Princeton Undergraduate Student Government

Step 1: Getting Started

Go to Helios and find your ballot

First, you have to go to the main Helios page and click the election you are supposed to be voting in.  You can access any election, even ones you aren't eligible to vote in.  But you can only cast the ballot if you are eligible.  Eligibility is based on your class year.

Sparknotes version

1. Go to the Helios page
   https://princeton-helios.appspot.com
2. Select the election you are voting in
3. Click "Vote in this election" to enter the voting booth

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Step 2: Making Choices

Select the candidates

Once you've entered the voting booth, it's time to get to work.  Make your selections.  If you want to change a selection, you first have to deselect (click again) the choice you already made before selecting a new choice.  Click "Next" to proceed through the questions until you reach the last question where it will be a "Review Choices" button instead.  Click that one.  On the next page, you'll get the opportunity to see the choices you made once again.  You can go back and change anything at this time.

Executive Summary

1. Click "Start" to continue
2. Review the first question and make your choice
3. Click "Next" to proceed through the questions
4. On the last question, click "Review all Choices"
5. You can change your choices by clicking the "update" link next to any question

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Step 3: Casting Your Ballot

Digitally "fold" your ballot and drop it in the ballot box

This part is why Helios is so cool -- encryption.   From the page where you review all of your choices, click the "Confirm Choices and Encrypt Ballot" to start encrypting.  The encryption process could take a while -- up to a minute, actually.  So grab a snack or check your email.  Okay, back now?  Once everything is encrypted, you'll get a tracking number.  This is the most important feature of Helios!  Store that tracking number somehow so that you can easily find it again later.  Email it to yourself, save it in a file, print it out (if you're a tree-hater), write it on your hand, commit it to memory, etc.

Now click "Proceed to Login" to authenticate.  If you aren't already logged in (by logging into another Princeton site within a few minutes of voting), you'll have to log in using your NetID and password.  Once you're authenticated, Helios checks to make sure that you are eligible to vote by checking your class year.  If you are eligible, it will bring you to a page that displays your tracking number once again and gives the option "cast this ballot."  You know what you've got to do now -- click the button!  Once you click the button, wait until the confirmation page comes up.  DON'T close the window immediately after clicking the button!  Once you see the confirmation page, you're done!

Précis

1. Click "Confirm Choices and Encrypt Ballot"
2. Wait for ballot to be encrypted (it may take a minute or so; if warning message pops up, click "Continue")
3. Record you tracking number (email it to yourself, save it, print it, write it on your hand, etc.)
4. Click "Proceed to Login"
5. Click "Login" if not already logged in, and then enter your NetID and password
6. Click "cast this ballot"
7. Pat yourself on the back

Don't fret!  Check out the video!

Step 4: Tracking Your Ballot

Go to Helios and find your ballot

The ability to track your ballot is one of the most important functions Helios gives you as a voter.  At any time, during or after the election, you can track your ballot.  Find your ballot tracking number (if it didn't wash off your hand).  Then go back to the initial page for the election you want to track your vote in.  Click on the "Audit Info" link in the yellow/beige rectangle.  Then click "Ballot Tracking Center."  The page will now show a list of all cast ballots.  Use the "Find" function of your browser to find your NetID on the page -- it's usually Control-F on PC or Command-F on macs.  Next to your NetID, confirm that the tracking number you see there is the one you recorded.  Congratulations!  You've tracked your ballot!

Synopsis

1. Retrieve your tracking number from your records
   
2. Go to the ballot page again
   Go the the main Helios page and then click the election
3. Click "Audit Info" in the yellow rectangle
4. Click "Ballot Tracking Center"
5. Find your NetID in the list
6. Confirm that the tracking number displayed matches your records

Want to see it in action?