Ohio counties such as Butler and Cuyahoga have been making sure every single voting machine in their districts has been checked. Election officials perform mock votes before using the machines to make sure the information is populating correctly.
Logic and accuracy (L&A) testing on every voting machine and system component ensures that ballots are accurate and that the votes cast will tabulate properly. This includes voting machines used at polling locations on Election Day and those used for scanning absentee ballots.
According to the Ohio Secretary of State’s website, testers mark the test ballots both by hand and with ballot-marking devices before the tabulator counts them. Testers fill out the ballots according to a test script designed to simulate the different combinations of selections voters could make on their ballots on Election Day.
Officials hand-insert the marked test ballots to check every tabulator before Election Day or to count absentee or provisional ballots.
A memory device in the tabulator records the test results from the ballots and the tabulator prints the test results onto a paper tape. Workers remove the memory device from the tabulator and put it into a central computer in a secure area. Then, they compare the results on the device to the paper tape results and the original test script used to mark the ballots. If the results match exactly, the test is successful.
Ohio law R.C. 3506.14 (B) also requires a public test of automatic tabulating equipment prior to each election. These tests demonstrate to the voters that the voting equipment will accurately count the votes cast for all offices and on all questions and issues.
“A great way to reassure voters their votes are accurately being counted is to let them see the behind-the-scenes processes with their own eyes. Our staff takes great pride in their work and wants to educate the public on the sanctity afforded to each ballot placed in our trust,” Director of the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections Anthony Perlatti said.
After the Board of Elections completes the L&A and the public testing of the vote tabulation system, all components, including the server, will be secured until Election Day according to the Ohio Secretary of State’s website. Voting machines do not have modems and therefore cannot be connected to the internet. A person would have to have physical access to a machine to install any type of virus or malware.
According to spokespersons from both counties, voters in Butler and Cuyahoga counties will use 2,400 voting machines during the November 8 election. They have had no voting machine issues to date and expect the same on Election Day.
Individuals interested in viewing a mock test can check their local county board of election for the dates and times of these tests.
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Hannah Poling is a lead reporter at The Ohio Star and The Star News Network. Follow Hannah on Twitter @HannahPoling1. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “People Voting” by Charles16e. CC BY 2.0.
