Kurt S. BrowningSecretary of State

Dr. Gisela SalasDirector, Division of Elections

Presented by: David Drury, Bureau ChiefBureau of Voting Systems Certification, Division of Elections

Telephone: 850-245-6536June 23, 2011 (Updated post-conference)

Florida Department of State

RECONCILIATION

• Audit – ascertains the validity, reliability and assessment of a system’s accounting control.

• Reconciliation – compares and matches information to uncover any possible discrepancies.• Key is to provide consistent data:

• Voter history• Election results

Reconciliation

• Mixed Messages – Data doesn’t always match

• Concern with Inconsistent Data in:• Web page results• Certified results• Over and undervote report (No valid vote)

Reconciliation

Reconciliation:Verifying Ballot CountDOE recommends one or more methods for verifying election results and ballot count:• Physical Ballots

Look at number of physical ballots – ballot count or ballot set count (multiple page ballots)

Bottom line: How many voters cast a ballot?

How many ballots do I have?

• Independent Resources–Use logs to find:# of absentee ballots returned# of absentee ballots not accepted# of provisional ballots submitted# of provisional ballots accepted

Ascertain if voter history matches voters who voted (tabulator’s public count)

Be cognizant of issues with multi-page ballotsUse best practices to mitigate discrepancies.

Reconciliation:Verifying Ballot Count

• Acquire “independent” information to facilitate the reconciliation process – “logs” or information will identify potential or misplaced ballots or potential error” – reconcile or correct the difference

Reconciliation:Verifying Ballot Count

• Use this log information to compile the ballot count: 1. Verify total absentee ballots returned

based on the count of acceptable and unacceptable absentee ballots

2. Verify total overseas absentee ballots returned based on the count of acceptable and unacceptable overseas ballots

Reconciliation:Verifying Ballot Count

• Use this log information to compile the ballot count (cont’d): 3. Verify total provisional ballots accepted

based on the count of acceptable and unacceptable provisional ballots

4. Verify EV and ED voter history count based on poll register and tabulator’s public count and check with ballots issued, spoiled ballots, and remainders (ballots not used)

Reconciliation:Verifying Ballot Count

Reconciliation - Races

Reconcile the election using one or more races (such as Senator and Governor) as following three steps:

Reconciliation - RacesStep 1: Verify EMS summary results for total write-ins based on the count of accepted and unaccepted write-ins

• With adjustment for an overvote that has the same candidate selected as a write-in, where applicable.

Reconciliation - Races

Step 2: Segregate EV, ED, AB, Overseas and Provisional counts from EMS group summary results for a given race

Reconciliation - Races

Step 3: Use the count from the independent information to compare the EMS group counts for Early Voting (EV), Election Day (ED), Absentee (AB), Overseas and Provisionals.

• Verify that the total ballot count matches voter history.Reconcile the counts and if needed,

correct incorrect data or provide documentation for the difference.

Reconciliation - Races