PORTSMOUTH — When you arrive at the polls on Sept. 13 for the Primary Election or on Nov. 8 for the General Election, you’ll notice a couple of changes: a new ballot and a new digital scanner for each precinct.

Jacqueline Schulz, Portsmouth’s registrar of voters, said the changes are designed to simplify the voting process, as well as to ensure a fairer and more accurate count.

The new Rhode Island voting machine is the DS-200, and the Portsmouth Canvassing Authority recently demonstrated how it works at Town Hall. Residents were able to cast their ballot in a mock election and staff was available to answer questions.

“It still is going to digitally read the ballot being cast,” said Ms. Schulz. “The difference is the ballot is different. Rather than connecting the arrows as in the past, you’re going to be filling in the ovals. This will accept any kind of ink, except green.”

If voters merely place a checkmark beside a candidate’s name, the scanner will kick the ballot back out, she said. 

“It will say, ‘That’s a blank ballot.’ But rather than voiding that out, all you have to do is go back and fill in the ovals. And you can still feed it in every direction,” she said.

There will be one machine at every voting precinct. “You’ll still go to your privacy booth,” said Ms. Schulz.

If voters choose more than the maximum number of selections allowed in any contest — known as over-voting — the machine will tell you.

“If you over-vote, you’ll be given the option to either cast that ballot the way it is, or you can return your ballot and we’ll void it. If you over-vote for any race, that entire race will not be counted,” she said.

That won’t happen, however, if someone under-votes — such as voting for six candidates in a seven-person Town Council race.

“With under-voting, they will never tell you. That’s why it’s important to pay attention,” said Ms. Schulz.