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RE: AccuVote-OS "passing ballots"



There may be other reasons why the unit "passes ballots" (sounds like it needs to cut down on fibre).  I'm just posting what I'm getting from this account in Georgia and my comments.  They were short four ballots in one precinct and upon reviewing the ballots they found four ballots with torn corners that wouldn't count at all and wouldn't reject when fed through in one orientation.  The pollworkers reported this problem as they had tried to remove the ballot, but while they were pulling the AccuVote out of the Ballot Box recess, the ballot would fall into the compartment.
 
If this can happen repeatedly in one orientation only, then we have a problem with rejecting this kind of ballot consistently.  Either we inform everyone, procedurally, "If it doesn't work that way, then don't do it" or we find a solution that will allow the system to consistently reject that kind of ballot.
 
Ian
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-support@gesn.com [mailto:owner-support@gesn.com]On Behalf Of Steve Knecht
Sent: November 14, 2001 5:20 PM
To: support@gesn.com
Subject: Re: AccuVote-OS "passing ballots"

Your description can be recreated without any problem.   But I don't believe the "passed ballot" situations Marin reported have anything to do with a torn ballot.  I'm checking.
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Wednesday, November 14, 2001 2:56 PM
Subject: RE: AccuVote-OS "passing ballots"

I've spoken to Beth Kish and she is able to reproduce the problem using a ballot torn on one corner.  It doesn't matter what side of the ballot is torn, only the ballot orientation and the fact that a timing mark is missing.  When the ballot is fed into the reader with the tear on the right side, trailing edge, the full ballot is scanned, then stops, leaving the ballot hanging at the back end of the reader.  She couldn't tell if the pinch rollers have a piece of the ballot or not.  The LCD displays "Invalid Ballot - See Official", but no motor reversal occurs.  This may have to do with the exit sensor not being covered by the ballot.  Although the AV CPU knows it couldn't process the ballot, it senses there is no ballot in the exit of the reader and never turns on the motor to reverse the ballot.  This is all speculation, but Beth is sending me some of her ballots (fresh and torn) with which to experiment.  I should receive them tomorrow.
 
 
The other orientations:
 
When feeding the tear on right side, leading edge, the reader doesn't even turn ON.  (The input sensor can't see the ballot and the pinch roller stops it from going in any deeper.)
 
When feeding the tear on the left side, leading edge, the ballot is rejected, the LCD displays "Invalid Ballot - See Official".  (The reader doesn't calibrate all channels on the leading edge and sends a datastream of zeros to the AV CPU, the AV CPU rejects the ballot within the first inch scanned.)
 
When feeding the tear on the left side, trailing edge, the ballot is rejected, the LCD displays "Invalid Ballot - See Official".  (The reader times out on the timing mark interval and doesn't receive a proper tick count.  The AV CPU rejects the ballot but has plenty of ballot underneath the pinch rollers at the time it rejects the ballot.)
 
 
Ian
 
 
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-support@gesn.com [mailto:owner-support@gesn.com]On Behalf Of Ian S. Piper
Sent: November 14, 2001 9:19 AM
To: support@gesn.com
Subject: RE: AccuVote-OS "passing ballots"

I've been informed by Don V. that Cobb County had experienced the same, but they suspected torn ballots (stubs removed from the ballot bottom also removed part of the timing mark.)  I'll be following that up today by contacting Beth Kish in Cobb for details.
 
Perhaps more details can be gathered (by John, Don, and Steve) from the other accounts experiencing this.
 
Ian
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-support@gesn.com [mailto:owner-support@gesn.com]On Behalf Of John McLaurin
Sent: November 14, 2001 9:02 AM
To: support@gesn.com
Subject: RE: AccuVote-OS "passing ballots"

Gwinnett County GA testifies to it as  a recurring problem. We’ve had it in Savannah also.  One or two in Brevard county in the Nov. 6th election and one in Duval in the last special election.  All are running 1.94W

 

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-support@gesn.com [mailto:owner-support@gesn.com]On Behalf Of Don Biszmaier
Sent: Tuesday, November 14, 2000 10:46 AM
To: support@gesn.com
Subject: Re: AccuVote-OS "passing ballots"

 

Steve: I have had it happen a few times and could find no reason for it. At the precinct I usually suspect poll worker error. But have had it occur on rerun of the ballots.

Don

----- Original Message -----

 

To: Global Sales ; Global Support

Sent: Tuesday, November 06, 2001 11:13 PM

Subject: AccuVote-OS "passing ballots"

 

Also have report from Marin regarding 3 precincts with significant "passed ballots", i.e., ballot going thru

AccuVote without being counted.  Anyone else experiencing this?

 

Steve Knecht
Global Election Systems
415-893-9941 office   415-893-9951 fax
415-225-6591 cell