Automark and Other Optical Scan Voting Systems Allen Stone CMSC-691V2/12/2006
Outline Optical Scan Voting Systems Optical Scan Voting Systems ES&S AutoMARK ES&S AutoMARK –Walkthrough –Technical Details Diebold AccuVote-OS Diebold AccuVote-OS Endorsements Endorsements
Optical Scan Voting Systems An electronic voting system by which people vote by presenting a marked ballot to an optical scanner, which then records the vote. An electronic voting system by which people vote by presenting a marked ballot to an optical scanner, which then records the vote.
ES&S AutoMARK Election Systems & Software and AutoMARK Technical Systems, LLC Election Systems & Software and AutoMARK Technical Systems, LLC
Walkthrough
Walkthrough Receive optical scan ballot from the election official. Receive optical scan ballot from the election official. Enter booth and insert the ballot into the AutoMARK VAT (Voter Assist Terminal) Enter booth and insert the ballot into the AutoMARK VAT (Voter Assist Terminal)
Walkthrough Choose your language. Choose your language. Read the instructions. Read the instructions.
Walkthrough Cast your votes. Cast your votes.
Walkthrough Review the Summary Screen. Review the Summary Screen.
Walkthrough After all choices are confirmed, select the option to mark the ballot. After all choices are confirmed, select the option to mark the ballot. Remove the ballot from the VAT. Remove the ballot from the VAT. Enter the ballot into a standard scanner. Enter the ballot into a standard scanner.
Convenience/Accessibility Screen Privacy Option Screen Privacy Option Navigation Bar Navigation Bar Touch Screen, Keypad, Puff-Sip or Rocker Switch, and Audio Prompts Touch Screen, Keypad, Puff-Sip or Rocker Switch, and Audio Prompts
Write-In Using all of the aforementioned interface options. Using all of the aforementioned interface options.
Details AutoMARK VAT AutoMARK VAT –Scanner –Printer –Touch Screen Display –Input Device Compact Flash Card Compact Flash Card “Secure Electioneering” “Secure Electioneering” –Name, Ballot Ovals
Details VAT scans for Precinct Identification Code. VAT scans for Precinct Identification Code. Over-voting is disallowed, and user is prompted when they under-vote. Over-voting is disallowed, and user is prompted when they under-vote. Voter Verification: Voter can re-insert the ballot into the VAT for verification Voter Verification: Voter can re-insert the ballot into the VAT for verification
Diebold AccuVote-OS Tabulator (terminal) Tabulator (terminal) –Counts and tabulates the ballots –Communicates with the host computer at Election Central Application Software (GEMS) Application Software (GEMS) –Windows-based –Precinct-specific ballots, postal ballots, media, and tally files
Diebold AccuVote-OS Host Computer Host Computer –PC-based system configured to perform functions of the application software Features Features –Ballot size/design flexibility –Visible light reader –Internal battery backup –Teleresults –Industry-standard postscript file output
Endorsements New York State League of Women Voters - 11/18/2005 (approx.) New York State League of Women Voters - 11/18/2005 (approx.) Cook County (IL) Study – 5/26/2005 Cook County (IL) Study – 5/26/2005 –Intuitive procedure Based on shading oval-shaped bubbles –Mistakes are easy to recognize –Error-detection technology –Ballot serves as the paper record –Affordability –Multiple ballots are less confusing –No ballot assembly –Easier for election judges
Fall-off Rate and Economical/Ethnic Disparities
References AutoMARK Technical Systems, LLC AutoMARK Technical Systems, LLC Election Systems & Software Election Systems & Software Tutorial Video* Great Neck Record Community Newspaper Great Neck Record Community Newspaper /opinion/leagueoped.html /opinion/leagueoped.html /opinion/leagueoped.html
References David Orr, Cook County Clerk’s Office David Orr, Cook County Clerk’s Office _ID=125 _ID=125 _ID=125 yClerk’sOffice%20_%20ElectionNews.pdf yClerk’sOffice%20_%20ElectionNews.pdf yClerk’sOffice%20_%20ElectionNews.pdf Diebold Diebold