message at the bottom

10. To view your recordings, scroll down to the “My Recordings” button. This brings you to a list of the recordings you’ve taken.

11. If possible, keep the recordings on your device until January 2023 for backup purposes.

Tips:

Practice!
- Practice several times using the Practice Poll Tape.
Review!
- It’s only good if it is readable. Playback your recording to see how it looks before submitting.
Get Close!
- Fill the frame with the poll tape, leaving as little space around the poll tape as possible.
Go Slow, Top to Bottom
- For best results, take your time!
- Make sure to go top and bottom where there is important information.
Pause Over Each Section
- Pause and say aloud the first name and vote counts for each race.
- Pausing reduces the blurriness caused by motion and improves legibility.
Stay Parallel
- Keep your camera parallel to the poll tape. This can be quite a challenge if the tape reaches the ground, but do the best you can!
Duplicate Recordings are Good!
- Go ahead and make your own recording of poll tapes even if you see or suspect someone else may already have done so. Independent recordings help corroborate each other.
Be Prepared!
- Things to bring: a friend, flashlight, step stool, painter’s tape.
Record Them All!
- Poll tapes are often posted near the main entrance, but sometimes taped behind windows.
- There may be more than one.
- Look around for any poll tapes that may have fallen or been blown away by wind.
- If you can’t find them, ask around.

Thanks for using Actual Vote!

⟪ Back to Actual Vote Portal

Actual Vote Android Instructions

Sign up for our Newsletter

More Information