September 25, 2026
The final 60 days before Election Day bring some of the most important deadlines for boards of election. As approved ballot files move into production, careful ballot printing quality control helps confirm that ballots are accurate, readable, properly produced, and ready for voters.
For election administrators, understanding what happens during this final production stretch can make it easier to prepare for deadlines and know what to expect from your ballot printing partner.
Ballot Printing Quality Control in the Final 60 Days
Quality control isn't a single check at the end of a print run. From verifying approved proofs to inspecting finished ballot materials, multiple checkpoints help identify potential issues before ballots are delivered to election offices and polling locations.
1. Verify Final Ballot Proofs
Before full production begins, approved ballot files should receive a careful final review. Candidate names, contests, propositions, instructions, ballot styles, jurisdiction information, and other required elements need to match the final approved information. Building enough time for proofing into your ballot design and printing timeline can help prevent last-minute corrections from affecting production schedules.
If a correction or change is made, the affected materials should be proofed again rather than relying on the previous review. The U.S. Election Assistance Commission recommends comparing every ballot style with official certification documents and reproofing ballots after changes or corrections are made.
2. Check Ballot Layout and Alignment
A ballot needs to do more than look correct. Its printed elements must also appear where the voting system expects them to be. Timing marks, target areas, text, folds, and other layout elements should be checked for proper positioning and consistency.
Alignment issues can affect how a ballot moves through or is read by scanning equipment, making this an important quality-control step before ballots leave production. Phoenix Election Printing rigorously tests ballots for proper alignment as part of our ballot production process.
3. Verify Security Fonts and Print Features
Depending on the jurisdiction and voting system, ballots may include security fonts and other print features designed to meet specific election requirements. These elements are an important part of ballot security and need to remain clear and consistent throughout production.
Our poll-site ballot services include security font options and certification updates to help boards of election meet their ballot specifications. These features are reviewed alongside the rest of the ballot so security requirements don't become an afterthought late in production.
4. Inspect Ink and Print Quality
Ink density, contrast, adhesion, and consistency can affect ballot readability. These and other ballot printing requirements should be carefully reviewed for issues such as smudging, bleed-through, faint printing, or inconsistencies that could interfere with ballot scanning.
These inspections shouldn't be limited to one sample from the beginning of a print run. Checking ballots throughout production helps confirm that print quality remains consistent across the full order.
5. Confirm Paper Stock and Ballot Specifications
Ballot paper has its own production requirements. Paper weight, thickness, opacity, grain direction, and other specifications may affect how ballots perform with voting equipment, so the correct stock needs to be verified before and during production.
Phoenix Election Printing also supplies certified blank ballot paper that follows official election guidelines. Our ballot paper is provided in secure, verified quantities to help election officials prepare for Election Day with the appropriate stock on hand.
6. Complete Mandated Print Verification
Print verification provides another checkpoint before ballots are cleared for use. Phoenix Election Printing's poll-site ballots are produced with mandated print verification as part of our focus on accuracy and compliance.
This process works alongside other production checks for readability, alignment, ink adhesion, and ballot specifications. Together, these steps help confirm that the finished ballots match approved requirements before they move to the next stage.
7. Test Ballots With Voting Equipment
Physical inspection is only one part of pre-election quality control. Election officials should also follow applicable state and local requirements for testing ballots with their voting systems.
The U.S. Election Assistance Commission recommends conducting logic and accuracy testing when ballots arrive from the printer and checking samples from different ballot styles. This provides an opportunity to confirm that printed ballots work as intended with the equipment that will be used during the election.
8. Check Packaging and Quantities
Once ballots have passed production checks, attention turns to packaging. Quantities should be verified, ballot styles kept organized, and finished materials packaged in a way that protects them during handling, storage, and delivery.
Packaging is also an important part of maintaining ballot security. Clearly organized and securely packaged materials can make it easier for election offices to verify what they've received and manage distribution as Election Day approaches.
9. Verify Packaging Integrity Before Delivery
Before materials leave the production facility, finished cartons and packages should receive a final review. This includes confirming labels, destinations, quantities, seals, and other identifying information against the approved order. Maintaining election mail integrity throughout packaging and delivery is another important part of keeping election materials secure.
Phoenix Election Printing uses secure packaging options including pre-printed shrink wrap, sealed cartons, and security-specific tape. These measures help keep election materials organized and protected as they move from our Rochester facility to election offices.
10. Keep Documentation Organized
Quality control also includes maintaining clear records throughout production. Proof approvals, production details, quantities, packaging information, and delivery documentation can provide election administrators with a clearer record of how materials moved through the process.
Keeping this information organized can also support post-election audit trails and make it easier for officials to review production records and other documentation after Election Day.
Prepare for Election Day With a Trusted Ballot Printing Partner
The final 60 days before Election Day leave little room for printing errors or production delays. Careful proof verification, print inspections, mandated verification, equipment testing, and secure packaging all play a role in keeping ballot production accurate and organized.
With more than 40 years of election printing experience, Phoenix Election Printing supports boards of election with secure ballot printing, certified ballot materials, election mailings, and fulfillment. Contact us today to discuss your upcoming election printing needs.
