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Quick

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G Logic & Accuracy Testing

Helping America Vote

About the Quick Start Guides: The EAC's Quick Start Guides are intended to familiarize local election officials with various topics

they will likely encounter in election administration. The guides are a starting point to identify areas of concern and give officials a

broad idea of factors they should consider in approaching a given topic.

What is Logic & Accuracy Testing?

Thorough logic & accuracy testing (L&A testing) ensures the election and voting equipment function as expected and accurately

count votes as marked. Documenting L&A testing is critical as this is the point where most voting equipment transitions into

"election mode." Testing cannot start until ballots are proofed and finalized but should be completed before voting begins. With this

tight timeframe, preparation is key. Remember to review and follow state laws and regulations in developing your testing

procedures.

Prepare

Develop a checklist for each type of equipment to be tested (central count and precinct

scanners, ballot marking devices (BMD), DREs, ballot activation devices, electronic

pollbooks, ballot-on-demand systems, etc.).

Assign equipment to Election Day polling places, early voting locations, and central

counting.

Choose a voting pattern with every choice voted at least once and include overvotes,

undervotes, and unmarked ballots.

Generate the test deck for hand-marked paper ballots. If you use a preprinted test

deck, make sure to include some hand-marked ballots with an assortment of marks

(checkmarks, dots, circles, etc.) and a variety of folds. For BMDs, print the test deck

during the testing procedure.

Determine staffing needs and secure the testing space.

Provide public notice of testing and invite media and candidate/political party

representatives to attend.

Testing Checklist

Check physical condition

Check time and date (including

daylight savings time)

Check batteries

Check and verify all steps

needed to load election data

Test

Conduct testing in pairs (bipartisan, if required).

Use a separate checklist for each piece of equipment to document its functionality and note any issues.

Include all equipment planned to be used and all backup equipment. 

For BMDs and DREs, test the encoder or other ballot activation device to ensure the device generates the

correct ballot for each precinct and split and vote the chosen pattern. 

Verify the functionality of audio ballots and all accessibility devices on each accessible DRE or BMD.

For precinct scanners, test all ballot styles in use in the given scanner's assigned location. Run all ballot

styles on central count scanners.

Review

Verify the results. Review the totals tapes from the precinct scanners and/or DREs, upload all results to the

voting system, and generate a precinct-level results report.

Investigate any discrepancies and document the cause. Sometimes a ballot in the test deck is accidentally

marked inconsistent with the expected pattern, but other times you may not be able to account for the error.

For unaccounted errors, identify the piece of equipment involved and consider replacing it for the election or

flag it for further investigation and possible maintenance.

Close the session in the voting system and ensure future sessions (e.g., election night tabulation) do not

include test results. Have the testing team apply security seals to the equipment and document seal numbers.

Clearly mark the test deck ballots with "Test Ballot" (if not already labeled) and seal and store them so they

are not mistaken for actual election ballots.

Document your testing results and share them with the public.

May 1, 2022 v. 1.0 EAC | Helping America Vote

eac.gov clearinghouse@eac.gov @EACgov @eacgov1 @us.eac