Chapter 4 — Election Day.

4.A. Before the Polls Open

4.A.4. Examine All the Electronic Voting Equipment

4.A.4.a. Voting Machines

Voting machines, are also known as Direct Recording Electronic Systems (DRE), voting systems, or electronic voting systems. Voting machines are a means of voting where the vote is cast electronically and tabulated electronically.

There is no ballot box or tabulator because there are no paper ballots. The vote is recorded on the machine.

Before Election Day, the voting machine will be sealed after public testing and will be transported to the Polling Place.

The keys that unlock the voting machine will be given to one Election Judge at least an hour before the Election Judges assemble at the Polling Place. That key will be in a sealed envelope

The keys shall be enclosed in a sealed envelope on which shall be written or printed:

  • (1) The name, number of or designation of the election precinct or district;
  • (2) The number of the voting machine;
  • (3) The number of the seal with which the machine is sealed;
  • (4) The number registered on the protective counter or device as reported by the custodian.

The sealed envelope containing the keys can not be opened until all the Election Judges have assembled.

4.A.4.a.1. Procedure for Examining Voting Machines

The pollwatcher will observe the Election Judges confirm that the information on the sealed envelope corresponds to the voting machine.

IF

The information is not correct.

THEN

The envelope will not be opened, the Election Authority will be contacted to present themselves at the Polling Place to correct the situation before the voting machine can be operated and the polls opened.

ELSE

The information on the sealed envelope is correct then the envelope is opened. The enclosed key is used to turn on the voting machine.

Once the voting machine is turned on, the poll watcher will observe that:

  • All counters are set to zero (0)*.
  • The voting machine is illuminated.
  • Cards and labels are in their proper place.
  • The voting machine is positioned so that it can be seen at all times, but
  • The voting machine is also positioned so that the vote cannot be observed.
*IF

The counter is not set to zero (0).

THEN

The Election Authority is called and the voting machine is withdrawn and replaced before the polls open. Once the replacement voting machine is in place, this procedure begins anew with the new voting machine.

An Election Judge cannot reset the voting machine.

ELSE

The counter is set to zero (0) and the rest of the procedure can continue.

 
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