The Red Brick Times

Time to vote once again. If you recall the great Diebold TSX voting machine massacree posting of November 8, 2006 then you remember that I was promised a chance to participate in the voting machine testing process prior to an election.

Last month at my Kiwanis club meeting, the Director of the Lorain County Board of Elections made an appeal for poll workers for the March 4 primary. He remembered me and called a few days later.

So on Feb fourth I joined 8 other temporary clerks and the permanent staff to do "logic and accuracy" testing of all of the voting machines that would be used on March 4. Every machine was set up, loaded with the actual ballots that will be used at its voting center (polling location), and each candidate and issue was voted. The results were then tabulated, printed, stored, downloaded, counted and compared with themselves to see if there were any discrepancies. The process and hardware was exactly that which will be used on election day. Each machine had a paper checklist on which the test information was recorded. Each checklist was signed by both a Democrat and a Republican. Every checklist step was initialed by the person who performed it. Each machine was then locked, sealed and tagged for its specific polling location. There are over 100 voting centers in Lorain County, and nearly 1000 machines are needed. Voting centers can have between three and thirty machines each.

My conclusions: There were no errors detected that were attributable to the computers. The only time a printer jammed or failed to print was if it was loaded incorrectly initially. Every printer that was correctly initialized and tested properly printed every ballot exactly as it was voted and reeled up the paper properly. Any errors in voting tabulation were definitively tracked back to the operator either skipping a candidate or issue (called "undervoting" the ballot) or choosing the wrong thing. It was totally, unequivocally, 100% human error that led to any and all mistakes. The process that drives all machines on the track like this tests everything; screen, printer, batteries, logic, power cords, stands and cases, memory cards, programming - the works.

The machines are Diebold TSX models, and are basically ruggedized tablet computers with touch screens that are inserted into heavy plastic bases which provide the power and printer and incorporate the tubular stands, power plugs, and protective covers over the screens for transportation and storage. The thermal printer uses wide adding machine paper to record a hard copy of all records. The printer paper is taken up into a clamshell cannister that is sealed when the machines are set up on election morning. The paper record is the backup to the electronic record. A poll openingl report, the individual ballots, and the poll closing report are all separately recorded on the paper and rolled into the sealed cannister. The printer housing cover is locked during voting hours. Seal numbers for the printer cannister and the locked memory card door, plus computer serial numbers, plus beginning and ending vote counts are all recorded on paper forms as well. All four precinct judges (two Democrats and two Republicans) must sign everything together.

For visually challenged voters, there are two buttons on the opening screen that permit large text and/or high-contrast viewing (black and white). At many precincts, one machine will be set up with both a large numerical key pad and a set of headphones. The voter access card can be programmed by the precinct official to show large text, large text with verbal instructions, or a blank screen with verbal instructions only. The keypad is the same as on a telephone, with a bump on the #5 key in the center. The screen can be tilted forward to stand vertically for shorter persons or for those in seats or chairs.

For the past week, I have also been assisting with the poll worker training classes that are held to familiarize the polling place people with all of the forms, procedures, rules, regulations and hardware for the primary election.

Some interesting Ohio voting process info for the March 4 Primary:

Each precinct (there can be several per voting center) is required to have four officials.

The first official is called the Presiding Judge (PJ), who is a Democrat, since the sitting Ohio Governor is a Democrat. The PJ makes the initial contact with the voter and gets the name, address, preferred party, and determines congressional district.

The second official is Judge #1, a Republican, who confirms name, address and precinct, marks the signature book as required, collects the voter signature and makes sure the voter gets the correct ballot (either electronic card for the machine or a paper ballot).

The third official is Judge #2, a Democrat, who programs the voter access card with the correct information (party or issues only for the correct congressional district) or confirms that the voter has the correct paper ballot if required (more on that later).

The fourth official is Judge #3, a Republican, who directs the voters to an available machine, and collects the programmable voter access cards once they are voted.

For the March 4 primary election, there are paper ballots available in three varieties: Provisional ballots, regular ballots and 17-year-old ballots. They are optical-scan-type ballots marked by the voter.

If there are questions about ID validity, or address, or an individual cannot provide a social security number (last four only), or if the Board of Elections has directed, a Provisional ballot will be issued to a voter. That permits the voters preferences to be recorded and gives the Board of Elections time to straighten out any ID questions or concerns.

New for this election, the Secretary of State has directed that regular paper ballots be made available only for those voters who specifically request them (paper ballots are not mandated or required for Lorain County). Some people are just not comfortable with the touch screen.

Also new for this election, seventeen-year-olds are permitted to vote under certain conditions:
1) The person will be eighteen prior to the general election in November
2) The person has registered at least 30-days prior to the primary (date is now past)
3) The person will specify a party (Rep or Dem) and vote for candidates only (no issues).

I have also been assigned as a Rover.
A rover comes when he is whistled for and fetches things.
Actually, I am going to be responsible for setting up two voting centers on the night before the election, and for responding to calls for technical assistance and help between the hours of 5:30AM and 7:30PM on election day. Since I live on the Western edge of the county, they have assigned my two centers on the Eastern edge of the county. But of course!

Yes, there is a modicum of payment for all of this, as a temporary, part time worker. No, I don't know how much, but probably very small. But I am doing it for the greater glory of Democracy after all. If one wants to competently criticize a system, or hope to contribute to its improvement, one must first learn. Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite!
Posted 8:22 AM by Andy (10) comments

       Comments:

I saw a notice in the Chronicle that they were looking for poll workers and thought about signing up but it's hard for me to predict how I'll feel on any given day so I didn't.

# posted by  whatley : February 22, 2008 4:09 PM
 
The primary is so early this year that the usual workers are snowbirds who have not yet returned to Capistrano.

# posted by  Andy : February 22, 2008 5:05 PM
 
So where are Socialist Worker and Green Party poll workers in this scheme and why isn't the government spending any money to monitor their internal party function?

This is my rant of choice for this particular election cycle. The parties have no constitutional standing and are, in fact, private organizations whose policies and leadership are set by internally selected individuals with very little government oversight. My feeling is that the parties should run their own primaries on their own dime and only allow card carrying dues paying members in good standing to vote. In the general elections candidates should be listed without party affiliation in random order like referendum items. And the presidential candidates shouldn't even appear on the ballot at all since you're not actually voting for them but for an elector who will vote for them, maybe. That would clean up this shit storm once and for all.

# posted by  A. O. : February 24, 2008 2:25 PM
 
Heck, I'd settle for the Whig, Bull Moose and Jeffersonian parties to stage a comeback if only as intelligent alternative choices. But power gravitates to those who would seize it. And voters confused by having to choose between two sides would be more at sea. Some of the people who attend the training classes for poll workers even resist updating their reference manuals from previous years by replacing pages with new ones. I am amazed at the hidebound attitudes and stubborn resistance to change that prevails. It is like herding cats.

# posted by  Andy : February 26, 2008 7:27 AM
 
Here you go, Andy. Show up on THIS and I'm sure get some respect out of the old codgers

# posted by  A. O. : February 26, 2008 12:37 PM
 
Thirty-five years ago I used to see one of the antique models being ridden occasionally. I wonder if they can be fitted with snow chains?

# posted by  Andy : February 28, 2008 7:51 AM
 
The big problem I see is braking. It seems like you'd simply lock motor/seat assembly to a free rolling wheel and turn into a humorous, though short lived, circus act.

# posted by  A. O. : February 28, 2008 10:25 AM
 
"...and go 'round and 'round and 'round in the circle game."

# posted by  Andy : February 29, 2008 8:09 AM
 
Well, Andy, you missed one. I was the first to vote in my precinct. I tried to verify my ballot only to find that the printer wasn't functioning. I notified the poll workers. Someone thought the paper just didn't advance as it should. I wasn't going to stick around while they figured it out. I had to get out of their without checking my ballot. When I turned my card back to the poll worker they informed me that someone had forgotten to bring the stickers that say 'I voted today'. The person next to me was pissed. They needed that sticker for their employer to allow them to report late to work. I didn't need the late pass but I do like to show that I have done my duty.

# posted by  Ray : March 23, 2008 8:41 AM
 
Yo, Ray! The only times I have seen this fault is due to the setter-uppers not putting the paper around the cannister reel properly. Kind of like when you don't get the 35mm film in the take-up slot and you don't notice until you are on picture number 47 on a 36-exposure roll.

# posted by  Andy : April 11, 2008 11:15 AM
 
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