Opinion ID: 1364196
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 20

Heading: computer breakdown

Text: On election evening, the State of Alaska, Department of Administration computer was designated to process punch card ballots from the Juneau district. Shortly after processing began, problems developed with this computer. It was decided by the Data Processing Review Board that the Department of Labor computer, located in the same room, should be used instead. Processing was begun on the Labor Department computer, and eight precincts were tallied before this computer also developed problems. By that time, the problems with the Department of Administration computer had been corrected. The Data Processing Review Board decided to complete the Juneau tally on that computer. This was done and calculation of the totals was completed using the summary cards and reports from both of the computers. There is no indication that these calculations or the final totals were incorrect or inaccurate. Both appellees and appellants agree that election officials violated provisions of AS 15.20.690. That statute requires, inter alia, that when a computer malfunctions during processing, necessitating removal of ballots to an alternate computer, all of the ballots shall be counted at the alternate site, including those already counted at the main location. (AS 15.20.690(b).) In addition to that requirement, AS 15.20.690(c) directs that all computer tapes resulting from the aborted counting operation shall be erased and the summary cards destroyed. The superior court determined that these provisions are only technical requirements, violations of which should not cause disenfranchisement of such a large segment of the voting population. We hold that the facts depicted indicate no significant deviation from a prescribed norm and we therefore conclude that there is no malconduct as to this issue.