Thursday, November 06, 2008

ES&S Model 100 Precinct Ballot Counter UPDATED

Look familiar:
Features of the Model 100 include:

* Ensuring Ballot Integrity — because the Model 100 alerts voters to over-voted races and under-voted ballots, it greatly enhances the ability to capture voter intent.
* Security and Reliability — a rugged stainless steel chassis, independent ballot containers, and other unique features make the Model 100 one of the most secure and reliable in the industry.
* State-of-the-Art Flexibility — driven by an Intel processor, the Model 100 utilizes QNX. Operating software which provides real-time resource management, true multi-tasking capabilities, and unparalleled election accuracy.
* Fast Election Reporting — immediately upon poll closing, the Model 100's internal thermal printer legibly prints out vote totals, and enables election officials to transmit results to election central.
* Tested, Certified, Proven — the Model 100 has been fully tested by an independent testing authority, certified to meet or exceed the rigorous standards of the federal government, and proven through the use in thousands of actual elections worldwide.
I am researching failure rate and other issues with this scanner. I have heard they claim a 99% accuracy rate, which could mean as much as a 30,000 votes. How those errors are distributed could determine the outcome. If you see or read anything in your travels, drop a note in the comments.

Flash

UPDATE: Interesting article here, sent to a local E-Dem group:
Electronic voting machines that a Michigan election official said last week incorrectly tabulated vote counts during pre-election tests in the state were used in Minnesota where the senate race between Republican incumbent Norm Coleman and Democratic challenger Al Franken is in dispute.

According to an Oct. 24 letter sent to the federal Election Assistance Commission (EAC), Ruth Johnson, the Oakland County Clerk/Register of Deeds, warned that tabulating software in Election Systems & Software M-100 optical scan voting machines recorded “conflicting” vote counts during testing in her state.

Minnesota voters uses optical scan ballots that voters mark by hand. ES&S's M-100 optical scan voting was used in Minnesota counties and in more than a dozen other states on Election Day.

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