voting process equipment & Procedures
The AccuVote2000 is a state certified optical scan voting system.
This state of the art system streamlines the voting process, while providing a simple,
fast and secure method of conducting an election.
Of paramount importance is the fact that the
Accu-Vote system is voter friendly.
The Accu-Vote 2000 provides the voter an easy method of casting his ballot.
At the polls the voter receives a paper ballot in a secrecy folder. Using
a felt tip marker provided at the voting booth, the voter records his vote by filling
in the oval next to his choices.
The Accu-Vote system also addresses the needs for security, accuracy and integrity
throughout the voting process.
Security:
After voting, the voter takes his ballot, in the secrecy folder, to the Accu-Vote
tabulator and inserts it into a slot on top of the machine. The scanning device
reads the votes cast and deposits the voted ballot into a locked and sealed ballot
box. This eliminates ballot handling and provides total ballot security.
When the polls close, votes are tallied at each precinct, printed for posting at
the precinct and transferred by modem to the County Election Center.
All precinct
totals are received by the Election Center and integrated into a jurisdiction wide
report showing the total of votes cast at all precincts.
Accuracy
and Integrity: The Accu-Vote 2000 has undergone rigorous testing to pass
state certification requirements. Using the most advanced technology in the
election industry, the Accu-Vote system provides not only an easy to mark ballot,
but also insures that your vote is counted. Using paper ballots, the system
collects permanent, physical records of voter choices. This verifiable audit
trail and audit log accounts for every activity performed during the election process.
Election Results: Not only are ballots counted at the precinct, but results
are available within minutes at each precinct and are modemed to the Election center
for accumulation of the votes. The general public will not only be able to
access the results by traditional media report and calls to the elections office,
but also by logging on to our website.
The Accu-Vote system also provides the
advanced features necessary to conduct elections with ease and confidence.
For the Supervisor of Elections, the Accu-Vote
system streamlines each stage of an election while providing comprehensive security
measures. The system helps provide a secure election environment through a
combination of passwords, security levels and physical locks.
For precinct workers, the Accu-Vote
is compact and lightweight so that it can be easily transported to and from the
polling
place. Poll workers are trained and certified on the setup, election
day use and ending of the election.
THE SYSTEM'S COMPONENTS ARE:
The Accu-Vote Tabulator: The
tabulator is a multi-functional unit that is the heart of the voting system.
It counts and tabulates the ballots at precincts on election day and communicates
with the host computer at the elections office by transmitting results via modem
for accurate and timely jurisdiction-wide results.
The Host Computer (Vote Tally System): The host computer is a PC-based computer
system configured to perform all of the necessary functions of the application software,
from the beginning of the election process, to the posting of final jurisdiction-wide
results.
Visible Light Reader: The Accu-Vote tabulator utilizes visible light
reader technology that permits the voter to shade in the oval next to the candidate of choice with a standard pen or pencil. This is especially advantageous in
the absentee-voting environment.
Internal Battery Backup: The Accu-Vote tabulator employs a battery
backup feature that acts as an uninterruptible power supply. The battery is
automatically and continuously charged. It engages during a power failure
to permit the voting process to continue. It also provides enough power to
print the zero tape at the opening of the polls and ready the Accu-Vote system
to begin accepting ballots, continue counting ballots, or even print and transmit
results at the closing of the polls.
Ballot Size, Flexibility: The Accu-Vote ballot is 8.5" wide and can
be 11", 14" or 18" long depending upon the number of races, candidates and issues
on the ballot. Ballot layout is freeform and flexible and can be formatted
in one, two, three or four columns, front and back. The standard 8.5" width
also makes printing less complicated. Since either the 8.5" x 11" size or
the 8.5" x l4" size ballots accommodates most elections, standard size boxes and
shelves can be used for transport and storage.
TeleResults: The Accu-Vote system pioneered modem transmission of
precinct results directly from the polling place to the host computer for jurisdiction-wide
results using standard landlines or cellular telephones.
Ease of Maintenance and Storage: The Accu-Vote system is unequaled
in its maintenance and storage features. It has the ability to perform self-diagnostic
testing of the system, prior
to each election. Any component of the system,
including the five-year gel cell battery, can easily be replaced as needed.
Routine maintenance includes replacing the audit trail paper roll as necessary and
cleaning the unit before and after elections. Each tabulator requires only
.39 cubic feet of storage space. Twenty-four (24) units can be stacked 6 foot
high on shelving 4 foot wide and 1.5 foot deep. The ballot box measures 2
feet x 2 feet x 3 feet and can be stacked two (2) or three (3) high in a 4 square
foot footprint.
ELECTRONIC BALLOTS:
The Help America Vote Act (HAVA) requires all jurisdictions to have one touch screen machine in each precinct so voters with disabilities may vote in secret and without assistance.
After you sign the precinct register and given a voter access card, proceed to the touch screen machine. Hand your Voter Access card to the Touch Screen Clerk who will insert the card into the machine. You can magnify or change the contrast of your ballot to help increase readability. Use the Next button to see each ballot page. To select a candidate or issue touch the box next to your choice. To change or cancel your selection, touch the box again. To enter a Write-In candidate select, Write-In and type the candidate’s name and then select record Write-In. Before casting your ballot you will be able to view a summary page. If you choose to change a selection you may do so by touching the Back button or touching the race you would like to change. When you are satisfied with your ballot you touch the Cast Ballot button. You will be asked once again if you are certain that you want to cast your ballot, if you are certain, touch the Cast Ballot button again. Remove your voter access card and return it to the Touch Screen Clerk.
The touch screen machines are Diebold TSX with an audio component and certified for use in the state of Florida (since March 2005) and various other states around the country. In fact, the machines have been successfully used throughout the country in a number of elections.
The Supervisor of Election office staff has been working tirelessly to ensure proper security procedures and policies have been established and followed. The voters of Monroe County can be confident in the continued accuracy and integrity of the election process.