EAC - Voluntary Voting System Guidelines

Name : | Susan Pynchon
Organization : | Florida Fair Elections Coalition
Post Date : | 9/30/2005
Glossary Comments
Glossary Term : | Blended/Dual systems
Definition : |
Comment : | There is no definition and there are no VSS for "blended" or "dual" systems (comprised of op-scans plus one DRE in each precinct) as have been purchased by many Florida counties. In the Diebold "blended" system, there is no way to combine the machine totals at the precinct. Instead, there are two separate uploads, two separate poll tapes, two separate sets of results, two separate audit logs, etc. We are not even sure if the Diebold blended system is able to combine totals at the central tabulator since one SOE has stated that the totals are being combined manually on a spreadsheet. The doubling of everything was terribly confusing, even in in a small 21-precinct election in Flagler County, Florida, which required 42 uploads, 42 poll tapes, 42 sets of totals, etc. This adds confusion, complexity, and an additional layer of events for possible error. A large election will be a nightmare. Also, vote privacy was lost because, in 5 precincts, only one person voted on the DRE and that voter's candidate was listed on the DRE poll-tape at the end of the day. In another precinct, 3 voters used the DRE but all voted for the same candidate, so their privacy was lost as well.