EAC - Voluntary Voting System Guidelines

Name : | David Dill
Organization : | Verified Voting Foundation
Post Date : | 9/30/2005
Glossary Comments
Glossary Term : | VVPAT-Ballot Box
Definition : |
Comment : | Ballot box where the paper record of each voter’s vote is deposited. Association: security, voting Source: no attribution This definition is potentially problematic, in that it implies that the VVPAT “paper record” is a ballot. In most existing legislation pertaining to the use of VVPAT paper records (as printed by a DRE-VVPAT system), such records are not generally afforded the status of a ballot (i.e., they are not considered the “fundamental record” of the voter’s vote), and are used only in the case of an audit or recount. Legislation in several states (e.g., California’s SB 1438) specifically asserts that the VVPAT is “not a ballot”. As such, the container in which VVPAT paper records are securely stored should more appropriately be referred to as a “VVPAT-Box” or “VVPAT-storage container”. Also, the glossary contains no corresponding entry for “Ballot Box”, even though that is a critical component for any voting system.