Public Invited to Observe Critical Process
September 21, 2016

Contact: Mark Church, Chief Elections Officer & Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder
Alternate: David Tom, Interim Elections Division Manager

(Redwood City, CA) Logic and Accuracy (“L & A”) testing of the eSlate voting system equipment will begin on Monday, September 26, 2016 at 8:30 a.m. for the November 8, 2016 Presidential General Election.  

“'L & A' is an essential measure that ensures all voting equipment used in the upcoming election functions properly and I encourage the public to observe this important testing process,” announced Mark Church, Chief Elections Officer & Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder.

The Registration and Elections Division manually tests the voting system’s vote counting software through sample ballot-casting exercises to verify if votes are correctly tabulated and recorded.  “L & A” will take approximately ten (10) days and will be conducted at the Registration & Elections Division at 40 Tower Road, San Mateo. 

Prior to every election, “L & A” is performed in two phases on the voting system’s counting software.

The first phase of “L & A” focuses on the electronic votes cast on the eSlate voting machines. The elections staff uses “test” versions of the English, Spanish and Chinese ballots that include all contests in the November 8, 2016 election. This phase is passed only when there is a perfect match between the test votes cast and the predetermined test results.

The second phase of “L & A” focuses on paper ballot voting. The English, Spanish and Chinese paper ballots used for testing are clearly identified as “test” ballots. The votes marked on the paper ballots are recorded by running the ballots through a digital scanner-tabulator. This scanner works in connection with the vote counting system called “Ballot Now.” “Ballot Now” accepts voting marks within the predetermined space on the ballot and records them. This phase is completed only when there is a perfect match between the test votes cast and the predetermined test results.

Additionally, every voting machine will undergo functional testing. Functional testing ensures the proper operation of every dial, button, connector and other hardware components of the voting machines. This testing process confirms that the voting machines are loaded with the correct system software and firmware, as certified by the Secretary of State.

Upon completion of the “L & A” and functional testing, 1,403 eSlate voting machines will be deployed to 206 polling places and 3 Voting Centers for the November 8, 2016 Presidential General Election.

For more information about the November 8, 2016 Presidential General Election, call the Registration & Elections Division at 650.312.5222 or visit www.shapethefuture.org.


The press release is displayed in its original format. San Mateo County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder & Elections website now resides at www.smcacre.org

Related Contacts

Mark Church

Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder and Chief Elections Officer
555 County Center
Redwood City, CA 94063-1665Get Directions
Phone:
650.363.4988

Jim Irizarry

Asst. Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder & Asst. Chief Elections Officer
555 County Center
Redwood City, CA 94063-1665Get Directions
Phone:
650.363.4988