[kwlug-disc] Vote machines today

[Gordon Dey]

The 'Tabulator' machines are programmed to differentiate between spoiled 
and empty ballots (i.e. failed) as well, and produce those stats at the end.

The Tabulator and the ballot collection box that it is on are sealed, 
and the seals checked every morning and evening of the advanced poll 
plus the day of the election. The number of ballots issued at each 
polling station must equal the total the ballots reported counted 
(including empty), spoiled, and rejected. The tabulator operator, if 
skilful, will have no problem proving this all adds up.

The Tabulator itself is not connected to anything other than mains 
power. No radio or network, just a pair of sealed CF devices. The 
software is tested before and after the election. The daily and final 
total paper tape and unsealed count CF are stored. It's all reasonably 
tamper-evident and resistant to 'fudging'.

It really can make a multi hour counting job into a multi minute job, 
which is appreciated at the end of a long day.

[Disclosure: former trained Tabulator operator. Had no problems. Would 
do again.]
Gord.