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# Re: Removal of "Resume Counting" feature

- To: <support@gesn.com>
- Subject: Re: Removal of "Resume Counting" feature
- From: "Nel Finberg" <nel@gesn.com>
- Date: Thu, 23 May 2002 10:19:56 -0700
- References: <000d01c2027d$387f7580$3704a8c0@slee>

Good point. Perhaps the prompt chain can be modified in order to make the difference between shutting down the ballot station and ending the election somewhat more graphic, in order to avoid this problem. Nel ----- Original Message ----- From: Sophia Lee To: support@gesn.com Sent: Thursday, May 23, 2002 10:13 AM Subject: RE: Removal of "Resume Counting" feature If ever there was a place that requires “Resume Counting”, it would be in early voting. What if an election official ended the election instead of turning off the AccuVote-TS at the end of 14th day in early voting? Okay, they’re wrong. It’s their problem. Now what? -----Original Message----- From: owner-support@gesn.com [mailto:owner-support@gesn.com] On Behalf Of Steve Ricke Sent: May 15, 2002 7:10 AM To: support@gesn.com Subject: RE: Removal of "Resume Counting" feature Consider these scenarios: An election in which there is a court order to extend the closing of the polls. Some of the precincts do not get word in time and had closed out their machines. Poll workers revolting and closing their polls early. It has happened in some jurisdictions in the recent California elections I have used the feature at a precinct where an overzealous poll worker closed the machine at the exact closing time even though there were eligible voters still in line. Not having the resume counting feature would cause severe problems. Redownloading cards. Resetting the GEMS database to allow the redownloading of cards. Manually adding the two sets accumulated totals of the precinct. Inputting the totals manually into the database. [Steve Ricke] -----Original Message----- From: owner-support@gesn.com [mailto:owner-support@gesn.com]On Behalf Of Cathi Smothers Sent: Wednesday, May 15, 2002 7:35 AM To: support@gesn.com Subject: RE: Removal of "Resume Counting" feature Jeff, In my experience, the “Resume Count” feature has been used to correct the mistakes of poll workers who “accidentally” end the election before it is over. Granted, I don’t have a real life instance that I can tell you about where touch screen has been used but I have utilized the “Resume Count” function in the OS world a number of times when poll workers have used the “End” card in the middle of the day. Yes, it’s dumb and seems highly unlikely but I guarantee you that it can happen and the “Resume Count” feature is the only way we can recover. It’s our fail safe measure for poll workers who think they have a better idea of how the election should be conducted. Cathi -----Original Message----- From: owner-support@gesn.com [mailto:owner-support@gesn.com]On Behalf Of Jeff Hallmark Sent: Wednesday, May 15, 2002 8:19 AM To: support@gesn.com Subject: RE: Removal of "Resume Counting" feature -----Original Message----- From: owner-support@gesn.com [mailto:owner-support@gesn.com]On Behalf Of Nel Finberg Sent: Tuesday, May 14, 2002 9:57 PM To: support@gesn.com Subject: Re: Removal of "Resume Counting" feature Jeff, Resume Counting is accessible only once an election has been ended on the AccuVote-TS unit, placing the unit in Post-Election Mode,and not before. In order to have accessed Post-Election Mode, the election must first have been ended using the Administrator card and the entry of a Supervisor Password, and presumably also printed a results report. Therefore, the results will be known anyway. The provision of the Administrator card and the Supervisor password provide the security interface necessary that assures that the election is not fraudulently ended on the BallotStation and results reported. The fact is we can restart the election process after it has been ended, no guarantee exist that there will never be an opportunity for one unscrupulous individual, acting alone and unobserved, to compromise the election by previewing the results either via the Ballot Review process or by printing an “interim report”. This is the point that the Technical Committee has voiced and echoed by Jim Dearman. We have the opportunity to provide sufficient reason why anyone having Administrator access would ever have the need to end the election before the official closing of the polls. Respond to this post as soon as possible with reasons we need this feature. All steps of election close must by necessity occur in a secure manner, under the supervision of polling judges, thus preventing any fraudulent entry of results. Remember also that the change in election mode is reflected in the Audit log, that election media may be uploaded once only, and the voting device results reports must balance against the GEMS results reports. There is a very comprehensive audit trail, yet Jim Dearman has had recent discussions, within the last week, with the FEC Technical Committee concerning this topic of “interim report printing” and has deemed that the audit trail is not adequate. There is no automated check by GEMS of the audit trail during upload and unless a thorough canvas is done the election closing / reopening would go undetected. Keep in mind that the idea here is not to have to rely upon “Jurisdictional procedures” to ensure election security. Uploading multiple times is not at issue. This behavior is consistent with the AccuVote-OS, which we have been using for many years now. Resume Counting may only be accessed on the AccuVote-OS from Post-Election Mode, and not before. In order to access Post-Election Mode, an AccuVote Ender card must be submitted to the unit, upon which the results report is automatically printed. Again, in order to even have reached the Resume Counting option, a results report must have been printed. Nel The results report is not automatically printed, rather the option dialog to print a result report is presented. At this juncture we need concrete reasons why our customers need this feature Wyle will accept the feature given we can provide those reasons. Jeff Hallmark ----- Original Message ----- From: Jeff Hallmark To: support@gesn.com Sent: Tuesday, May 14, 2002 7:09 PM Subject: Removal of "Resume Counting" feature Ballot Station 4.3.4.0 is currently in process at Wyle Laboratories for certification. The Resume Counting feature has become an issue. The feature is considered undesirable because it is viewed as a breach of security as it allows the "interim printing" of results and the subsequent resumption of the election process. We have been asked for the reason(s) that the Resume Counting feature is available, it is imperative that anyone desiring this feature respond to this post. Explain how this feature has been beneficial to customers. Jeff Hallmark

- Follow-Ups:
  - RE: Removal of "Resume Counting" feature
    - From: "Greg Forsythe" <gregf@gesn.com>

- References:
  - RE: Removal of "Resume Counting" feature
    - From: "Sophia Lee" <sophia@gesn.com>

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