[Archived] New Voting System for Alexandria

There are two main reasons for the City’s change to the eSlate voting system. First, the optical scan system has served the City of Alexandria for nearly nine years and needs increased maintenance. Additionally, the federal government passed the Help America Vote Act on October 29, 2002. The Act mandates the availability of voting systems that are accessible to persons with disabilities, including those who are blind, in each polling site by early 2006.

The City is spending $711,450 on the voting system. This price includes all voting equipment and software for in-person voting, and a new system for absentee voters. The purchase price is offset by an estimated $75,000 in federal assistance. Hart InterCivic, the manufacturer of the system, will assist with implementation, long-term support, maintenance services, assistance with voter outreach and education, and comprehensive training for election staff and all poll workers.

The eSlate is about the size of a legal pad, about one inch thick, and weighs just 5.2 pounds. The voter uses a rotary wheel to move through the ballot and select his or her vote. A vote cannot be lost once the voter has pressed the "CAST BALLOT" button and sees the waving American flag. Votes are stored in three separate places, and all data is protected and cannot be lost in the unlikely event that the system fails. The system also has a battery back-up that immediately engages if an electrical failure should occur. The batteries are good for 18 hours of continuous use. If necessary, the new system can provide election officials with a paper Cast Vote Record that shows what votes were cast on each voting device. This Cast Vote Record provides a means of recounting votes and ensuring that results are accurate.

This system provides voters with much better confidence that their vote will be counted as they intended. First, the voting device provides each voter with a summary of all their votes, alerting them to any races they missed, and allowing them to make changes until they are satisfied. They have visual confirmation that they voted exactly as they intended. To ensure those votes are recorded correctly, the system programming is tested and validated before and after the election –– in the presence of witnesses –– to ensure that votes are counted and reported as they are cast, through a process known as logic and accuracy testing. There are many other security features –– both in process and in equipment and software –– built into the process. And while a paper printout could be added to the equipment, it is not necessary to ensure secure and accurate elections. Such a step also would introduce new privacy and security concerns and add unnecessary complications and costs to the process.

If you are involved in a civic group, organization or club where at least 30 Alexandrians will attend a meeting between now and Nov. 1, call the Voter Registration Office to schedule a brief system demonstration. Additionally, instructional VHS tapes are available for check-out from City libraries.
For more information, visit www.alexandriavoter.org or call the Voter Registration Office at 703.838.4050.
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