RE: Merging of El Paso results

["Ken Clark" <ken@dieboldes.com>]

We can use this file to import results for El Paso with two caveats:

• It won't work if the ballots are rotated
• It won't work if the punch positions are not unique to a candidate (ie, they can't "share" punch positions).

 

Not too surprisingly, the punch positions are not unique to a candidate in El Paso's upcoming election.  El Paso's precinct committee officers share punch positions.

 

This case can be handled by taking advantage of the fact that candidates are still unique to positions within a precinct.  So the new caveat reads:

• It won't work if the punch position and precinct are not unique to a candidate. 

This is complete and will be in 1.14.10.  Needless to say it requires testing.  Attached for reference is the full text of the original RCR completion message.  The other instructions and comments in there still stand.

 

Ken

 

---

• To: <rcr@dieboldes.com>
• Subject: RE: Merging of El Paso results
• From: "Ken Clark" <ken@dieboldes.com>
• Date: Thu, 7 Oct 1999 13:41:50 -0600
• Cc: <rtglobal@earthlink.net>
• Importance: Normal
• In-Reply-To: <NCBBIGGNCKBDKCCGPEOAGEJECOAA.ken@dieboldes.com>

We need to have the capability of merging (existing) punch card and GEMS totals for reporting purposes 

 Bob Urosevich

 

What is required for a precinct import is an export of these results from their database.   

 

Okay,  there is a file generated by the BRC software called "pre.txt" that appears to have the precinct results along with the punch positions (the posn column) for the candidates.  We can use this file to import results for El Paso with two caveats:

• It won't work if the ballots are rotated
• It won't work if the punch positions are not unique to a candidate (ie, they can't "share" punch positions).

The El Paso GEMS database needs to be set up with the Export Ids set up as following:

• The report precinct export id needs to the number for each precinct in the pre.txt file.  For example, ANTHONY CITY HALL is "0001".
• The candidate export id needs to be the "posn" number for the candidate.  "PROPOSITION NO. 1 - REVISE PROVISIONS FOR FILLING VACANCY OF GOVERNOR AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR" candidate "FOR" would have export id "5".
• The race export id need not be filled in.

I am assuming here that there is a one-to-one relationship between the "precincts" in this file and our GEMS report precincts.  Let me know right away if it is not, and why.

 

When these export ids have been entered into the GEMS database, send me a copy and I'll get started.  It would also be helpful to have a pre.txt file populated with some test counters along with their native SOVC report.

 

As a final note, please continue to pursue a true export facility for BRC databases.  It is a certainty that someone will come back to us saying that the ballots are rotated or the positions are shared some time in the future.  Now is the time to get this resolved if we want BRC import as a GEMS feature.

 

Ken

 

---