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OVERVIEW OF PACIFICA DELEGATE ELECTION VOTE
COUNT PROCEDURES
- Ballots are only transported or handled by neutral or
balanced teams of people, never by a person who is alone.
- Ballot envelopes and ballots are always sealed in boxes
with three signatures across tape that will reveal any attempt
at tampering.
- A ballot-return quorum check is done by estimating or
(if very close) counting unopened envelopes.
- If a quorum is not achieved, all ballots are sealed up
in boxes again and stored in a secure location during the
"close date" extension period.
- Depending on space and crowding, there will be at least
five "up-close observers" who will be free to
walk around among the poll workers to look at ballots and
computer screens, etc. (but not talk to poll workers or
touch ballots). These "up-close" observers will
be selected by lot, but assuring that no more than two will
be from any single slate or group. Other observers will
remain behind a line or otherwise separated from the count.
- At the start of the count, envelopes are opened by teams,
which will separate contents so no association can be made
between ballots and names on checks or surveys.
- Teams put ballots in stacks of 100 and a ballot tracking
slip is attached by rubber band and signed by the team members.
- Ballot verification numbers (bar codes) are checked by
a team that compares each ballot PIN with a secret list
of valid numbers, and with a list of already verified numbers
on previously checked ballots. Each ballot contains a unique
number, but that number was assigned randomly so that nobody
knows what voter got what PIN to allow secret votes. Each
verified ballot is stamped with an automatic numbering stamp
machine so that every ballot can be tracked to know exactly
who handled it and who data-entered it etc. The verification
team signs the ballot tracking slip.
- The data-entry computers will be checked by three people
to assure no ballot data files are already present. Three
people will load the programs and configuration files (uniquely
named for each computer for audit purposes) onto a special
folder on each computer.
- Ballots are data-entered by teams at each computer, and
the stamped number is circled to indicate completion. If
the data entry team is not unanimous about a voter's intent,
a ballot judge will make a ruling and the ballot number
and dispute will be recorded on the computer log at each
computer.
- Every ballot number stamped on each ballot will also
be recorded in the datafile so that any individual ballot
can be compared to its electronic record for audit purposes.
Each data-entry team will sign the ballot tracking slip
for each stack of 100 ballots they handled.
- When data-entry is finished, the ballot file of each
team is placed on two floppy disks or CD-R disks that are
secured separately. Copies of these ballot data files are
also made available to others who want to check the tabulation
for themselves.
- All of the ballot data files are copied (again by three
people) onto the computer with the official tabulation program
(Choice Plus), and transmitted to the National Elections
Supervisor. Choice Plus is a simple program that automatically
handles the fractional transfers that a person competent
with spread sheet software could do on their own with enough
time. This software is used by several non-profits, and
the City of Cambridge, MA for city elections.
- The unofficial results of the election are announced
and posted, and transmitted to the National Elections Supervisor,
who will re-run the tabulation to prepare official results.
- After a break and clean-up, the process starts over for
the next election (staff delegates).
- Any complaints about behavior or procedures at a vote
count location should be sent to the National Election Supervisor
immediately, who will decide after investigation, whether
irregularities or problems occurred of sufficient magnitude
to impact the election results, and may, at his discretion,
order a recount.
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