If you’re given a folder to cover your ballot, don’t let them take it away from you. Keep your ballot covered and pull out whatever is necessary to feed it into the reader. Ballots are never to be uncovered by anyone but you. It’s a small thing, but necessary to maintain control of your private ballot that election workers have no business interfering with. It’s not that they can change anything. It’s about looking at your ballot and seeing who you voted for. Leaving you open to reprisals if they don’t like the way you voted.