Desirable Properties Desirable Properties of Post-Election of Post-Election

ProceduresProceduresAl StoneAl Stone

April 5, 2006April 5, 2006CMSC 691VCMSC 691V

Source MaterialSource Material► ““Report of the Caltech/MIT Voting Technology Report of the Caltech/MIT Voting Technology

Project: What Is What Could Be”, 2001Project: What Is What Could Be”, 2001 Comprehensive and Far-ReachingComprehensive and Far-Reaching First seminal report in response to the 2000 Florida First seminal report in response to the 2000 Florida

election debacle.election debacle.► ““Insuring the Integrity of the Electoral Process: Insuring the Integrity of the Electoral Process:

Recommendations for Consistent and Recommendations for Consistent and Complete Reporting of Election Data”, Oct. Complete Reporting of Election Data”, Oct. 2004, Caltech/MIT Voting Technology Project2004, Caltech/MIT Voting Technology Project

► ““Building Consensus on Election Reform”, Building Consensus on Election Reform”, August 2001, The Constitution Project’s Forum August 2001, The Constitution Project’s Forum on Election Reform on Election Reform

Presentation FrameworkPresentation Framework►Desirable Properties of ElectionsDesirable Properties of Elections►Definition of Post-Election ProceduresDefinition of Post-Election Procedures

Application of PropertiesApplication of Properties►Existing Best Practices in Other IndustriesExisting Best Practices in Other Industries►SuggestionsSuggestions

Caltech/MITCaltech/MIT The Constitution ProjectThe Constitution Project

►Analysis and DiscussionAnalysis and Discussion

An Election MUST Have…An Election MUST Have…►Vote IntegrityVote Integrity►Voter PrivacyVoter Privacy►Resistance to DisruptionResistance to Disruption►Voting System ReliabilityVoting System Reliability►Election CompletenessElection Completeness►(Lack of) System Complexity*(Lack of) System Complexity*►Accessibility*Accessibility*

Election Process (Cradle to Election Process (Cradle to Grave)Grave)

1.1. Unearth election materialsUnearth election materials2.2. Set up electionSet up election3.3. Carry out voting on Election DayCarry out voting on Election Day4.4. Close the pollsClose the polls5.5. Collection of Election MaterialsCollection of Election Materials6.6. Transport Election MaterialsTransport Election Materials7.7. RecountRecount8.8. Lock Down and Protect Election Lock Down and Protect Election

MaterialsMaterials9.9. EXECUTE (8) FOR n years; GOTO EXECUTE (8) FOR n years; GOTO

(1);(1);

Post-Election ProcessesPost-Election Processes►Collection of MaterialsCollection of Materials

““Box up” votes, collect smartcards, etc.Box up” votes, collect smartcards, etc. Shut down and disconnect machines.Shut down and disconnect machines.

►TransportationTransportation►RecountRecount

Transport votes, any equipment to Transport votes, any equipment to recount locationrecount location

►Lockup and ProtectionLockup and Protection

Collection of MaterialsCollection of Materials

Collection of MaterialsCollection of Materials►Physical SecurityPhysical Security►Proper ContainersProper Containers►Careful CollectionCareful Collection►Graceful ShutdownGraceful Shutdown►Tamper TapeTamper Tape

Caltech/MIT Suggestions: Caltech/MIT Suggestions: “Insuring the Integrity of the “Insuring the Integrity of the

Electoral Process”Electoral Process”► Inventory of EquipmentInventory of Equipment► Number of Ballots CastNumber of Ballots Cast► Number of Votes for Federal OfficeNumber of Votes for Federal Office► Number of Registered VotersNumber of Registered Voters► Voter Count from Check-In ListVoter Count from Check-In List► Absentee Ballot CountAbsentee Ballot Count► Challenged and Returned Absentee BallotsChallenged and Returned Absentee Ballots► Challenged Provisional BallotsChallenged Provisional Ballots► Number of Early VotersNumber of Early Voters► Transportation RecordsTransportation Records► Storage RecordsStorage Records

TransportationTransportation

The Stanley CupThe Stanley Cup•Rideau Canal Dropkick 1905•Geraniums 1906•Flat Tire Roadside Luck 1924•Buoyancy Tests 1991 and 1993•Slovakian Debut 2003•Air Canada Weight Restrictions 2004

•Fisher Peak, BC and Mt. Elbert, CO•Auto Glass Plant•Roller Coaster, Universal Studios•Motorcycle Passenger•Jetski Passenger•Baptismal Font

TransportationTransportation► Secure VehiclesSecure Vehicles►Non-stop TransportNon-stop Transport► Careful, Secure Careful, Secure

Loading and Loading and UnloadingUnloading

► Police PresencePolice Presence

► Absentee IssuesAbsentee Issues

RecountRecount

RecountRecount►Motivated Election Motivated Election

WorkersWorkers► Secure, Private Secure, Private

TabulationTabulation► Collection of Collection of

MaterialsMaterials► Auditing of MaterialsAuditing of Materials► SchedulingScheduling► Capable EquipmentCapable Equipment

Lockup and SurveillanceLockup and Surveillance

Lockup and SurveillanceLockup and Surveillance► Perimeter SecurityPerimeter Security► Environmental Environmental

FactorsFactors► Secure, Proper Secure, Proper

ContainersContainers► Periodic InspectionPeriodic Inspection► Capacity IssuesCapacity Issues► Summary Re-Summary Re-

Evaluation of LocationEvaluation of Location

Insider ThreatInsider Threat►Maine, 1998Maine, 1998

““Two legislative aides plead guilty to Two legislative aides plead guilty to breaking into a ballot storage area in the breaking into a ballot storage area in the Maine State House and tampering with Maine State House and tampering with the ballots being stored pending a recount the ballots being stored pending a recount of two close elections for the state of two close elections for the state legislature.” – Caltech/MIT Report, pg 42.legislature.” – Caltech/MIT Report, pg 42.

Other IndustriesOther Industries► Banking – It’s only money!Banking – It’s only money!

Pros: Vaults, Armed Guards, Armored Vehicles, Pros: Vaults, Armed Guards, Armored Vehicles, Trained and Secure Tellers, Strict Policies, Trained and Secure Tellers, Strict Policies, Periodic Audits, Ink Traps, Seamless Absentee Periodic Audits, Ink Traps, Seamless Absentee BankingBanking

Cons: Money, Identity Fraud, Robberies, Insurance Cons: Money, Identity Fraud, Robberies, Insurance “Safety Net”, ATM Security Flaws“Safety Net”, ATM Security Flaws

► Shipping – What security?Shipping – What security? Pros: Principles of Competition (Speed, Integrity, Pros: Principles of Competition (Speed, Integrity,

Privacy, Completion), Legal Backing, Tracking Privacy, Completion), Legal Backing, Tracking Software, Tamper DetectionSoftware, Tamper Detection

Cons: No Resistance, Inaccuracy, DelaysCons: No Resistance, Inaccuracy, Delays

Caltech/MIT Suggestions: “What Caltech/MIT Suggestions: “What Is, What Could Be”Is, What Could Be”

► Auditable Equipment For RecountsAuditable Equipment For Recounts► Restricted Absentee Voting With Uniform Restricted Absentee Voting With Uniform

Reporting of ResultsReporting of Results Coercion, Fraud/Security, Accuracy, and SpeedCoercion, Fraud/Security, Accuracy, and Speed

► Periodic Equipment AuditingPeriodic Equipment Auditing► Less Ambiguous Recount ProcessesLess Ambiguous Recount Processes► AMVA systemAMVA system

Replaceable components decrease likelihood of Replaceable components decrease likelihood of corrupt vendorscorrupt vendors

All Voting Machines should implement multiple All Voting Machines should implement multiple means of recording votesmeans of recording votes

Constitution Project Constitution Project SuggestionsSuggestions

►Sufficient Time for Counting and Sufficient Time for Counting and Contesting ProceduresContesting Procedures

►States define “valid vote”States define “valid vote”►States establish recount rulesStates establish recount rules►States provide post-election auditsStates provide post-election audits

Analysis and ConclusionsAnalysis and Conclusions►Secure vs. Cost-EffectiveSecure vs. Cost-Effective

No longer limited by other properties, but No longer limited by other properties, but by money prioritiesby money priorities

►AuditingAuditing Recount or no, more than just votesRecount or no, more than just votes

►DecentralizationDecentralization State-defined prioritiesState-defined priorities

►Lessen the Impact of Absentee IssuesLessen the Impact of Absentee Issues►Care and Accuracy vs. SpeedCare and Accuracy vs. Speed