# A Glossary for Voting Systems

This glossary contains terms from the VSS 2002 as well as the inclusion
of additional terms needed to understand voting and related areas such
as security, human factors, and testing. Each term includes a definition
and its source as well as an association, where

-   Source is the source from which the definition originates. A list of
    these sources is found in section A.2.

-   Association is the domain for which the term applies, e.g., voting,
    testing, security. There may be multiple domains identified for a
    term. There is no relevance given to the order in which the domains
    are listed. A list of these associations is found in section A.3.

At this time, a term may contain multiple definitions. The intent is to
eventually select one definition per term, unless multiple definitions
are necessary to convey the appropriate meanings of the term.

Some of the terms in the 2002 VSS have been deprecated due to changes in
voting systems, voting process and/or mandates in HAVA. A list of these
deprecated terms is in section A.4 List of Deprecated Terms.

## A.1 Glossary

**A**

**Abandoned Ballot:** Ballot that the voter did not cast into the ballot
box or record vote on DRE before leaving the polling place. See also
fled voter.

Association: voting

Source: no attribution

**Absentee Ballot:** Ballot prepared or cast by a voter prior to
Election Day because the voter will be unable to vote in person at the
polling place on that day.

Association: voting

Source: VSS, IEEE 1583

**Acceptance Testing**: Examination of a voting system and its
components by the purchasing election authority (usually in a
simulated-use environment) to validate performance of delivered units in
accordance with procurement requirements, and to validate that the
delivered system is, in fact, the certified or qualified system
purchased.

Association: testing, voting

Source: VSS

**Access Board**: Independent federal agency devoted to accessibility
for people with disabilities.

Association: human factors, HF: accessibility

Source: no attribution

**Accessibility:** Measurable characteristic that indicates the degree
to which a system is available to, and usable by, individuals with
disabilities. The most common disabilities include those associated with
vision, hearing and mobility, as well as cognitive disabilities. The
HAVA also includes accessibility requirements for Native American and
Alaska Native citizens and alternative language access for voters with
limited English proficiency.

Association: human factors, HF: accessibility

Source: NIST HF Rpt, HAVA

**Accessible Voting Station (Acc-VS):** Voting Station equipped for
individuals with disabilities referred to in HAVA 301 (a)(3)(B)

Association: HF: accessibility, voting

Source: HAVA

**Accreditation:** (1) Formal recognition that a laboratory is competent
to carry out specific tests or calibrations or types of tests or
calibrations. (2) Procedure by which an authoritative body gives formal
recognition that a body or person is competent to carry out specific
tasks.

Association: testing, standardization

Source: (1) NIST HB 150, (2) ISO Guide 2-6

**Accreditation Body:** (1) Authoritative body that performs
accreditation. (2) An independent organization responsible for assessing
the performance of other organizations against a recognized standard,
and for formally confirming the status of those that meet the standard.

Association: testing, conformity assessment

Source: (1) ISO 17000, (2) IEEE 1583

**Accuracy:** (1) Extent to which a given measurement agrees with an
accepted standard for that measurement. (2) Closeness of the agreement
between the result of a measurement and a true value of the particular
quantity subject to measurement. NOTE 1: Accuracy is a qualitative
concept. NOTE 2: The term precision should not be used for accuracy.

Association: testing

Source: (1) IEEE 1583, (2) VIM

**Accuracy for Voting Systems**: Ability of the system to capture,
record, store, consolidate and report the specific selections and
absence of selections, made by the voter for each ballot position
without error. Required accuracy is defined in terms of an error rate
that for testing purposes represents the maximum number of errors
allowed while processing a specified volume of data.

Association: voting, testing

Source: VSS

**Adequate Security**: Security commensurate with the risk and the
magnitude of harm resulting from the loss, misuse, or unauthorized
access to or modification of information. See also risk assessment*.*

Association: computer security

Source: OMB A130

**Alternative Formats:** In the context of voting systems, the ballot or
accompanying information is said to be in an alternative format if it is
in a representation other than the written English normally displayed to
non-disabled English-literate voters. NOTE: The usual purpose of these
formats is to provide accessibility to voters with disabilities or those
with limited English proficiency. Examples include, but are not limited
to, Braille, ASCII text, large print, recorded audio, and electronic
formats that comply with Part 1194 of the standards for Section 508 of
the Rehabilitation Act Amendments.

Association: HF: accessibility

Source: IEEE 1583, Section 508

**Alternative Language Voting Station (ALVS):** voting station designed
to be usable by voters who have limited English proficiency, i.e.,
cannot read English.

Association: HF: accessibility, voting

Source: no attribution

**Approval:** Permission for a product or process to be marketed or used
for stated purposes or under stated conditions. NOTE: Approval can be
based on fulfillment of specified requirements or completion of
specified procedures.

Association: testing, conformity assessment

Source: ISO 17000

**Attestation:** Issue of a statement, based on a decision following
review, that fulfillment of specified requirements has been
demonstrated. NOTE: The resulting statement is also known as a statement
of conformity.

Association: testing, conformity assessment

Source: ISO 17000

**Audio Ballot**: Voter interface which provides the voter with audio
stimuli and allows the voter to communicate intent to the voting system
through vocalization or physical actions. See also ballot.

Association: voting, human factors, HF: accessibility

Source: FL Statutes

**Audio-Tactile Interface (ATI):** Voter interface designed so as not to
require visual reading of a ballot. Audio is used to convey information
to the voter and sensitive tactile controls allow the voter to convey
information to the voting system.

Association: HF: accessibility, voting

Source: no attribution

**Audit**: Systematic, independent, documented process for obtaining
records, statements of fact or other relevant information and assessing
them objectively to determine the extent to which specified requirements
are fulfilled. NOTE: While audit applies to management systems,
assessment applies to conformity assessment bodies as well as more
generally.

Association: testing, conformity assessment, security

Source: ISO 17000

**Audit Trail:** Recorded information that allows election officials to
view the steps that occurred on the equipment included in an election to
verify or reconstruct the steps followed without compromising the ballot
or voter secrecy.

Association: voting, security

Source: no attribution

**Audit Trail for DRE:** Paper printout of votes cast, produced by
direct response electronic (DRE) voting machines, which election
officials may use to crosscheck electronically tabulated totals.

Association: voting, security

Source: NASS

**Availability**: Ensuring timely and reliable access to and use of
information.

Association: security

Source: 44 U.S.C.

**B**

**Ballot:** (1) Physical record of the selections made by a voter in all
of the\
races or contests in a particular election.  Typically used in the
context of hand-counted paper, punched card, or optical mark-sense
ballots.  When the ballot is recorded in electronic form, the term
ballot image is preferred.  (2) An official presentation of all of the
contests to be decided in a particular election.  These may be printed
on the ballot (sense 1), printed on a ballot label (as used for
punched-card and mechanical-lever voting machines), presented on a
computer display screen, or in some alternative form such as audio. See
also, audio ballot, ballot image, video ballot, electronic voter
interface.

Association: Voting

Source: no attribution

**Ballot Configuration:** Particular set of contests to appear on the
ballot for a particular election district, their order, the list of
ballot positions for each contest, and the binding of candidate names to
ballot positions.

Association: voting

Source: no attribution

**Ballot Counter:** Counter in a voting device that counts the ballots
cast in a single election or election test.

Association: voting

Source: VSS

**Ballot Counting Logic**: Software logic that defines the combinations
of voter choices that are valid and invalid on a given ballot and that
determines how the vote choices are totaled in a given election. States
differ from each other in the way they define valid and invalid votes
and in their vote-counting procedures.

Association: voting

Source: VSS

**Ballot Format**: One of any number of specific ballot configurations
issued to the appropriate precinct. At a minimum, ballot formats differ
from one another in content. They may also differ in size of type,
graphical presentation, language used, or method of presentation (e.g.,
visual or audio). Also referred to as ballot style*.*

Association: voting

Source: VSS

**Ballot Image:** (1) Electronically produced record of all votes cast
by a single voter. (2) Record of all votes produced by a single voter.
See also Cast Vote Record

Association: voting

Source: (1) VSS (2) no attribution

**Ballot Instructions:** The official instructional material presented
with the ballot (sense 2) to the voter.  In some contexts, this is in
the form of an instructional poster in the voting booth, in some
contexts, as text on the ballot label, in any form, presented to voters
for expressing their selections in an election.  This may be printed on
the ballot (sense 1), presented in audio form, posted in the voting
booth, printed on the ballot label or presented with the ballot
presentation.

Association: voting

Source: no attribution

**Ballot Measure:** A contest on ballot where the voter may vote yes or
no. This term is typically used for referenda, amendments to state
constitutions and tax questions, but not for yes/no votes in judicial
retention races.

Association: voting

Source: no attribution

**Ballot Preparation**: Process of using election databases or other
means to select the specific contests and questions to be contained in a
ballot format and related instructions; preparing and testing
election-specific software containing these selections; producing all
possible ballot formats; and validating the correctness of ballot
materials and software containing these selections for an upcoming
election.

Association: voting

Source: VSS

**Ballot Position:** Abstract choice that is represented by a single
line item where a vote may be recorded in a ballot or ballot image.

Association: voting

Source: VSS

**Ballot Production:** Process of converting the ballot format to a
medium ready for use in the physical ballot production or electronic
presentation.

Association: voting

Source: VSS

**Ballot Rotation:** Process of varying the order of the candidate names
within a given contest to reduce the impact of voter bias towards the
candidate(s) listed first.

Association: voting

Source: VSS

**Ballot Set:** See ballot image.

Association: voting

Source: VSS

**Ballot Scanner:** Device used to read the data from a marksense
ballot.

Association: voting

Source: VSS

**Ballot Style:** See ballot format.

Association: voting

Source: VSS

**Baseline:** Product configuration that has been formally submitted for
review against the VVSG, which thereafter serves as the basis for
further development; and can be changed and offered to jurisdictions
only through formal change control and requalification procedures
(and/or recertification procedures where applicable).

Association: voting, testing

Source: VSS

**C**

**Calibration:** Set of operations that establish, under specified
conditions, the relationship between values indicated by a measuring
instrument or measuring system, or values represented by a material
measure, and the corresponding known values of a quantity intended to be
measured.

Association: testing

Source: NIST HB 150

**Candidate:** Person contending in a race for office. A candidate may
be explicitly presented as one of the choices on the ballot or may be a
write-in candidate.

Association: voting

Source: NIST HF Rpt

**Candidate Register:** Record that reflects the total votes cast for
the candidate. This record is augmented as each ballot is cast on a DRE
or as digital signals from the conversion of voted paper ballots are
logically interpreted and recorded.

Association: voting

Source: VSS, IEEE 1583

**Canvass:** (1) Compilation of election returns and validation of the
outcome that form the basis of the official results by political
subdivision. (2) Compilation of election returns for validation and
approval by the political subdivision of the outcome, which form the
basis for the official results.

Association: voting

Source: (1) VSS, IEEE 1583 (2) no attribution

**Cast Ballot:** Ballot in which voter has taken final action in the
selection of candidates and measures and submits the ballot to the
appropriate jurisdiction.

Association: voting

Source: no attribution

**Cast Vote Record (CVR):** Permanent record of all votes produced by a
single voter whether in electronic or paper copy form. Used for counting
votes. Also referred to as ballot set or ballot image when used to refer
to electronic ballots.

Association: voting

Source: (1) IEEE 1583

**Catastrophic System Failure:** Total loss of function or functions,
such as the loss or unrecoverable corruption of voting data or the
failure of an on-board battery of volatile memory.

Association: voting

Source: VSS

**Central Counting:** Counting of ballots in one or more locations
selected by the election authority for the processing or counting, or
both, of ballots.

Association: voting

Source: IL Statutes

**Certification:** (1) Procedure by which a third party gives written
assurance that a product, process or service conforms to specified
requirements. (2) Third-party attestation related to products,
processes, systems or persons. See also State Certification and EAC
Certification.

Association: testing, conformity assessment

Source: (1) ISO Guide 2-6, (2) ISO 17000

**Certification Testing:** Deprecated, replaced by State Certification.
Note: This term is being clarified with respect testing to State or
Federal Standards. See also EAC Certification*.*

Association: testing, conformity assessment, voting

Source: VSS

::: definition
Challenged Ballot: Ballot provided to individuals whose eligibility to
vote has been questioned. Once voted, such ballots are not included in
the tabulation until after the voter's eligibility is confirmed. See
also provisional ballot.
:::

Association: voting

Source: VSS

**Checksum:** Computed value representing the sum of the contents of an
instance of digital data; used to check whether errors have occurred in
transmission or storage.

Association: security

Source: no attribution

**Claim of Conformance:** Statement by a vendor proclaiming that a
specific product conforms to a particular standard or set of standard
profiles, a claim which is verified or refuted by a testing authority.

Association: testing, conformity assessment

Source: no attribution

**Client:** Any person or organization that engages the services of a
testing or calibration laboratory.

Association: testing

Source: NIST HB 150

**Closed Primary:** Primary election in which voters receive a ballot
listing only those candidates running for office in the political party
with which the voters are affiliated, along with nonpartisan offices and
ballot issues presented at the same election.

Association: voting

Source: VSS

**Commercial Off-the-Shelf (COTS):** Commercial, readily available
hardware devices (which may be electrical, electronic, mechanical, etc.;
such as card readers, printers, or personal computers) or software
products (such as operating systems, programming language compilers,
database management systems, subsystems, components; software, etc.).

Association: IT

Source: VSS, IEEE 1583

**Common Industry Format (CIF):** Refers to the format described in
ANSI/INCITS 354-2001 \"Common Industry Format (CIF) for Usability Test
Reports.

Association: HF: usability

Source: ANSI 354

**Compliance point**: Identified, testable requirement.

Association: testing, conformity assessment

Source: no attribution

**Component**: (1) Element within a larger system; a component can be
hardware or software. For hardware, a physical part of a subsystem that
can be used to compose larger systems (e.g., circuit boards, internal
modems, processors, computer memory). For software, a module of
executable code that performs a well-defined function and interacts with
other components. (2) Individual elements or items that collectively
comprise a device, e.g., circuit boards, internal modems, processors,
disk drives, and computer memory.

Association: IT

Source: (1) no attribution, (2) VSS

**Confidentiality:** (1) Prevention of unauthorized disclosure of
information. (2) Preserving authorized restrictions on information
access and disclosure, including means for protecting personal privacy
and proprietary information.

Association: security.

Source: (1) IEEE 1583, (2) 44 U.S.C.

::: definition
Configuration Identification: Element of configuration management,
consisting of selecting the configuration items for a system and
recording their functional and physical characteristics in technical
documentation.
:::

Association: testing, software engineering

Source: IEEE 1583

::: definition
Configuration Item: Aggregation of hardware, software, or both that is
designated for configuration management and treated as a single entity
in the configuration management process.
:::

Association: testing, software engineering

Source: IEEE 1583

::: definition
Configuration Management: Discipline applying technical and
administrative direction and surveillance to identify and document
functional and physical characteristics of a configuration item, control
changes to these characteristics, record and report change processing
and implementation status, and verify compliance with specified
requirements.
:::

Association: testing, software engineering

Source: IEEE 1583

**Configuration Management Plan:** Document detailing the process for
identifying, controlling and managing various released items (code,
hardware, documentation etc.)

Association: testing, software engineering

Source: IEEE 1583

**Conformance**: see conformity

Association: testing, standardization

Source: no attribution

**Conformance Testing:** Process of testing an implementation against
the requirements specified in one or more standards. The outcomes of a
conformance test are generally a pass or fail result, possibly including
reports of problems encountered during the execution. Also known as
conformity assessment*.*

Association: testing, standardization

Source: NIST HB 150

**Conformity:** Fulfillment by a product, process or service of
specified requirements.

Association: testing, standardization

Source: ISO Guide 2-6

**Conformity Assessment**: Demonstration that specified requirements
relating to a product, process, system, person or body are fulfilled.
See also testing, inspection, certification, accreditation, conformity
assessment bodies*.*

Association: testing, standardization

Source: ISO 17000

**Conformity Assessment Body**: Body that performs conformity assessment
services. NOTE: An accreditation body is not a conformity assessment
body.

Association: testing, standardization

Source: ISO 17000

**Consensus**: General agreement, characterized by the absence of
sustained opposition to substantial issues by any important part of the
concerned interests and by a process that involves seeking to take into
account the views of all parties concerned and to reconcile any
conflicting arguments.

Association: standardization

Source: ISO Guide 2-4

::: definition
Contest**:** Decision to be made within an election, which may be a race
for office or a referendum, propositions and/or questions. A single
ballot may contain one or more contests.
:::

::: definition
Association: voting
:::

::: definition
Source: no attribution
:::

::: definition
Count**:** Process of totaling votes.
:::

Association: voting

Source: VSS, IEEE 1583

**Counted Ballot:** Ballot that has been processed and whose votes are
included in the candidate and measures vote totals.

Association: voting

Source: no attribution

**Corrective Action:** Action taken to eliminate the causes of an
existing deficiency or other undesirable situation in order to prevent
recurrence.

Association: testing

Source: NIST HB 143

::: definition
Cross Filing: see Cross-party Endorsement*.*
:::

::: definition
Association: voting
:::

::: definition
Source: VSS
:::

::: definition
Cross-party Endorsement**:** Endorsement of a single candidate or slate
of candidates by more than one political party. The candidate or slate
appears on the ballot representing each endorsing political party. Also
referred to as *cross filing*.
:::

Association: voting

Source: VSS, IEEE 1583

**Cryptographic Key**: Value used to control cryptographic operations,
such as decryption, encryption, signature generation or signature
verification.

Association: security

Source: NIST SP 800-63

**Cryptography:** Discipline that embodies the principles, means, and
methods for the transformation of data in order to hide their semantic
content, prevent their unauthorized use, or prevent their undetected
modification.

Association**:** security

Source: NIST SP 800-59

**Cumulative Voting:** Practice where voters are permitted to cast as
many votes as there are seats to be filled. Voters are not limited to
giving only one vote to a candidate. Instead, they can put multiple
votes on one or more candidates.

Association: voting

Source: VSS, IEEE 1583

**D**

**Data Accuracy:** (1) Data accuracy is defined in terms of ballot
position error rate. This rate applies to the voting functions and
supporting equipment that capture, record, store, consolidate and report
the specific selections, and absence of selections, made by the voter
for each ballot position. (2) The system\'s ability to process voting
data absent internal errors generated by the system. It is distinguished
from data integrity, which encompasses errors introduced by an outside
source.

Association: testing, security

Source: (1) VSS, (2) IEEE 1583

::: definition
Data Integrity: Invulnerability of the system to accidental intervention
or deliberate, fraudulent manipulation that would result in errors in
the processing of data. It is distinguished from data accuracy that
encompasses internal, system-generated errors.
:::

Association: security

Source: IEEE 1583

**Decertification**: Withdrawal of certification of voting system
hardware and software.

Association: testing, conformity assessment

Source: HAVA

::: definition
Design Entity: Component of a design, named and referenced uniquely,
that is both structurally and functionally different from other
elements.
:::

Association: software engineering

Source: IEEE 1583

**Design Entity Attributes:** Named characteristic or property of a
design entity, which provides a statement of fact about the entity.
Attributes define the design entity and not the design process.

Association: software engineering

Source: IEEE 1583

**Designating Authority**: Body established within government or
empowered by government to designate conformity assessment bodies,
suspend or withdraw their designation or remove their suspension from
designation.

Association: testing, conformity assessment

Source: ISO 17000

**Designation**: Governmental authorization of a conformity assessment
body to perform specified conformity assessment activities.

Association: testing, conformity assessment

Source: ISO 17000

::: definition
Device**:** Functional unit that performs its assigned tasks as an
integrated whole.
:::

Association: IT

Source: VSS

**Digital Signature**: Asymmetric key operation where the private key is
used to digitally sign an electronic document and the public key is used
to verify the signature. Digital signatures provide authentication and
integrity protection.

Association: security

Source: SP 800-63

::: definition
Direct Record Electronic (DRE) Voting System: Voting system that records
votes by means of a ballot display provided with mechanical or
electro-optical components that can be actuated by the voter, that
processes the data by means of a computer program, and that records
voting data and cast vote records in internal and/or external memory
components. It produces a tabulation of the voting data stored in a
removable memory component and/or in printed copy.
:::

Association: voting

Source: VSS, IEEE 1583

**Directly Verified:** Voting system that allows the voter to verify at
least one representation of his or her ballot with his/her own senses,
not using any software or hardware intermediary. Examples of a directly
verified voting system include DRE with a voter verified paper trail or
marksense system. This is in contrast with an indirectly verified voting
system.

Association: voting, security

Source: no attribution

**Disability:** Disability means, with respect to an individual**,** (a)
a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of
the major life activities of such individual, (b) a record of such an
impairment, or (c) being regarded as having such an impairment.

Association: human factors, HF: accessibility

Source: ADA

**DRE Display:** Part of the DRE that displays the electronic record.

::: definition
Association: security, voting
:::

::: definition
Source: no attribution
:::

::: definition
DRE-VVPAT: DRE voting system containing VVPAT capability. See also
Direct Record Electronic Voting System and Voter Verified Paper Audit
Trail.
:::

::: definition
Association: security, voting
:::

::: definition
Source: no attribution
:::

::: definition
E
:::

::: definition
E-Voting**:** (1) Term frequently used to refer to DREs and other types
of electronic voting equipment, but may be misleading as it implies
remote access via a computer network or the Internet. (2) Election
system that allows a voter to record his or her secure and secret ballot
electronically. See also DRE, Electronic Voting Machine*.*
:::

::: definition
Association: voting
:::

::: definition
Source: (1) NASS, (2) Whatis.com
:::

::: definition
EAC: Election Assistance Commission
:::

::: definition
Early Voting: Voter completes the ballot in person at a county office or
other designated polling site or ballot drop site prior to Election Day.
The ballot is cast and not retrievable. NOTE: Early voting is not the
same as absentee voting. Also known as Early In-Person Voting.
:::

::: definition
Association: voting
:::

::: definition
Source: electionline
:::

::: definition
Election Coding: See Election Programming.
:::

Association: voting

Source: IEEE 1583

::: definition
Election Databases: Data file or set of files that contain geographic
information about political subdivisions and boundaries, all contests
and questions to be included in an election, and the candidates for each
contest.
:::

Association: voting

Source: VSS, IEEE 1583

::: definition
Election Definition: Abstract definition of the races and questions that
may appear on ballot forms.
:::

Association: voting

Source: no attribution

**Election District:** Geographic area represented by a public official
who is elected by voters residing within the district boundaries. The
district may cover an entire state or political subdivision, may be a
portion of the state or political subdivision, or may include portions
of more than one political subdivision.

Association: voting

Source: VSS, IEEE 1583

::: definition
Election Management System: Set of processing functions and databases
within a Voting System that define, develop and maintain election
databases, perform election definition and setup functions, format
ballots, count votes, consolidate and report results, and maintain audit
trails.
:::

Association: voting

Source: VSS, IEEE 1583

::: definition
Election Officials: Term used to designate the group of people
associated with conducting an election, including election personnel and
poll workers.
:::

::: definition
Association: voting
:::

::: definition
Source: no attribution
:::

::: definition
Election Programming: Process by which election officials or their
designees use voting system software to logically define the ballot for
a specific election.
:::

Association: voting

Source: VSS, IEEE 1583

::: definition
Electronic Ballot Printer (EBP): DRE-like device that fully prints
paper-based ballots with selected vote choices for tabulation by a
separate ballot scanner.
:::

Association: voting

Source: IEEE 1583

::: definition
Electronic Cast Vote Record (ECVR): Deprecated, replaced by Cast Vote
Record (CVR).
:::

Association: voting

Source: IEEE 1583

::: definition
**Electronic Vote Capture System (EVCS):** Election system that
encompasses DREs as well as accessible ballot printers (ABPs) when they
are combined with the ballot scanner that processes the printed ballot.
See also Voter Verified Paper Audit*.*
:::

Association: voting

Source: IEEE 1583

**Electronic Voter Interface**: Subsystem within a DRE voting system
which communicates ballot information to a voter in video, audio or
Braille form and which allows the voter to select candidates and issues
by means of vocalization or physical actions.

Association: voting, Human factors, HF: accessibility

Source: FL Statutes

**Electronic Voting Machine**: Any system that utilizes an electronic
component. Term is generally used to refer to DREs. See also Voting
Equipment, Voting System*.*

Association: voting

Source: NASS

::: definition
Electronically-Assisted Ballot Marker (EBM): Machines that provide
assistance to voters who are visually impaired, who have difficulty
reading English, or in other cases where a voter has difficulty
correctly marking by hand a preprinted paper ballot that is to be
counted in optical scan systems. The device marks, or helps to mark
selected vote choices on a previously inserted, preprinted paper ballot.
The machine then provides audio, tactile, or visual feedback to the
voter on what choices they have made on the ballot. The resulting
ballots are later tabulated on the same unit that processes ordinary
hand-marked paper ballots.
:::

Association: voting, human factors

Source: IEEE 1583

::: definition
Entity Relationship Diagram (ERD): A data modeling technique that
creates a graphical representation of the entities, and the
relationships between entities, within an information system.
:::

Association: software engineering

Source: IEEE 1583

**Error correction code:** Coding system that incorporates extra parity
bits in order to detect errors.

Association**:** security

Source: WordNet

**F**

**Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS):** Standard for
adoption and use by federal agencies that has been developed within the
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Information
Technology Laboratory and published by NIST, an part of the U.S.
Department of Commerce.

Association: security, standardization

Source**:** no attribution

**Firmware:** Computer programs (software) stored in read-only memory
(ROM) devices embedded in the system and not capable of being altered
during system operation.

Association: IT

Source: IEEE 1583

**Fled Voter:** Voter who has begun the process of using voting
equipment to cast a ballot and has exited the polling site without
completing the casting of the ballot, thereby leaving the voting
equipment in a state in which election procedures must be used to decide
whether the fled voter's incomplete ballot will be cast before the
voting equipment is reset. See also abandoned ballot.

Association: voting

Source: no attribution

**Font:** Family or assortment of characters of a given size and style,
e.g*.,* 9-point Bodoni modern*.* See type font.

Association: human factors, typography

Source: ANSI

**Functional Configuration Audit (FCA):** Exhaustive verification of
every system function and combination of functions cited in the vendor's
documentation. Through use the FCA verifies the accuracy and
completeness of the system's Voter Manual, Operations Procedures,
Maintenance Procedures, and Diagnostic Testing Procedures.

Association: testing, voting

Source: VSS, IEEE 1583

**Functional Test:** Test performed to verify or validate the
accomplishment of a function or a series of functions.

Association: testing

Source: VSS, IEEE 1583

**Fundamental Representation**: For voting systems that create more than
one representation of the voter's ballot (such as one electronic and one
on paper), the fundamental representation is the representation that is
used for the initial vote tabulation.

Association: voting, security

Source: no attribution

**G**

**General Election:** Election in which voters, regardless of party
affiliation, are permitted to select persons to fill public office and
vote on ballot issues. Where the public office may be filled by a
candidate affiliated with a political party or when permitted by law,
unaffiliated candidate and voters choose among the candidates.

Association: voting

Source: VSS, IEEE 1583

**H**

**Hash:** Algorithm that maps a bit string of arbitrary length to a
fixed-length bit string. Approved hash functions satisfy the following
properties: (a) it is computationally infeasible to find any input that
map to any prespecified output, and (b) it is computationally infeasible
to find any two distinct inputs that map to the same output.

Association: voting

Source: NIST SP 800-63

**HAVA:** Help America Vote Act of 2002.

Association: voting

Source: no attribution

**Human Computer Interaction:** Discipline concerned with the design,
evaluation and implementation of interactive computing systems for human
use and with the study of major phenomena surrounding them.

Association: human factors

Source: ACM SIGCHI

**Human Factors (or Ergonomics):** Scientific discipline concerned with
the understanding of interactions among humans and other elements of a
system, and the profession that applies theory, principles, data and
methods to design in order to optimize human well-being and overall
system performance.

Association: human factors

Source: IEA

**I**

**Indirectly Verified:** Voting system that allows a voter to verify the
ballot produced by his or her vote only via hardware or software
intermediary. An example of an indirectly verified voting system is a
touch screen DRE where the voter verifies the ballot through the
assistance of audio stimuli. This is in contrast to directly verified
voting systems.

Association: voting, security

Source: no attribution

**Implementation Conformance Statement:** See Implementation
Statement*.*

**Implementation Statement:** Statement by a vendor indicating the
capabilities, features, and optional functions as well as extensions
that have been implemented. Also known as implementation conformance
statement.

Association: testing

Source: no attribution

**Independent Testing Authority (ITA)**: Deprecated, replaced by Voting
System Testing Laboratory. Organization certified by the National
Association of State Election Directors (NASED) to perform qualification
testing.

Association: testing, voting

Source: VSS

**Information Security**: Protecting information and information systems
from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, or
destruction in order to provide integrity, confidentiality, and
availability.

Association: security

Source: 44 U.S.C.

**Inspection:** Examination of a product design, product, process or
installation and determination of its conformity with specific
requirements or, on the basis of professional judgment, with general
requirements. NOTE: Inspection of a process may include inspection of
persons, facilities, technology and methodology.

Association: testing, conformity assessment

Source: ISO 17000

**Integrity**: (1) Prevention of unauthorized modification of
information. (2) Guarding against improper information modification or
destruction, and includes ensuring information non-repudiation and
authenticity.

Association: security

Source: (1) IEEE 1583, (2) 44 U.S.C.

**K**

**Key Management**: Activities involving the handling of *cryptographic
keys* and other related security parameters (e.g., passwords) during the
entire life cycle of the keys, including their generation, storage,
establishment, entry and output, and zeroization.

Association: security

Source: FIPS 140-2

**L**

::: definition
Logic and Accuracy Testing: Testing of the tabulator setups of a new
election definition to ensure that the content correctly reflects the
election being held (i.e., contests, candidates, number to be elected,
ballot styles, etc.) and that all voting positions can be voted for the
maximum number of eligible candidates and that results are accurately
tabulated and reported.
:::

Association: voting, testing

Source: IEEE 1583

::: definition
Logical Correctness: Condition signifying that, for a given input, a
computer program will satisfy the program specification (produce the
required output).
:::

Association: testing

Source: VSS, IEEE 1583

**M**

::: definition
Marksense: System by which votes are recorded by means of marks made in
voting response fields designated on one or both faces of a ballot card
or series of cards. Marksense systems may use an optical scanner or
similar sensor to read the ballots. Also known as Optical Scan.
:::

Association: voting

Source: VSS, IEEE 1583

::: definition
Measure Register: Record that reflects the total votes cast for and
against a specific ballot issue. This record is augmented as each ballot
is cast on a DRE or as digital signals from the conversion of voted
paper ballots are logically interpreted and recorded.
:::

Association: voting

Source: VSS, IEEE 1583

**Mechanical Lever Voting Machine**: Machine that directly records a
voter's choices via mechanical level-actuated controls into a counting
mechanism that tallies the votes without using a physical ballot.

Association: voting

Source: ME Statutes

**Multi-seat Content**: Contest in which multiple candidates can run, up
to a specified number of seats. Voters may vote for no more than the
specified number of candidates. Also known as field race.

Association: voting

Source: NIST HF Rpt.

**N**

::: definition
NVLAP: The NIST National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program.
:::

::: definition
Association**:** testing
:::

Source: no attribution

::: definition
Non-partisan Office: Elected office for which candidates run independent
of political party affiliation.
:::

Association: voting

Source: VS, IEEE 1583

::: definition
Nonvolatile Memory: Memory in which information can be stored
indefinitely with no power applied. Static RAM, ROMs and EPROMs are
examples of nonvolatile memory.
:::

Association: IT

Source: VSS, IEEE 1583

**O**

::: definition
On-Site Absentee Voting: See Early Voting*.*
:::

::: definition
Open Primary: Primary election in which voters, regardless of political
affiliation, may choose in which party's primary they will vote. Some
states require voters to publicly declare their choice of party ballot
at the polling place, after which the poll worker provides or activates
the appropriate ballot. Other states allow the voters to make their
choice of party ballot within the privacy of the voting booth. Voters
also may be permitted to vote on nonpartisan offices and ballot issues
that are presented at the same election.
:::

Association: voting

Source: VSS, IEEE 1583

::: definition
Operational Environment: See Voting Equipment Operational Environment*.*
:::

Association: voting, IT

Source: IEEE 1583

::: definition
Operations Procedures: See Voting Equipment Operations Procedures.
:::

Association: voting, IT

Source: IEEE 1583

::: definition
Optical Scan, Optical Scan System: See Marksense.
:::

Association: voting

Source: IEEE 1583

::: definition
Overvotes: (1) Generally prohibited practice of voting for more than the
allotted number of candidates for the office being contested. (2) The
voting for more than the allotted number of selections in a race. (3)
Occurs when the number of alternatives selected by a voter in a contest
exceeds the maximum number allowed for that contest. Also known as
overvoting.
:::

Association: voting

Source: (1) VSS, (2) IEEE 1583, (3) NIST HF Rpt.

**P**

::: definition
Paper-based Voting System: Voting system that records votes, counts
votes, and produces a tabulation of the vote count, using one or more
ballot cards or a written list of choices.
:::

Association: voting

Source: VSS, IEEE 1583

::: definition
Paper Record: Paper ballot image or summary that is a copy of the
electronic record and that is verifiable by a voter. See also ballot
image*.*
:::

::: definition
Association: voting, security
:::

::: definition
Source: no attribution
:::

::: definition
Partisan Office: Elected office for which (partisan and non-partisan)
candidates run as representatives of a political party.
:::

Association: voting

Source: VSS, IEEE 1583

::: definition
Pass/Fail Criteria: Decision factor or expected result used to determine
if software or hardware passes a test case.
:::

Association: testing

Source: IEEE 1583

**Physical Configuration Audit (PCA):** (1) Inspection that compares the
voting system components submitted for qualification to the vendor's
technical documentation and confirms that the documentation submitted
meets the requirements of the VVSG. As part of the PCA, the building of
the executable system to ensure that the qualified executable release is
built from the tested components is also witnessed. (2) Review, by the
test authority, of the vendor's technical documentation, source code,
and observation of the code compile.

Association: testing, voting

Source: (1) VSS, (2) IEEE 1583

::: definition
Precinct Count: Counting of ballots on automatic tabulating equipment
provided by the election authority in the same precinct polling place in
which those ballots have been cast.
:::

::: definition
Association: voting
:::

::: definition
Source: IL Statutes
:::

::: definition
Point Size: Method of measuring type, where the size of a font is
measured from the top of the tallest character to the bottom of the
lowest character.
:::

Association: human factors, typography

Source: no attribution

::: definition
Political Subdivision: Any unit of government, such as counties and
cities but often excepting school districts, having authority to hold
elections for public offices or on ballot issues.
:::

::: definition
Association: voting
:::

::: definition
Source: VSS
:::

::: definition
Polling Location: Physical address of a polling place.
:::

Association: voting

Source: VSS, IEEE 1583

::: definition
Polling Place: Facility that is staffed by poll workers and equipped
with voting equipment, to which voters from a given precinct come to
cast in-person ballots. See also voting station.
:::

Association: voting

Source: VSS, IEEE 1583

::: definition
Precinct: Administrative division representing a geographic area in
which voters cast ballots at the same polling place. Voters casting
absentee ballots may also be combined into one or more administrative
absentee precincts for purposes of tabulating and reporting votes.
Generally, voters in a polling place precinct are eligible to vote in a
general election using the same ballot format. In some jurisdictions,
however, the ballot formats may be different due to split precincts or
required ballot rotations within the precinct.
:::

Association: voting

Source: VSS, IEEE 1583

**Precision:** (1) Extent to which a given set of measurements of the
same sample agree with their mean. Thus, precision is commonly taken to
be the standard deviation estimated from sets of duplicate measurements
made under conditions of repeatability, that is, independent test
results obtained with the same method on identical test material, in the
same laboratory or test facility, by the same operator using the same
equipment in short intervals of time. (2) Degree of refinement in
measurement or specification, especially as represented by the number of
digits given.

Association: testing, statistics

Source: IEEE 1583

**Pre-Standard**: Document that is adopted provisionally by a
standardizing body and made available to the public in order that the
necessary experience may be gained from its application on which to base
a standard.

Association: standardization

Source: ISO Guide 2-4

**Primary Election**: Election held to determine which candidate will
represent a political party in the general election. Some states have an
open primary, while others have a closed primary. Sometimes elections
for nonpartisan offices and ballot issues are held during primary
elections.

Association: voting

Source: VSS

**Primary Presidential Delegation Nominations:** Primary election in
which voters choose the delegates to the Presidential nominating
conventions allotted to their states by the national party committees.

Association: voting

Source: VSS

**Privacy:** Voting system is said to provide privacy when it makes it
impossible for others to find out how the voter voted.

Association: security, voting

Source: no attribution

**Private Key**: The secret part of an asymmetric key pair that is
typically used to digitally sign or decrypt data.

Association: security

Source: NIST SP 800-63

**Profile**: (1) Subset of a standard for a particular constituency that
identifies the features, options, parameters, and implementation
requirements necessary for meeting a particular set of requirements. (2)
Specialization of a standard for a particular context, with constraints
and extensions that are specific to that context.

Association: standardization

Source: (1) ISO 8632, (2) no attribution

**Provisional Ballot:** Ballot provided to individuals who claim they
are eligible to vote but whose eligibility cannot be confirmed when they
present themselves to vote. Once voted, such ballots are not included in
the tabulation until after the voter's eligibility is confirmed. See
also challenged ballot.

Association: voting

Source: VSS, IEEE 1583, NASS

**Public Information Package (PIP):** Data to be published openly and
made available to all without let or hindrance, irrespective of
need-to-know.

Association: testing

Source: no attribution

**Public Key**: Public part of an asymmetric key pair that is typically
used to verify signatures or encrypt data.

Association: security

Source: NIST SP 800-63

**Public Key Certificate:** Digital document issued and digitally signed
by the private key of a Certification Authority that binds the name of a
subscriber to a public key. The certificate indicates that the
subscriber identified in the certificate has sole control and access to
the private key.

Association: security

Source: NIST SP 800-63

**Public Network Direct Record Electronic (DRE) Voting System:** Form of
DRE voting system that uses electronic ballots and transmits vote data
from the polling place to another location (such as a central count
facility) over a public network beyond the control of the election
authority.

Association: voting

Source: VSS

**Punchcard Voting System:** Voting system where votes are recorded by
means of punches made in voting response fields designated on one or
both faces of a ballot card or series of cards.

Association: voting

Source: VSS, IEEE 1583

**Q**

**Qualification Number:** Deprecated. A number issued by NASED (National
Association of State Election Directors) to a system that has been
tested by certified Independent Test Authorities for compliance with the
qualification test standards. Issuance of a Qualification Number
indicates that the system qualifies for certification process of states
that have adopted the Standards. Note: Qualification Numbers for Voting
Systems that were qualified for compliance to the 1990 Voting System
Standards are still valid. Voting Systems that were qualified for
compliance to the Voting System Standards 2002 will need to be assigned
an EAC Certification number.

Association: testing, voting

Source: VSS

**Qualification Test Report:** Deprecated, replaced by Test Report for
EAC Certification*.*

Association: testing, voting

Source: VSS, NIST HB150

**Qualification Testing:** Examination and testing of a computerized
voting system by using qualification test standards to determine if the
system complies with the qualification performance and test standards
and with its own specifications. This process occurs prior to state
certification.

Association: testing, voting

Source: VSS

**Quality Assurance Plan:** Document that identifies the system and
actions required to provide adequate assurance that an item or product
conforms to the documented technical requirements.

Association: testing

Source: IEEE 1583

**Quality Control:** Operational techniques and activities that are used
to fulfill requirements for quality.

Association**:** testing

Source: NIST HB 150

**Quality Manual**: Document stating the quality policy and describing
the quality system of an organization.

Association: testing, software engineering

Source: NIST HB 150

**R**

**Race:** Contest between candidates.

Association: voting

Source: no attribution

**Ranked Order Voting:** Practice that allows voters to rank candidates
in a contest in order of choice: 1, 2, 3 and so on. It takes a majority
to win. If anyone receives a majority of the first choice votes, that
candidate wins that election. If not, the last place candidate is
deleted, and all ballots are counted again, but this time each ballot
cast for the deleted candidate counts for the next choice candidate
listed on the ballot. The process of eliminating the last place
candidate and recounting the ballots continues until one candidate
receives a majority of the vote. The practice is also known as instant
runoff voting, preferences or preferential voting, or choice voting.

Association: voting

Source: VSS, IEEE 1583

**Read Ballot:** Ballot that has been processed but may or may not be
counted.

Association: voting

Source: no attribution

**Recall Issue with Options:** Process that allows voters to remove
their elected representatives from office prior to the expiration of
their terms of office. Often, the recall involves not only the question
of whether a particular officer should be removed from office, but also
the question of naming a successor in the event that there is an
affirmative vote for the recall.

Association: voting

Source: VSS

**Recertification:** State examination, and possibly the retesting of a
voting system that was modified subsequent to receiving state
certification. The object of this process is to determine if the
modification still permits the system to function properly in accordance
with state requirements.

Association: voting

Source: VSS, IEEE

**Record:** (n) Data that are preserved by a voting system, not
necessarily in any particular form. (v) To preserve such data.

Association: voting

Source: no attribution

**Records**: Recordings of evidence of activities performed or results
achieved (e.g., forms, reports, test results), which serve as a basis
for verifying that the organization and the information system are
performing as intended. Also used to refer to units of related data
fields (i.e., groups of data fields that can be accessed by a program
and that contain the complete set of information on particular items).

Association: security

Source: NIST SP 800-53

**Recount:** Process conducted for verifying the votes counted in an
election.

Association: voting

Source: no attribution

**Referendum:** Contest between two (or more) choices in response to a
question (e.g., bond issue, recall, retention of a judge in office,
proposed amendment).

Association: voting

Source: NIST HF Rpt.

::: definition
Repeatability: Ability to obtain independent test results by using the
same testing method on identical test items in the same testing
laboratory by the same operator using the same equipment within short
intervals of time.
:::

::: definition
Association: testing, conformity assessment
:::

::: definition
Source: ISO 5725
:::

::: definition
Report: (n) Printed record, formatted for human readability, that is
produced by a voting system. (v) to produce such a record.
:::

::: definition
Association: voting
:::

::: definition
Source: no attribution
:::

::: definition
Reproducibility: Ability to obtain test results with the same test
method on identical test items in different testing laboratories with
different operators using different equipment.
:::

::: definition
Association: testing, conformity assessment
:::

::: definition
Source: ISO 5725
:::

**Requirement:** Provision that conveys criteria to be fulfilled. See
also compliance point

Association: testing, standardization

Source: NIST HB 150

**Residual Vote**: Total number of votes that cannot be counted for a
specific contest. There may be multiple reasons for residual votes
(e.g., declining to vote for the contest, overvoting in a contest,
failure to cast ballot before leaving polling place).

Association: voting, human factors

Source: NIST HF Rpt.

**Risk Assessment**: Process of identifying the risks to system security
and determining the probability of occurrence, the resulting impact, and
additional safeguards that would mitigate this impact.

Association: security

Source: NIST SP 800-30

**Rolloff:** Difference between number of votes cast for contests in the
higher offices on the ballot and the number cast for contests that are
lower on the ballot. It sometimes referred to as voter fatigue.

Association: voting, human factors

Source: NIST HF Rpt.

**Runoff Election:** Election to select a winner following a primary, or
sometimes a general election, in which no candidate in the contest
received the required minimum percentage of the votes cast. The two
candidates receiving the most votes for the race in question proceed to
the runoff election.

Association: voting

Source: VSS, IEEE 1583

**S**

**Second Chance Voting:** Provides that voters are notified when their
ballots contain errors and are given a chance to correct them. Required
by HAVA 2002.

Association: voting

Source: NASS

**Secret Key**: Cryptographic key that is used with a symmetric
cryptographic algorithm that is uniquely associated with one or more
entities and is not be made public. The use of the term "secret" in this
context does not imply a classification level, but rather implies the
need to protect the key from disclosure.

Association: security

Source: NIST SP 800-57

**Section 508:** Amendment by Congress in 1998, to the Rehabilitation
Act to require federal agencies to make their electronic and information
technology accessible to people with disabilities. Section 508 was
enacted to eliminate barriers in information technology.

Association: HF: accessibility

Source: no attribution

**Security Controls:** Management, operational, and technical controls
(i.e., safeguards or countermeasures) prescribed for an information
system to protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of
the system and its information.

Association: security

Source: FIPS 199, NIST SP 800-53

**Specification, Technical:** Document that prescribes technical
requirements to be fulfilled by a product, process or service.

Association: standardization

Source: ISO Guide 2-4

**Split Precinct:** Precinct containing more than one ballot format in
order to accommodate a contiguous geographic area served by the precinct
that contains more than one election district.

Association: voting

Source: VSS, IEEE 1583

**Spoiled Ballot:** Ballot that has been voted but will not be cast.

Association: voting

Source: no attribution

**Standard:** Document established by consensus and approved by a
recognized body that provides, for common and repeated use, rules,
guidelines or characteristics for activities or their results, aimed at
the achievement of the optimum degree of order in a given context.

Association: standardization

Source: ISO Guide 2-4

**Standard, Product**: Standard that specifies requirements to be
fulfilled by a product or a group of products, to establish its fitness
for purpose. A product standard may include, in addition to the fitness
for purpose requirements, directly or by reference, aspects such as
terminology, sampling, testing, packaging, and labeling and sometimes
processing requirements.

Association: standardization

Source: ISO Guide 2-6

**Standard, Testing:** Standard that is concerned with test methods,
sometimes supplemented with other provision related to testing, such as
sampling, use of statistical methods, or sequence of test.

Association: standardization

Source: ISO Guide 2-6

**Standard on Data to Be Provided**: Standard that contains a list of
characteristics for which values or other data are to be stated for
specifying the product, process, or service.

Association: standardization

Source: ISO Guide 2-4

::: definition
Straight Party Voting: Mechanism by which voters are permitted to cast a
vote indicating the selection of all candidates on the ballot for a
single political party.
:::

Association: voting

Source: VSS, IEEE 1583

**State Certification:** State examination and possibly testing of a
voting system to determine its compliance with state laws, regulations,
and rules and any other state requirements for vote systems.

Association: testing, conformity assessment, voting

Source: VSS

**Support Software:** Software that aids in the development or
maintenance of other software, for example, compilers, loaders and other
utilities.

Association: IT

Source: VSS, IEEE 1583

**Symmetric (Secret) Encryption Algorithm**: Encryption algorithms using
the same secret key for encryption and decryption.

Association: security

Source: NIST SP 800-49

**T**

::: definition
Tabulation: See Count*.*
:::

Association: voting

Source: VSS, IEEE 1583

**Tabulator:** Device that counts votes.

Association: voting

Source: no attribution

**Technical Data Package:** Vendor documentation relating to the voting
system that shall be submitted with the system as a precondition of
qualification testing.

Association: testing, voting

Source: VSS

**Telecommunications:** Transmission, between or among points specified
by the user, of information of the user\'s choosing, without change in
the form or content of the information as sent and received.

Association: IT

Source: IEEE 1583

::: definition
Test: Technical operation that consists of the determination of one or
more characteristics of a given product, process or service according to
a specified procedure.
:::

::: definition
Association: testing
:::

::: definition
Source: ISO Guide 2-4, NIST HB 150
:::

::: definition
Test Campaign: Sum of the work by a VSTL on a single product or system
from contract through test plan, conduct of testing for each requirement
(including hardware, software, and systems), reporting, archiving, and
responding to issues afterwards.
:::

::: definition
Association: testing, voting
:::

::: definition
Source: NIST HB 150-22
:::

::: definition
Test Case Specification: Document identifying the specific inputs and
expected result for each test identified in the test plan.
:::

Association: testing

Source: IEEE 1583

**Test Design Specification:** Expanded detail of the test approach
identified in the test plan for the related tests.

Association: testing

Source: IEEE 1583

**Test Method**: Specified technical procedure for performing a test.

Association: testing, conformity assessment

Source: ISO Guide 2

::: definition
Test Plan: Document created prior to testing that outlines the scope and
nature of testing, items to be tested, test approach, resources needed
to perform testing, test tasks, risks and schedule.
:::

Association: testing, conformity assessment

Source: IEEE 1583

**Testing:** Determination of one or more characteristics of an object
of conformity assessment, according to a procedure. Testing typically
applies to materials, products, or processes.

Association: testing, conformity assessment

Source: ISO 17000

**Testing Authority**: Organization that performs qualification testing
and produces qualification test reports. See also Voting System Testing
Laboratory*.*

Association: testing, conformity assessment

Source: no attribution

**Test Report for EAC Certification:** Report of results of independent
testing of a voting system indicating the data testing was completed,
the specific system version tested, and the scope of tests conducted.

Association: testing, voting

Source: VSS, NIST HB 150

::: definition
Touch Screen Voting Machine: Machine that utilizes a computer screen
whereby a voter executes that voter's choices by touching designated
locations on the screen and that then tabulates those choices.
:::

::: definition
Association: voting
:::

::: definition
Source: ME Statutes
:::

::: definition
Traceability: Ability to relate a property of the result of a
measurement or the value of a standard to stated references.
:::

::: definition
Association: testing
:::

::: definition
Source: VIM
:::

**Type font**: Type of a given size and style, e.g., 10-point Bodoni
Modern.

Association: human factors

Source: ANSI

**U**

**Uncertainty:** Parameter, associated with the result of a measurement
that characterizes the dispersion of the values that could reasonably be
attributed to that which is being measured.

Association: testing

Source: VIM, NIST HB 150

**Undervote:** (1) Occurs when the number of alternatives selected by a
voter in a contest is less than the maximum number allowed for that
contest. (2) Practice of voting for less than the total number of
election contests listed on the ballot, or of voting for less than the
number of positions to be filled for a single office (i.e., A person
would undervote if a contest required the selection of three out of a
given number of candidates, and the voter chose only two candidates).
Also known as undervoting.

Association: voting

Source: (1) NIST HF Rpt. (2) VSS, IEEE 1583, NASS

**Usability:** Effectiveness, efficiency and satisfaction with which a
specified set of users can achieve a specified set of tasks in a
particular environment. Usability in the context of voting system
standards refers to voters being able to cast valid votes as they
intended quickly, without errors and with confidence that their ballot
choices as marked were recorded correctly. It also refers to the
usability of the setup of voting equipment for the election and the
running of the election by poll workers and election administrators.

Association: Human factors, HF: usability

Source: ISO 9241, NIST HF Rpt

**Usability Testing:** Encompasses a range of methods that examine how
users in the target audience actually interact with a system, in
contrast to analytic techniques such as usability inspection.

Association: human factors, HF: usability

Source: Usability First Usability Glossary

**User Documentation:** See Voting Equipment User Documentation.

Association: vote, test

Source: IEEE 1583

**V**

**Valid Vote:** Vote from a ballot or ballot image that conforms to
jurisdiction dependent criteria for accepting or rejecting entire
ballots, such as stray marks policies and voter eligibility criteria, in
a contest that was not overvoted.

Association: voting

Source: no attribution

**Validation:** Process of evaluating a system or component during or at
the end of the development process to determine whether it satisfies
specified requirements.

Association: testing

Source: VSS

**Verification:** Process of evaluating a system or component to
determine whether the products of a given development phase satisfy the
conditions (such as specifications) imposed at the start of the phase.

Association: testing

Source: VSS

::: definition
Verification and Validation (V&V): Process of determining whether
requirements for a system or component are complete and correct, the
products of each development phase fulfill the requirements or
conditions imposed by the previous phase, and the final system or
component complies with specified requirements.
:::

Association: testing

Source: IEEE 1583

::: definition
Video Ballot: Electronic voter interface which presents ballot
information and voting instructions as video images. See also ballot.
:::

::: definition
Association: voting, human factors, HF: accessibility
:::

::: definition
Source: FL Statutes
:::

::: definition
Vote for N of M: Ballot choice in which voters are allowed to vote for a
limited number of candidates for a single office from a larger field of
candidates.
:::

Association: voting

Source: VSS, IEEE 1583

**Voted Ballot:** Ballot that a voter has finished filling in, but has
not yet cast or spoiled.

Association: voting

Source: no attribution

**Voter Registration System**: Set of processing functions and data
storage that maintains records of eligible voters. This system generally
is not considered a part of a Voting System subject to the 2002 Voting
System Standards.

Association: voting

Source: VSS

::: definition
Voter Verified Audit Record: (1) Human-readable printed record of all of
a voter's selections presented to the voter before the vote is cast. (2)
Printed version of the ballot that voters may view and check for
accuracy before their votes are cast. See also Voter Verified Record or
Voter Verified Paper Trail.
:::

Association: voting

Source: (1) IEEE 1583, (2) NASS

**Voter-Verified Paper Trail (VVPT**): See Voter Verified Audit
Record*.*

**Voting Environment:** Aspects of the voting milieu outside of the
voting system that are encountered by voters, e.g., ramps, lighting,
noise, temperature, electro-magnetic interference. See also voting
equipment operational environment.

Association: human factors, voting

Source: no attribution

::: definition
Voting Equipment: Any mechanical, electromechanical, or electronic
components of a voting system. See also Electronic Voting Equipment*.*
:::

::: definition
Association: voting
:::

::: definition
Source: no attribution
:::

::: definition
Voting Equipment Operational Environment: All software, hardware
(including facilities, furnishings and fixtures), materials,
documentation, and the interface used by the election personnel,
maintenance operator, poll worker, and voter, required for voting
equipment operations. See also voting environment.
:::

Association: voting

Source: IEEE 1583

::: definition
Voting Equipment Operations Procedures**:** Ordered steps that election
personnel, poll workers or voters follows to perform the tasks for each
operational environment.
:::

Association: voting

Source: IEEE 1583

::: definition
Voting Equipment User Documentation: Electronic or printed material that
provides information for the election officials or voters.
:::

Association: voting

Source: IEEE 1583

::: definition
Voting Machine: Mechanical or electronic equipment for the direct
recording and tabulation of votes. See also voting system.
:::

::: definition
Association: voting
:::

::: definition
Source: OH Statutes
:::

::: definition
Voting Officials: Term used to designate the group of people associated
with elections, including election personnel, poll workers, ballot
designers and those responsible for the installation, operation and
maintenance of the voting systems.
:::

::: definition
Association: voting
:::

::: definition
Source: no attribution
:::

::: definition
Voting Position: Specific response fields on a ballot where the voter
indicates the selection of a candidate or ballot proposition.
:::

Association: voting

Source: VSS, IEEE 1583

::: definition
Voting Process: Entire array of procedures, people, resources, equipment
and locales by which elections are conducted
:::

::: definition
Association: voting
:::

::: definition
Source: no attribution
:::

::: definition
Voting Station: Location within the polling place where voters may
record their votes. A voting station includes the voting booth or
enclosure and the vote-recording device.
:::

Association: voting

Source: VSS, IEEE 1583

**Voting System:** Combination of mechanical, electromechanical, or
electronic equipment and any corresponding documentation. It includes
the software required to program, control, and support the equipment
that is used to define ballots; to cast and count votes; to report
and/or display election results; and to maintain and produce all audit
trail information. A voting system may also include the transmission of
results over telecommunication networks. It additionally includes the
associated documentation used to operate the system, maintain the
system, identify system components and their versions, test the system
during its development and maintenance, maintain records of system
errors and defects, and determine specific changes made after system
qualification. See also electronic voting system, voting equipment,
voting machines.

Association: voting

Source: VSS

**Voting System Testing:** Examination and testing of a computerized
voting system by using test methods to determine if the system complies
with the requirements in the Voluntary Voting System Guidelines and with
its own specifications. This process occurs prior to EAC certification
and subsequent State certification. .

Association: testing, voting

Source: VSS

**Voting System Testing Laboratory (VSTL)**: Testing laboratory
accredited by the National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program
for testing of voting systems. The Director of NIST submits a list of
independent, non-Federal VSTLs to the EAC for accreditation.

Association: testing

Source: NIST HB 150-22

**VVPAT-Ballot Box:** Ballot box containing the paper record.

::: definition
Association: security, voting
:::

::: definition
Source: no attribution
:::

**VVPAT-Display:** Transparent covering over the paper record printed by
the DRE-VVPAT. It permits a voter to inspect the paper record but
prevents the voter from physically handling the paper record.

::: definition
Association: security, voting
:::

Source**:** no attribution

**VVPAT-Printer:** Printing capability of the voting system, including
the printer and any associated device involved in printing the paper
records and transferring them to ballot boxes.

::: definition
Association: security, voting
:::

Source**:** no attribution

**W**

**Write-in Voting:** Means to cast a vote for an individual not listed
on the ballot. Voters may do this by using a marking device to
physically write their choice on the ballot or they may use a keypad,
touch screen or other electronic means to indicate their choice.

Association: voting

Source: VSS, IEEE 1583

**Workspace**: See voting station.

Association: voting

Source: VSS

## A.2 Sources

Definitions in this Glossary are either extracted from or based on the
following sources:

44 U.S.C. United States Code, Title 44, Chapter 35, Information
Security, Section 3542, Definitions.

ACM SIGCHI ACM\'s Special Interest Group on Computer-Human Interaction,
<http://www.acm.org/sigchi/> (February 2005).

ADA Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

ANSI American National Dictionary for Information Processing Systems,
American National Standards Committee X3, Information Processing
Systems, 1982.

ANSI 354 American National Standards Institute, InterNational Committee
for Information Technology Standards, Common Industry Format for
Usability Test Reports, ANSI/INCITS 354-2001

CA Statutes California's Senate Bill No 1438.

electionline <http://electionline.org/>, (March 2005).

FIPS 140-2 Federal Information Processing Standard 140-2, Security
Requirements for Cryptographic Modules, May 2001.

FIPS 199 Federal Information Processing Standard 199, Standards for
Security Categorization of Federal Information and Information Systems,
December 2003.

FIPS 201 Federal Information Processing Standard 201, Personal Identity
Verification for Federal Employees and Contractors, February 2005.

FL Statutes Florida Statutes: Section 97.021(3) and Section
101.56062(1)(n) Standards for accessible voting.

HAVA Help America Vote Act of 2002 - Public Law 107-252.

IEA International Ergonomics Association, <http://www.iea.cc/>,
(February 2005).

IEEE 1583 IEEE P1583/D5.3.2 Draft Standard for the Evaluation of Voting
Equipment, December 6, 2004.

IL Statutes Illinois Public Act 093-0574.

ISO 5725 ISO/IEC 5725:1994 Accuracy (trueness and precision) of
measurement methods and results.

ISO 9241 ISO/IEC 9241:1997 Ergonomic requirements for office work with
visual display terminals (VDT).

ISO 17000 ISO/IEC 17000:2004 Conformity assessment \-- Vocabulary and
general principles.

ISO Guide 2-4 ISO/IEC Guide 2:2004 Standardization and related
activities - General vocabulary.

ISO Guide 2-6 ISO/IEC Guide 2:1996 Standardization and related
activities - General vocabulary.

ME Statutes Maine LD 1759 Enacted 4/22/2004.

NASS National Association of Secretaries of State Election Reform Key
Terms,
[http://www.nass.org/Election%20Reform%20Key%20Terms.pdf](http://www.nass.org/Election Reform Key Terms.pdf)
(February 2005).

NIST HB 143 NIST Handbook 143 State Weights and Measures Laboratories
Program Handbook.

NIST HB 150 NIST Handbook 150:2001 NVLAP Procedures and General
Requirements.

NIST HF Rpt. NIST Special Publication 500-256 Improving the Usability
and Accessibility of Voting Systems and Products, May 2004.

NIST SP 800-30 NIST Special Publication 800-30 Risk Management Guide for
Information Technology Systems, July 2002.

NIST SP 800-49 NIST Special Publication 800-49 Federal S/MIME V3 Client
Profile, November 2002.

NIST SP 800-53 NIST Special Publication 800-53 Recommended Security
Controls for Federal Information Systems, Appendix B, Glossary.

NIST SP 800-59 NIST Special Publication 800-59 Guideline for Identifying
an Information System as a National Security System, August 2003.

NIST SP 800-63 NIST Special Publication 800-63 Electronic Authentication
Guideline: Recommendations of the National Institute of Standards and
Technology, June 2004.

OH Statutes Ohio HB-262 enacted 5/7/2004.

OMB A130 OMB Circular A-130, Appendix III.

Section 508 The Rehabilitation Act Amendments, Section 508.

Usability Usability First Usability Glossary,

Glossary <http://www.usabilityfirst.com/glossary/main.cgi>, (February
2005).

VIM The ISO International Vocabulary of Basic and General Terms in
Metrology (VIM), 1994.

VSS Voting Systems Standards of 2002 (Federal Election Commission),
Volumes I and II.

Whatis.com Whatis.com, IT Encyclopedia,
[http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/0,,sid9_gci491925,00.html
(February](http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/0,,sid9_gci491925,00.html (February)
2005).

WordNet WordNet ®2.0, © 2003 Princeton University.

## A.3 List of Associations

Conformity Assessment

Human Factors (HF)

HF: accessibility

HF: usability

IT - Information Technology

Security

Software Engineering

Standardization

Testing

Typography

Voting

## A.4 List of Deprecated Terms

The following terms are being phased out and replaced by newer terms.
Note that there is a transition period where both terms are in use at
the same time.

**Deprecated Term** **Replaced by**

Certification Testing State Certification

Electronic Cast Vote Record Cast Vote Record

Qualification Number no replacement at this time

Qualification Test Report Test Report for EAC Certification

Qualification Testing Voting System Testing