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## Voting

-  Research and Projects  Expand or Collapse    -  VVSG 
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# Post-Election Public Working Group

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READ-ONLY SITE MATERIALS: Historical voting TWiki site (2015-2020) ARCHIVED from https://collaborate.nist.gov/voting/bin/view/Voting

## Purpose

This working group is for the discussion and development of requirements-related information for voting systems, intended ultimately for inclusion in the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) Voluntary Voting System Guidelines (VVSG).The focus of this working group is on requirements addressing post-election activities, including tabulation, reporting, reconciliations, auditing, and certification.

## Objectives

                  - Document the high level steps and processes necessary to close out an election and conduct post election activities like canvassing and auditing.
                  - Identify the necessary functionality of election systems needed to administer post election activities and processes.
                  - Include or upload your step-by-step procedures used in various jurisdictions to accomplish each post-election process

## Deliverables

**List of Current Deliverables:**
                  - Complete first draft of election processes by December 7, 2015.
                  - Complete identification of necessary system functionality to serve the election processes by January 15, 2016
                  - Finalize election processes and functionality by February 10, 2016

## Process Under Consideration

### Post-Election Process Model

### Post-Election Process Information

*For Sussex County, NJ see "SCNJ Election Handbook" pages 28 through 34.*

***Election Official transfers data to local Election Official***
                  - USB Memory Device Runners return the USB memory sticks to the local election office (LEO) or a regional collection site (if applicable).
                  - The memory devices are transferred to the LEO staff
                  - The LEO staff verifies the count and serial numbers of the USB memory sticks against the media creation log to prepare for the tabulation of unofficial results

***Election Official tabulates Unofficial Results***
                  - On the Election Night reporting network, the Election Reporting Manager (ERM) operator initiates the ERM program and prints a Zero Report.
                  - The ERM operator initiates the EXP Utility. The EXP Utility will generate 2 types of result files – XML and CSV. On Election Day, the XML file will auto generate and be transferred to the state office at 5 minutes intervals once it has been initiated by the LEO. The CSV files will be manually exported and uploaded to the state at predetermined times.
                  - The LEO uploads early voting and election day results into ERM
                  - The state reviews the XML file to determine precinct reporting status
                  - Once early voting and election day results have been uploaded, the USB memory sticks are placed in a secured location (safe or locked restricted access area) until the 100% Verification begins

***Election Official reports Vote Totals to Election Results Consumers***
                  - After the polls close the poll worker will post a copy of the totals tape from the tabulator on the wall of the voting location
                  - As results are uploaded into ERM, the LEO will generate cumulative and by canvass results reports for distribution and online posting
                  - The XML files generated by EXP and transferred to the state are imported into a database at 7 minute intervals.
                  - Once in the database, the results are exported to the state's website
                  - The state's website has 3 methods of reporting results – a webpage that utilizes Javascript, webpages that are in HTML only and .JSON files for news organizations

***Election Official reports Official Election Results***
                  - The USB memory stick serial numbers are validated by the LEO against the Logic and Accuracy (L&A) forms that were completed when the sticks were initially created
                  - Prior to uploading results into the certified network, the LLEO prints a zero totals report
                  - The LEO uploads and archives the USB memory sticks from early voting and election day into ERM on the certified results network
                  - As the LEO uploads results into ERM, Electionware tracks the uploaded sticks, acquires the results, captures ballot images and electronic vote cast records
                  - After all Early Voting and Election day results have been uploaded, the LEO exports an XML file that contains results by group and by precinct and sends it to the state over a secure network
                  - The state compares the XML results file against the poll book log files to determine if there are any deviations between the results and the number of voters checked in on the poll book and reports the findings to the LEO. If deviations are greater than the threshold defined by regulations, the LEO must investigate and report back to the state.
                  - Prior to the Absentee and Provisional canvasses, the state generates a Multiple Status Report (MSR) which includes voters that have been issued more than one ballot in the election. The MSR is sent to the LEO to determine whether or not to reject an absentee or provisional ballot.
                  - The LEO uploads and archives the Absentee and Provisional results into ERM while Electionware tracks the uploaded sticks, acquires the results, and captures ballot images and electronic vote cast records.
                  - The LEO exports CSV result files for importing into the Agency Election Management System (AEMS).
                  - The AEMS generates the official results reports and canvass sheets that the LEO verifies for accuracy against the result reports generated from ERM.
                  - Once the LEO completes the verification of the official results report and canvass sheets, the local board of canvassers signs the canvass sheets.

***Election Official reports Official Election Results to Election Results Consumers***
                  - After the LEO completes the upload process for each canvass, the LEO will generate cumulative and by canvass results reports for distribution and online posting
                  - The LEO will generate an XML file and transfer that file to the state after the completion of each canvass
                  - The state will import the XML files into a database and the results are exported to the state's website
                  - The state's website has 4 methods of reporting official results – a webpage that utilizes Javascript, webpages that are in HTML only, .JSON files for news organizations and CSV data files that include results by district and precinct.
                  - Each LEO retains an original signed copy of the canvass sheets and sends original signed copies to the:
                  -                      - County Clerk of Courts
                    - The State Election Official
                    - Governor
                  - Official Results are also posted on the Maryland Manual On-Line website managed by Maryland State Archives

***Election Official corrects Election Operation Errors***
                  - The state distributes to the LEO a ballot reconciliation report that compares ballot cast against voters that were checked into the poll book. If the number of voters who checked in on the poll book is lower than the number of ballots cast, the LEO must determine if all poll book log files have been sent to the state. If the number of voters who checked in on the poll book is higher than the number of ballots, the LEO must determine if all USB memory sticks from the tabulators have been uploaded into ERM. If the LEO determines that all log files have been collected and all results have been uploaded and the deviation persists, the LEO must investigate and report its findings to the state. This must take place prior to the certification of results.
                  - LEOs use the following steps to reconcile the unofficial Early Voting and Election Day results with the 100% Verification Results:	                     - Print and Compare Reports. Compare the Election Summary Report printed from the LEO Election Results network during Early Voting and on Election Day with the Election Summary Report printed from the certified network
                    - If there is a discrepancy between the reports determine the reason for any vote discrepancy between the Election Day Results and the 100% Verification Results.
                    - If the discrepancy is the result of failing to upload all USB memory sticks on Election Day, the LEO will note the missing USB memory stick(s) on Election Day, and confirm that the difference in vote totals equals the number of votes on the USB memory sticks not uploaded on Election Day.
                    - If the discrepancy persists despite all USB memory sticks being accounted for, LEO will verify that the number of voters checked in to vote and/or the number of Voter Authority Cards matches the total number of voters that voted on the tabulating units.
                    - If discrepancies persist, LEO will contact the state.

***Election Official archives Election Information***
                  - Each LEO performs various backups throughout the election:	                     - Copy of database upon completion of the proofing process
                    - Copy of database with uploaded L&A results
                    - Copy of database with results of transmission testing (if applicable)
                    - Copy of database with Public Test results
                    - Copy of the database after Early Voting results upload
                    - Copy of database from Election Day results upload
                    - Copy of database from 100% Verification
                    - Copy of database from Absentee 1 Canvass (one for regular and if applicable one for challenged ballots)
                    - Copy of database from Provisional Canvass
                    - Copy of database from Absentee 2 Canvass (one for regular and if applicable one for challenged ballots)
                    - Final Official Election Database
                    - Recount Database (if applicable)
                  - Reports generated at each of the following steps must be archived:	                     - Transmission configuration and testing
                    - Pre-Election L&A testing
                    - Election Day (Zero Election Summary report)
                    - 100% Verification
                    - Absentee 1 Canvass (one for regular and if applicable one for challenged ballots)
                    - Provisional Canvass
                    - Absentee 2 Canvasses (one for regular and if applicable one for challenged ballots)
                    - Write-in candidate tabulations (general election only)
                    - Recount (if applicable)
                  - Paper ballots, ExpressVote activation cards, voter authority cards signed by the voter and any other documents signed by the voter during the election must be retained for 22 months.

***Election Official archives Election Equipment***

***Election Official audits Election Information***

***Election Official audits Election Equipment***

***Election Participants accept Official Election Result**s*****

***End Election***

*See also* Full Process Information

## Logistics

**Meeting Information:**

The NIST Voting System Post-Election Requirements Working Group will meet by telecon; date and time and connection details to be announced.

### Next Meeting

**New Save the Date!** Learn more about this public working group and how to use this TWiki page.

November 18, 2015

3:30 p.m. eastern time

### Meeting Archive

*Place archived meeting information here.*

## Officers

### Chair

**Name: Linda Lamone**

**Email: Linda.Lamone [at] Maryland.gov (Linda[dot]Lamone[at]Maryland[dot]gov)**

**Affiliation: EAC TGDC Member (Board of Advisors Representative)**

### Vice-Chair

**Name: Helen Purcell**

**Email: HPurcell [at] risc.maricopa.gov (HPurcell[at]risc[dot]maricopa[dot]gov)**

**Affiliation: EAC TGDC Member (Board of Advisors Representative)**

### Agency Lead

**Name: Ryan Macias**

**Email: rmacias [at] eac.gov (mailto:rmacias[at]eac[dot]gov)**

**Affiliation: Election Assistance Commission**

## Members

*Enter group member information here.*

**Membership Information:**

Participation in this Working Group is open to all interested parties. There are no membership fees.
                  - List of mailing list members (TBD)

## Latest Working Documents

*Enter information about latest working documents here.*

## Resources

*Enter information about important resources here such as meeting rooms, teleconferencing numbers, access codes, URLs, etc.*

### Websites

*Enter important links and websites here.*

### Email List

**Email List Name:***vvsg-post-election*

*To join the list or find more information about list policies and related procedures, please visit the VVSG Working Group Lists page.*

### Relevant Documents

*Reference relevant documents here.*

**Charter:**

**Definition:**

**Policies and Procedures:**

**Reference Architecture:**

**Work To-Date:**

**Technology Roadmap:**

**Vocabulary:**

**Publications:**

----

### **Voting TWiki Archive (2015-2020): read-only, archived wiki site, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)**

----

**ARCHIVE SITE DESCRIPTION AND DISCLAIMER**

This page, and related pages, represent archived materials (pages, documents, links, and content) that were produced and/or provided by members of public working groups engaged in collaborative activities to support the development of the Voluntary Voting System Guidelines (VVSG) 2.0. These TWiki activities began in 2015 and continued until early 2020. During that time period, this content was hosted on a Voting TWiki site. That TWiki site was decommissioned in 2020 due to technology migration needs. The TWiki activities that generated this content ceased to operate actively through the TWiki at the time the draft VVSG 2.0 was released, in February of 2020. The historical pages and documents produced there have been archived now in read-only, static form.
                    - The archived materials of this TWiki (including pages, documents, links, content) are provided for historical purposes only.
                    - They are not actively maintained.
                    - They are provided "as is" as a public service.
                    - They represent the "work in progress" efforts of a community of volunteer members of public working groups collaborating from late 2015 to February of 2020.
                    - These archived materials do not necessarily represent official or peer-reviewed NIST documents nor do they necessarily represent official views or statements of NIST.
                    - Unless otherwise stated these materials should be treated as historical, pre-decisional, artifacts of public working group activities only.
                    - NIST MAKES NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, THE IMPLIED WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT AND DATA ACCURACY.
                    - NIST does not warrant or make any representations regarding the correctness, accuracy, reliability or usefulness of the archived materials.

----

**ARCHIVED VOTING TWIKI SITE MATERIALS**

This wiki was a collaborative website. NIST does not necessarily endorse the views expressed, or concur with the facts presented on these archived TWiki materials. Further, NIST does not endorse any commercial products that may be mentioned in these materials. Archived material on this TWiki site is made available to interested parties for informational and research purposes. Materials were contributed by Participants with the understanding that all contributed material would be publicly available.  Contributions were made by Participants with the understanding that that no copyright or patent right shall be deemed to have been waived by such contribution or disclosure. Any data or information provided is for illustrative purposes only, and does not imply a validation of results by NIST. By selecting external links, users of these materials will be leaving NIST webspace. Links to other websites were provided because they may have information that would be of interest to readers of this TWiki. No inferences should be drawn on account of other sites being referenced, or not referenced, from this page or these materials. There may be other websites or references that are more appropriate for a particular reader's purpose.

Voting systems

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