Pacy on Protocols

From: Haik Bedrosian [mailto:haikbedrosian@yahoo.com]
Sent: Friday, February 26, 2010 12:03 PM
To: Ben Pacy
Cc: Jonathan P.A. Leopold, Jr.; Bob Kiss
Subject: Election Protocols and Safeguards

Hi Ben,

It seems to me the necessity of moving the votes from the polls to city hall because of IRV introduces a new opportunity for cheating.

I am curious to know what safeguards are in place to prevent possible switching of memory cards holding IRV votes when they are en route from the ward polling places to the central tabulator at city hall.

I realize this is short notice, but I would like an answer on this today so that I may publish it at BurlingtonPol.com before the election Tuesday. If Ben is not available today, I would be satisfied to get an answer from either Jonathan or Bob instead.

Thanks,
Haik

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From: Ben Pacy
Subject: RE: Election Protocols and Safeguards
To: "'Haik Bedrosian'"
Cc: Jonathan P.A. Leopold, Jr., Bob Kiss
Date: Friday, February 26, 2010, 12:20 PM

Haik,

This may best be described orally, or I can show you. Nonetheless, I will attempt to describe in writing.

Upon preparing the machine for the election, the memory card is sealed into the tabulator with a seal. The number on this seal is documented on a form and sealed into the tabulator case. The number on the seal for the tabulator is also recorded on that form. On the morning of the election, the tabulators are delivered to the polling places, where the seal on the tabulator case is broken, and the form is then accessible to the Ward Clerk and Inspectors of Election, to verify both the seal on the tabulator case and the seal on the memory card. This process is repeated for the return to City Hall, except the memory card seal should be the same, only the tabulator case seal will be different. In addition, two election officials of different political party are required to accompany the tabulators and ballots back to City Hall. These seal numbers are then verified at City Hall when they arrive. At the 2009 Mayoral Election, candidates also had representatives accompany the election officials and the tabulators. If I recall correctly every candidate had a representative for every ward. Let me know if you have further questions.

Ben

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From: Haik Bedrosian [mailto:haikbedrosian@yahoo.com]
Sent: Friday, February 26, 2010 12:03 PM
To: Ben Pacy
Cc: Jonathan P.A. Leopold, Jr.; Bob Kiss
Subject: Election Protocols and Safeguards


Thanks for the fast reply. How do we know there aren't already votes on the cards when they go out to the polling places to begin with?

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From: Ben Pacy
Subject: RE: Election Protocols and Safeguards
To: "'Haik Bedrosian'"
Cc: Jonathan P.A. Leopold, Jr., Bob Kiss
Date: Friday, February 26, 2010, 1:46 PM

Haik,

The memory cards are programmed with the current election information by the vendor LHS Associates. The memory cards are placed in the tabulators and test ballots are run through the machines to verify that the tabulators are adding up the correct markings on the test ballots. Once the test is done the tabulators are then put in election mode. This is the point at which the memory card is sealed into the machine. When the tabulator arrives at the polling place on the day of the election; the seals are verified and then the machine is turned on. When the machine is turned on the tabulator prints out what is called the zero tape. All of the races show zeros in them reflecting what is on the memory card. This is to verify that there is no ballot information stored in the memory card. I guess the next question would be, could the memory cards be manipulated in some way. I do not know the answer to that, but we can always count the ballots again. The State laws do provide for recounts if races are close or contested through a court.

Ben

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From: Haik Bedrosian [mailto:haikbedrosian@yahoo.com]
Sent: Friday, February 26, 2010 2:20 PM
To: Ben Pacy
Cc: Jonathan P.A. Leopold, Jr.; Bob Kiss
Subject: RE: Election Protocols and Safeguards

Thanks very much. Have a good election Tuesday!