diff --git a/apps/scan/frontend/src/screens/poll_worker_screen.test.tsx b/apps/scan/frontend/src/screens/poll_worker_screen.test.tsx
index eecd9a3edd..a6cd86a339 100644
--- a/apps/scan/frontend/src/screens/poll_worker_screen.test.tsx
+++ b/apps/scan/frontend/src/screens/poll_worker_screen.test.tsx
@@ -386,7 +386,7 @@ describe('must have printer attached to transition polls and print reports', ()
 });
 
 describe('must have usb drive attached to transition polls', () => {
-  test('polls open', async () => {
+  test('opening polls', async () => {
     apiMock.expectGetPollsInfo('polls_closed_initial');
     apiMock.setPrinterStatusV3({ connected: true });
     apiMock.expectGetUsbDriveStatus('no_drive');
@@ -405,7 +405,7 @@ describe('must have usb drive attached to transition polls', () => {
     await screen.findByText('Print Additional Polls Opened Report');
   });
 
-  test('polls open from fallback screen', async () => {
+  test('opening polls from fallback screen', async () => {
     apiMock.expectGetPollsInfo('polls_closed_initial');
     apiMock.setPrinterStatusV3({ connected: true });
     apiMock.expectGetUsbDriveStatus('no_drive');
@@ -431,7 +431,7 @@ describe('must have usb drive attached to transition polls', () => {
     await screen.findByText('Print Additional Polls Opened Report');
   });
 
-  test('polls paused', async () => {
+  test('resuming voting', async () => {
     apiMock.expectGetPollsInfo('polls_paused');
     apiMock.setPrinterStatusV3({ connected: true });
     apiMock.expectGetUsbDriveStatus('no_drive');
@@ -451,7 +451,7 @@ describe('must have usb drive attached to transition polls', () => {
     await screen.findByText('Voting Resumed');
   });
 
-  test('polls paused from fallback screen', async () => {
+  test('resuming voting from fallback screen', async () => {
     apiMock.expectGetPollsInfo('polls_paused');
     apiMock.setPrinterStatusV3({ connected: true });
     apiMock.expectGetUsbDriveStatus('no_drive');
@@ -476,7 +476,7 @@ describe('must have usb drive attached to transition polls', () => {
     await screen.findByText('Print Additional Polls Closed Report');
   });
 
-  test('polls close', async () => {
+  test('closing polls', async () => {
     apiMock.expectGetPollsInfo('polls_open');
     apiMock.setPrinterStatusV3({ connected: true });
     apiMock.expectGetUsbDriveStatus('no_drive');
@@ -497,7 +497,7 @@ describe('must have usb drive attached to transition polls', () => {
     expect(startNewVoterSessionMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
   });
 
-  test('polls close from fallback screen', async () => {
+  test('closing polls from fallback screen', async () => {
     apiMock.expectGetPollsInfo('polls_open');
     apiMock.setPrinterStatusV3({ connected: true });
     apiMock.expectGetUsbDriveStatus('no_drive');
@@ -524,6 +524,172 @@ describe('must have usb drive attached to transition polls', () => {
   });
 });
 
+describe('does not need usb drive attached to transition polls if continuous export disabled', () => {
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    apiMock.mockApiClient.getConfig.reset();
+    apiMock.expectGetConfig({
+      isContinuousExportEnabled: false,
+    });
+  });
+
+  test('opening polls', async () => {
+    apiMock.expectGetPollsInfo('polls_closed_initial');
+    apiMock.setPrinterStatusV4();
+    apiMock.expectGetUsbDriveStatus('no_drive');
+    renderScreen({});
+
+    await screen.findButton('Open Polls');
+    expect(
+      screen.queryByText('Insert a USB drive to continue.')
+    ).not.toBeInTheDocument();
+
+    apiMock.expectOpenPolls();
+    apiMock.expectPrintReportV4().resolve();
+    apiMock.expectGetPollsInfo('polls_open');
+    userEvent.click(screen.getButton('Open Polls'));
+    await screen.findByText('Opening Polls…');
+    await screen.findByText('Polls Opened');
+  });
+
+  test('opening polls from fallback screen', async () => {
+    apiMock.expectGetPollsInfo('polls_closed_initial');
+    apiMock.setPrinterStatusV4();
+    apiMock.expectGetUsbDriveStatus('no_drive');
+    renderScreen({});
+
+    await screen.findButton('Open Polls');
+    expect(
+      screen.queryByText('Insert a USB drive to continue.')
+    ).not.toBeInTheDocument();
+
+    userEvent.click(screen.getButton('Menu'));
+    apiMock.expectOpenPolls();
+    apiMock.expectPrintReportV4().resolve();
+    apiMock.expectGetPollsInfo('polls_open');
+    userEvent.click(screen.getButton('Open Polls'));
+    await screen.findByText('Opening Polls…');
+    await screen.findByText('Polls Opened');
+  });
+
+  test('pausing voting', async () => {
+    apiMock.expectGetPollsInfo('polls_open');
+    apiMock.setPrinterStatusV4();
+    apiMock.expectGetUsbDriveStatus('no_drive');
+    renderScreen({});
+
+    await screen.findButton('Close Polls');
+    expect(
+      screen.queryByText('Insert a USB drive to continue.')
+    ).not.toBeInTheDocument();
+
+    userEvent.click(screen.getButton('Menu'));
+    apiMock.expectPauseVoting();
+    apiMock.expectPrintReportV4().resolve();
+    apiMock.expectGetPollsInfo('polls_paused');
+    userEvent.click(screen.getButton('Pause Voting'));
+    await screen.findByText('Pausing Voting…');
+    await screen.findByText('Voting Paused');
+  });
+
+  test('resuming voting', async () => {
+    apiMock.expectGetPollsInfo('polls_paused');
+    apiMock.setPrinterStatusV4();
+    apiMock.expectGetUsbDriveStatus('no_drive');
+    renderScreen({});
+
+    await screen.findButton('Resume Voting');
+    expect(
+      screen.queryByText('Insert a USB drive to continue.')
+    ).not.toBeInTheDocument();
+
+    apiMock.expectResumeVoting();
+    apiMock.expectPrintReportV4().resolve();
+    apiMock.expectGetPollsInfo('polls_open');
+    userEvent.click(screen.getButton('Resume Voting'));
+    await screen.findByText('Resuming Voting…');
+    await screen.findByText('Voting Resumed');
+  });
+
+  test('resuming voting from fallback screen', async () => {
+    apiMock.expectGetPollsInfo('polls_paused');
+    apiMock.setPrinterStatusV4();
+    apiMock.expectGetUsbDriveStatus('no_drive');
+    renderScreen({});
+
+    await screen.findButton('Resume Voting');
+    expect(
+      screen.queryByText('Insert a USB drive to continue.')
+    ).not.toBeInTheDocument();
+
+    userEvent.click(screen.getButton('Menu'));
+    apiMock.expectResumeVoting();
+    apiMock.expectPrintReportV4().resolve();
+    apiMock.expectGetPollsInfo('polls_open');
+    userEvent.click(screen.getButton('Resume Voting'));
+    await screen.findByText('Resuming Voting…');
+    await screen.findByText('Voting Resumed');
+  });
+
+  test('closing polls', async () => {
+    apiMock.expectGetPollsInfo('polls_open');
+    apiMock.setPrinterStatusV4();
+    apiMock.expectGetUsbDriveStatus('no_drive');
+    renderScreen({});
+
+    await screen.findButton('Close Polls');
+    expect(
+      screen.queryByText('Insert a USB drive to continue.')
+    ).not.toBeInTheDocument();
+
+    apiMock.expectClosePolls();
+    apiMock.expectPrintReportV4().resolve();
+    apiMock.expectGetPollsInfo('polls_closed_final');
+    userEvent.click(screen.getButton('Close Polls'));
+    await screen.findByText('Closing Polls…');
+    await screen.findByText('Polls Closed');
+  });
+
+  test('closing polls from fallback screen', async () => {
+    apiMock.expectGetPollsInfo('polls_open');
+    apiMock.setPrinterStatusV4();
+    apiMock.expectGetUsbDriveStatus('no_drive');
+    renderScreen({});
+
+    await screen.findButton('Close Polls');
+    expect(
+      screen.queryByText('Insert a USB drive to continue.')
+    ).not.toBeInTheDocument();
+
+    userEvent.click(screen.getButton('Menu'));
+    apiMock.expectClosePolls();
+    apiMock.expectPrintReportV4().resolve();
+    apiMock.expectGetPollsInfo('polls_closed_final');
+    userEvent.click(screen.getButton('Close Polls'));
+    await screen.findByText('Closing Polls…');
+    await screen.findByText('Polls Closed');
+  });
+
+  test('closing polls from voting paused', async () => {
+    apiMock.expectGetPollsInfo('polls_paused');
+    apiMock.setPrinterStatusV4();
+    apiMock.expectGetUsbDriveStatus('no_drive');
+    renderScreen({});
+
+    await screen.findButton('Resume Voting');
+    expect(
+      screen.queryByText('Insert a USB drive to continue.')
+    ).not.toBeInTheDocument();
+
+    userEvent.click(screen.getButton('Menu'));
+    apiMock.expectClosePolls();
+    apiMock.expectPrintReportV4().resolve();
+    apiMock.expectGetPollsInfo('polls_closed_final');
+    userEvent.click(screen.getButton('Close Polls'));
+    await screen.findByText('Closing Polls…');
+    await screen.findByText('Polls Closed');
+  });
+});
+
 describe('hardware V4 report printing', () => {
   test('single report printing happy path', async () => {
     apiMock.setPrinterStatusV4();
diff --git a/apps/scan/frontend/src/screens/poll_worker_screen.tsx b/apps/scan/frontend/src/screens/poll_worker_screen.tsx
index 7a17748b90..bc73a83e31 100644
--- a/apps/scan/frontend/src/screens/poll_worker_screen.tsx
+++ b/apps/scan/frontend/src/screens/poll_worker_screen.tsx
@@ -23,7 +23,6 @@ import type {
   PrecinctScannerPollsInfo,
   PrintResult,
 } from '@votingworks/scan-backend';
-import type { UsbDriveStatus } from '@votingworks/usb-drive';
 import {
   getUsbDriveStatus,
   printReport,
@@ -34,6 +33,7 @@ import {
   resumeVoting as resumeVotingApi,
   getPollsInfo,
   useApiClient,
+  getConfig,
 } from '../api';
 import { FullScreenPromptLayout } from '../components/full_screen_prompt_layout';
 import {
@@ -106,11 +106,11 @@ function PrinterAlertText({
 }
 
 function UsbDriveAlertText({
-  usbDriveStatus,
+  mustInsertUsbDriveToContinue,
 }: {
-  usbDriveStatus: UsbDriveStatus;
+  mustInsertUsbDriveToContinue: boolean;
 }): JSX.Element | null {
-  if (usbDriveStatus.status === 'mounted') {
+  if (!mustInsertUsbDriveToContinue) {
     return null;
   }
 
@@ -123,21 +123,21 @@ function UsbDriveAlertText({
 
 function shouldAllowTogglingPolls(
   printerSummary: PollsFlowPrinterSummary,
-  usbDriveStatus: UsbDriveStatus
+  mustInsertUsbDriveToContinue: boolean
 ): boolean {
-  return printerSummary.ready && usbDriveStatus.status === 'mounted';
+  return printerSummary.ready && !mustInsertUsbDriveToContinue;
 }
 
 function OpenPollsPromptScreen({
   onConfirm,
   onClose,
   printerSummary,
-  usbDriveStatus,
+  mustInsertUsbDriveToContinue,
 }: {
   onConfirm: () => void;
   onClose: () => void;
   printerSummary: PollsFlowPrinterSummary;
-  usbDriveStatus: UsbDriveStatus;
+  mustInsertUsbDriveToContinue: boolean;
 }): JSX.Element {
   return (
     <Screen>
@@ -148,13 +148,20 @@ function OpenPollsPromptScreen({
           <Button
             variant="primary"
             onPress={onConfirm}
-            disabled={!shouldAllowTogglingPolls(printerSummary, usbDriveStatus)}
+            disabled={
+              !shouldAllowTogglingPolls(
+                printerSummary,
+                mustInsertUsbDriveToContinue
+              )
+            }
           >
             Open Polls
           </Button>
         </P>
         <PrinterAlertText printerSummary={printerSummary} />
-        <UsbDriveAlertText usbDriveStatus={usbDriveStatus} />
+        <UsbDriveAlertText
+          mustInsertUsbDriveToContinue={mustInsertUsbDriveToContinue}
+        />
       </CenteredLargeProse>
     </Screen>
   );
@@ -164,12 +171,12 @@ function ResumeVotingPromptScreen({
   onConfirm,
   onClose,
   printerSummary,
-  usbDriveStatus,
+  mustInsertUsbDriveToContinue,
 }: {
   onConfirm: () => void;
   onClose: () => void;
   printerSummary: PollsFlowPrinterSummary;
-  usbDriveStatus: UsbDriveStatus;
+  mustInsertUsbDriveToContinue: boolean;
 }): JSX.Element {
   return (
     <Screen>
@@ -180,13 +187,20 @@ function ResumeVotingPromptScreen({
           <Button
             variant="primary"
             onPress={onConfirm}
-            disabled={!shouldAllowTogglingPolls(printerSummary, usbDriveStatus)}
+            disabled={
+              !shouldAllowTogglingPolls(
+                printerSummary,
+                mustInsertUsbDriveToContinue
+              )
+            }
           >
             Resume Voting
           </Button>
         </P>
         <PrinterAlertText printerSummary={printerSummary} />
-        <UsbDriveAlertText usbDriveStatus={usbDriveStatus} />
+        <UsbDriveAlertText
+          mustInsertUsbDriveToContinue={mustInsertUsbDriveToContinue}
+        />
       </CenteredLargeProse>
     </Screen>
   );
@@ -196,12 +210,12 @@ function ClosePollsPromptScreen({
   onConfirm,
   onClose,
   printerSummary,
-  usbDriveStatus,
+  mustInsertUsbDriveToContinue,
 }: {
   onConfirm: () => void;
   onClose: () => void;
   printerSummary: PollsFlowPrinterSummary;
-  usbDriveStatus: UsbDriveStatus;
+  mustInsertUsbDriveToContinue: boolean;
 }): JSX.Element {
   return (
     <Screen>
@@ -212,13 +226,20 @@ function ClosePollsPromptScreen({
           <Button
             variant="primary"
             onPress={onConfirm}
-            disabled={!shouldAllowTogglingPolls(printerSummary, usbDriveStatus)}
+            disabled={
+              !shouldAllowTogglingPolls(
+                printerSummary,
+                mustInsertUsbDriveToContinue
+              )
+            }
           >
             Close Polls
           </Button>
         </P>
         <PrinterAlertText printerSummary={printerSummary} />
-        <UsbDriveAlertText usbDriveStatus={usbDriveStatus} />
+        <UsbDriveAlertText
+          mustInsertUsbDriveToContinue={mustInsertUsbDriveToContinue}
+        />
       </CenteredLargeProse>
     </Screen>
   );
@@ -270,6 +291,7 @@ function PollWorkerScreenContents({
 }): JSX.Element {
   const apiClient = useApiClient();
   const pollsInfoQuery = getPollsInfo.useQuery();
+  const configQuery = getConfig.useQuery();
   const usbDriveStatusQuery = getUsbDriveStatus.useQuery();
   const printerStatusQuery = getPrinterStatus.useQuery();
   const openPollsMutation = openPollsApi.useMutation();
@@ -303,7 +325,8 @@ function PollWorkerScreenContents({
   if (
     !usbDriveStatusQuery.isSuccess ||
     !printerStatusQuery.isSuccess ||
-    !pollsInfoQuery.isSuccess
+    !pollsInfoQuery.isSuccess ||
+    !configQuery.isSuccess
   ) {
     return (
       <Screen>
@@ -318,6 +341,9 @@ function PollWorkerScreenContents({
   const printerStatus = printerStatusQuery.data;
   const printerSummary = getPollsFlowPrinterSummary(printerStatus);
   const { pollsState } = pollsInfo;
+  const { isContinuousExportEnabled } = configQuery.data;
+  const mustInsertUsbDriveToContinue =
+    isContinuousExportEnabled && usbDriveStatus.status !== 'mounted';
 
   function showAllPollWorkerActions() {
     return setPollWorkerFlowState(undefined);
@@ -346,7 +372,7 @@ function PollWorkerScreenContents({
   }
 
   async function closePolls() {
-    assert(usbDriveStatus.status === 'mounted');
+    assert(!mustInsertUsbDriveToContinue);
     setPollWorkerFlowState({
       type: 'polls-transitioning',
       transitionType: 'close_polls',
@@ -427,7 +453,7 @@ function PollWorkerScreenContents({
             onConfirm={openPolls}
             onClose={showAllPollWorkerActions}
             printerSummary={printerSummary}
-            usbDriveStatus={usbDriveStatus}
+            mustInsertUsbDriveToContinue={mustInsertUsbDriveToContinue}
           />
         );
       case 'resume-voting-prompt':
@@ -436,7 +462,7 @@ function PollWorkerScreenContents({
             onConfirm={resumeVoting}
             onClose={showAllPollWorkerActions}
             printerSummary={printerSummary}
-            usbDriveStatus={usbDriveStatus}
+            mustInsertUsbDriveToContinue={mustInsertUsbDriveToContinue}
           />
         );
       case 'close-polls-prompt':
@@ -445,7 +471,7 @@ function PollWorkerScreenContents({
             onConfirm={closePolls}
             onClose={showAllPollWorkerActions}
             printerSummary={printerSummary}
-            usbDriveStatus={usbDriveStatus}
+            mustInsertUsbDriveToContinue={mustInsertUsbDriveToContinue}
           />
         );
       case 'polls-transitioning':
@@ -541,7 +567,10 @@ function PollWorkerScreenContents({
                 variant="primary"
                 onPress={openPolls}
                 disabled={
-                  !shouldAllowTogglingPolls(printerSummary, usbDriveStatus)
+                  !shouldAllowTogglingPolls(
+                    printerSummary,
+                    mustInsertUsbDriveToContinue
+                  )
                 }
               >
                 Open Polls
@@ -565,7 +594,10 @@ function PollWorkerScreenContents({
                 variant="primary"
                 onPress={closePolls}
                 disabled={
-                  !shouldAllowTogglingPolls(printerSummary, usbDriveStatus)
+                  !shouldAllowTogglingPolls(
+                    printerSummary,
+                    mustInsertUsbDriveToContinue
+                  )
                 }
               >
                 Close Polls
@@ -589,7 +621,10 @@ function PollWorkerScreenContents({
                 variant="primary"
                 onPress={resumeVoting}
                 disabled={
-                  !shouldAllowTogglingPolls(printerSummary, usbDriveStatus)
+                  !shouldAllowTogglingPolls(
+                    printerSummary,
+                    mustInsertUsbDriveToContinue
+                  )
                 }
               >
                 Resume Voting
@@ -600,7 +635,10 @@ function PollWorkerScreenContents({
               <Button
                 onPress={closePolls}
                 disabled={
-                  !shouldAllowTogglingPolls(printerSummary, usbDriveStatus)
+                  !shouldAllowTogglingPolls(
+                    printerSummary,
+                    mustInsertUsbDriveToContinue
+                  )
                 }
               >
                 Close Polls