Introduction
Citizen groups can observe the preparation of voting machines and "logic & accuracy testing". Hopefully these notes will be useful to people taking part in this important oversight function.
What to expect
To gain entrance to the preparation site you will need a letter from your sponsoring organization. It is likely that you will not be admitted to the site without a copy of the letter.
While the legality of this is uncertain, the Elections staff may require you to abstain from still and video photography. Bringing a note pad is definitely a good idea.
What to document
First of all, note anything that makes an impression on you, even if you don't fully understand it at the time.
- It is important to obtain an idea of how much testing
is received by how many machines.
For example:
- How many machines are tested by actual votes being cast on them as opposed to via some simulation?
- For machines with an audio-ballot function for voters with vision problems, on how many of them is it verified that the audio function and the associated hardware buttons work?
- Are machines with batteries run at least briefly on battery power?
- How many machines fail testing, and why?
- Are accessories such as programmable ballot modules or smart cards failing?
For paperless electronic voting machines, probably the key issue in Pennsylvania at this time is software integrity. Because the machines record votes invisibly, if the software isn't recording the same vote as it displays on the screen then voters will be disenfranchised. At present the only assurance voters have that the machines operate correctly is the belief that they are running software certified by the Secretary of the Commonwealth. Given the history of operational and security bugs in certified voting-machine software, this is a faint assurance, but it's all we've got. If our voting machines are running anything but the software certified by the state (this has happened many times in other states!), there is no reason for voters to feel sure their votes will count. So a key question to pursue is how the Elections staff intend to verify that voting machines are running the correct software: what is the verification process, and is it carried out on all machines?
Allegheny County periodically somewhat verifies the software on a (small) sample of machines. Here is a report on what they did once: VoteAllegheny and PA Verified Voting Report on Allegheny County iVotronic Firmware Verification, December 22, 2008. This is the sole county in Pennsylvania that ever checks the firmware of any voting machines. Firmware verification happens a week or two before L+A testing, as a separate event; if you're interested in attending that, contact VoteAllegheny for next time.
How many staff are working on the machines? Is it possible to obtain (via asking or estimation) how many staff-hours will be required to prepare how many machines?
Who is involved in testing? Are employees of the voting-machine vendor present? How many? Do they make an oath or affirmation as Elections staff members do?
Does the facility appear secure to you, in terms of perimeter security and internal security? In addition to access controls (such as locks), do you see evidence of access logging, so it is possible to reconstruct who had access to which equipment? Are people routinely in secured areas without a trace? Are controlled areas subject to video surveillance?
Directions
The County's voting machines are stored at the "XYZ Custom Warehouse" at 901 Pennsylvania Avenue (the corner of Pennsylvania & Allegheny Avenues) on the North Side. These directions were provided by Marty O'Malley.
The warehouse was formerly owned by Williams & Co. and still has some faded painted labeling to that effect, but it is largely unmarked. Pennsylvania Avenue runs along the north side of the building; on the other side of the street you can see the rear loading docks of the North Side Post Office bulk mail facility. There is plenty of street parking along Pennsylvania Avenue.
Facing the street there are six unmarked gray truck garage doors and two unmarked gray personnel doors. Go to the personnel door farthest from the intersection of PA & Allegheny; bang on the door and wait nearby for someone to answer. This door has a hidden camera that is monitored by the office clerk.
Overall
Please be respectful of the amount of work and tight deadlines faced by Elections staff. However, do feel that you can ask questions if necessary, as your work as a representative of the public serves a critical election integrity function.
It may well make sense to bring a book or some work to do, as this will enable you to sample the machine preparation process at multiple times without exhausting your ability to focus on what is, at times, a tedious process.
Some logic & accuracy testing notes may be found here:
