V Terms — Election Security Glossary

See Vulnerability Assessment

The VOI Pilot Project was a small-scale project implemented cooperatively during the 2000 South Carolina (statewide), Okaloosa and Orange counties in Florida, Dallas County in Texas, and Weber County …

A VPN is a private network that uses a public network such as the Internet to connect remote sites or users. In the examples in this report, the VPNs were secured at both ends by digital certificates …

A characteristic or specific weakness that renders an organization or asset (such as information or an information system) open to exploitation by a given threat or susceptible to a given hazard.

Ballot box containing the paper record.

Transparent covering over the paper record printed by the DRE-VVPAT. It permits a voter to inspect the paper record but prevents the voter from physically handling the paper record.

Printing capability of the voting system, including the printer and any associated device involved in printing the paper records and transferring them to ballot boxes.

A “device for use by illiterate and/or visually impaired voters in voting on a DRE unit and consists of an audio headset and a keypad by which the ballot can be provided to the voter aurally and the v…

An apparatus that can be connected to a voti ng machine to allow a disabled voter to vote by

When a public office becomes vacant before the end of a term. This can be due to death, resignation, moving out of the jurisdiction when residency is required, removal from office, among other reasons…

The “vacancy in an elective office created by death, resignation, or other good and legal cause, arising prior to election to the office at a genera l or special election but arising subsequent to the…

The “circumstances in which the person who receive d the majority of votes at the preferential primary election or general primary election cannot accept the nomination due to death or notifies the pa…

The “vacancy in an elective office created by death, resignation, or other good and legal cause arising subsequent to election to the office at a general or special election or arising subsequent to t…

Legally binding due to having been executed in compliance with the law.

A payload, an associated data string, or a nonce that satisfies the restrictions of the formatting function. (SP 800-38C) (NISTIR)

A means of proving a person's identity, according to the laws of the jurisdiction. Common forms of Identification are Driver's Licenses and Passports.

A “punch of a ballot card such that the CHAD is completely removed or is hanging by one (1) or two (2) corners.” 31 Ky. Admin. Regs. §2:010(1)(25).

A voter whose record is current with the appropriate election authority and is eligible to vote.

Vote from a ballot or ballot image that is legally acceptable according to state law.

A “candidate who has qualified as a write-in ca ndidate.” Utah Code §20A-1-102(78). See also DECLARED WRITE-IN.

Process of evaluating a system or component during or at the end of the development process to determine whether it satisfies specified requirements.

One of two or more code symbols having the same plain text equivalent.

Audio vedb

Video vedb

A company that provides Internet voting systems or services.

Cryptographic protocols that enable anyone to confirm that all ballots cast were correctly tallied, and to prove to an individual voter that their vote is included in the final tally; also known as un…

Process of evaluating a system or component to determine whether the products of a given development phase satisfy the conditions (such as specifications) imposed at the start of the phase.

“As soon as practicable after each election, the election authority shall convene a verification board to verify the count and certify the results of the election.” Mo. Rev. Stat. §115.497.

A “list prepared under the supervision of the election authority which contains the name and address of each registered voter within a precinct.” Mo. Rev. Stat. §115.183. Verified Ballot Option The Ha…

Process of determining whether requirements for a system or component are complete and correct, the products of each development phase fulfill the requirements or conditions imposed by the previous ph…

Verified BALLOT OPTION

A Subscriber name that has been verified by identity proofing. (NISTIR)

CHECKER. Conn. Gen. Stat. §9-234.

An entity that verifies the claimant’s identity by verifying the claimant’s possession and control of a token using an authentication protocol. To do this, the Verifier may also need to validate crede…

A scenario where the Attacker impersonates the Verifier in an authentication protocol, usually to capture information that can be used to masquerade as a Claimant to the real Verifier. (SP 800-63) (NI…

In some states, a flag within a voter's record stating that the voter needs to confirm a certain piece of data in their record, such as an address or date of birth, before they can be issued a ballot.

Confirm that all of your voter registration information is accurate and up to date so that you are able to vote in the next election.

A mechanism to allow multiple folks to work on the same source code for a piece of software. It enables multiple people to change files simultaneously, and gives a history of how the software was modi…

Electronic voter interface which presents ballot information and voting instructions as video images.

A “ VEDB that communicates ballot information to the voter using light (e.g., via a typical electronic display).” 2007 VVSG.

A type of VVPAT in which the voter may not touch the pa per ballot after it has been printed, as opposed to VOTER-HANDLED systems, in which the ballot may not only be touched, but may also be removed …

The “village clerk shall be the election officer of the village and shall have the responsibility for the general conduct of all village elections and shall have vested in him all authority, … which m…

An “election to choose a village district officer.” 63 N. H. Rev. Stat. §652:10.

A term that “includes both general and special v illage elections for officers.” N. Y. Election Laws (consol.) §15-102(3).

Any “election held by a political party for the purpose of nominating candidates for elective village office.” N. Y. Election Laws (consol.) §15-102(5).

Fail to comply with a rule or statute.

Action of failing to comply with a rule or statute.

Software that allows a single host to run one or more guest operating systems. (SP 800-115) (NISTIR)

Protected information system link utilizing tunneling, security controls (see information assurance (IA)), and endpoint address translation giving the impression of a dedicated line.

A malicious computer program that may replicate itself on a computer network, insert or attach copies of itself into computer programs, and cause harm to computers or systems by corrupting, stealing, …

A hacking technique of defrauding target's over the phone, enticing them to divulge sensitive information

A frequency of red light used in optical scanners that is generally modulated to enhance recognition. Visible red scanners are able to read almost any type of ink except red. Abbreviated VR.

A display format in which contest options and other information are displayed on screen or paper for perception using sight.

That feature of a voting system that prev ents others from observing a voter at a VOTING STATION during the voting process so as to learn how the voter has voted.

Any kind of vision loss.

A common method of quality control, data acquisition, and data analysis by looking over a piece of equipment, or a ballot envelope, using the naked eye to look for flaws.

“All elections by persons in a representative capacity shall be viva voce or by automatic recording device publicly indicating how each person voted.” Pa. Const. Art. VII, Sec. 10.

(VoIP) A term used to describe the transmission of packetized voice using the internet protocol (IP) and consists of both signaling and media protocols.

The method of voting whereby the voter publicly declared his choices orally. [The male pronoun is used here because voice voting was obsol ete in the U. S. before the adoption of the 19th Amendment.]

A ballot that has been issued but cannot be cast by a voter. This could be because a ballot was lost in the mail, spoiled, or the voter is no longer eligible to vote using that ballot, among other rea…

A test to determine whether a voting system can handle a large number of voters or BALLOTS. Voluntary Voting System Guidelines A set of requirements promulgated by the ELECTION ASSISTANCE COMMISSION a…

A set of specifications and requirements against which voting systems can be tested to determine if the systems meet required standards. Under HAVA, the EAC is responsible for developing, maintaining,…

Voluntary VOTING SYSTEM Guidleines

A valid mark on an official ballot indicating the voter's preference for a particular candidate or ballot question.

The act of casting a ballot by a voter who was not on the list of eligible voters, whose information was incomplete or not accurate, or who had already received a ballot in the mail and was allowed to…

Voting before election day where the voter completes an absentee ballot in person at an elections office or other designated polling site prior to election day.

To cast a ballot in opposition to a political candidate or proposition.

To deliberately fails to vote on a QUESTION or for any candidate in a particular office. “The elector can vote blank for any office on his party ticket by making a cross mark (x) in the circle at the …

A “button a voter pushes to activate a DRE Machin e allowing the voter to record the votes in the internal memory in the DRE and clear the votes on the ballot display.” Wyo. Sec’y of State Rule 1570 §…

An electronic voting device that is used directly by a voter to make selections on a ballot.

A component of a VOTING SYSTEM that obtains the voter’s choices.

A “card upon which the voter casts his or her votes by the process of punching.” Ark. Code §7-1-101(26).

A vote center is one of multiple voting locations in an election jurisdiction where voters may choose to vote at any of the locations offered (i.e. they are not assigned to one location). Vote centers…

In Internet voting, a machine on which a voter casts a vote. CIVTF.

The number of votes recorded for each choice in a contest. 2  "  !   

The total combination of mechanical, electromechanical, or electronic equipment (including the software, firmware, and documentation required to program, control, and support the equipment) that is us…

Data comprising vote or vote totals. 2007 VVSG.

The “apparatus which contains electronic inst ructions for a voting device and in which electronic results are stored.” 26 Okla. Stat. §6-102.1(7).

To cast a ballot in favor of a political candidate or proposition.

To cast a vote in an election when the individual is not authorized to participate by law.

Voters have the right to an accessible voting system must provide the same opportunity for access and participation including independence.

A device “with which votes are indicated for candi dates or for or against questions.” Georgia Code Ann. §21-2-310(6). Likewise, La. R. S. §18:1351(11). The “pointer or other device upon which are reg…

A “list by precinct of the names and addresses of all persons who voted in the election and their political party affiliation.” Alaska Stat. §15.15.400.

Any “approved device for marking a paper ballot with ink or other substance which will enable the ballot to be tabulated by means of AUTOMATIC TABULATING EQUIPMENT.” Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. §117.375(8).

The practice of comparing the number of voters who signed the polling books to the number of ballots cast.

A device that permits contest options to be reviewed on an electronic interface, produces a human- readable paper ballot, and does not make any other lasting record of the voter's selections.

“[E]quipment in which ballot labels and ballots ar e placed to allow a voter to record his or her vote by perforating or equipment with a screen upon which votes may be recorded by means of a stylus o…

(usually opscan) The geometric area in which a voter marks a

Illegal interference with the process of an election, either by increasing the vote share of a favored candidate, depressing the vote share of rival candidates, or both.

A computer which receives and stores vote in Internet voting systems, e.g. PROJECT SERVE.

The hardware, software, or supplies used to count votes.

A machine that counts votes previously indicated by a different mechanism. “A type of voting machine which is a single unit designed to count (record) the votes cast on a pre-printed ballot which is f…

The total combination of mechanical, electromechanical, or electronic equipment (including the software, firmware, and documentation required to program, control, and support the equipment) that is us…

Counting of ballots in the same District in which those ballots have been cast.

“[O]ne or more pieces of equipment necessary to examine and tally automatically the marked ballots.” O. R. S. §246.012(10).

“‘Vote tallying system’ means a piece of mechan ical or electronic equipment and associated data processing software used to tabulate votes cast on ballot cards or otherwise recorded on a voting devic…

Tallies of votes cast in an election after the polls have been closed for voting.

A tape that is printed by an electronic voting machine or optical scanner at the closing of the polls, which shows the number of votes cast for each candidate and for and against each measure on the b…

Voting style or feature, including but not limited to the following: approval voting, baseline voting, cumulative voting, N-of-M voting, proportional voting, ranked choice voting, score voting, and su…

Ballot image

The ability to mark, cast, and verify a ballot privately and independently.

Method of casting a ballot using a paper ballot, when the primary voting system or ballot marking device is not available or not functional.

Method of casting ballots by which eligible voters are mailed ballots and information packets by the local jurisdiction. Voters can return their marked ballots by mail, to a voting location, or in dro…

A ballot cast by a voter other than in-person at a voting location. Vote by mail ballots are typically mailed to voters but can be issued over the counter from an election's office. Depending on the j…

A document used by a voter to request a ballot be mailed to the voter.

A ballot choice in which voters are allowed to vote for a specified number (“N”) of candidates in a multi- seat (“M”) contest.

The maximum number of selections allowed in a contest.

VOTE FOR N OF M. This form is preferable to “Vote for N,” which sometimes misleads voters into believing that they are required to vote for N candidates and that a lower number will not suffice.

The maximum number of selections allowed in a contest.

.” Mo. Rev. Stat. §115.275(3). See also INTERSTATE FORMER RESIDENT, INTRASTATE NEW RESIDENT.

A program that provides citizens the opportunity to pay tribute and dedicate their vote to a veteran or active-duty service member.

Voting before or on Election Day where the voter completes the ballot in person at a designated polling site, elections office, or vote center that is overseen by election officials or poll workers.

“Any person who buys or offers to buy any vote of any qualified elector at any election by the payment of money or the promise to pay the sa me at any future time, or by the gift of intoxicating liquo…

Fraudulently altering or changing the vote of a ny elector, by which such elector is prevented from voting as he intended. Ala. Code §17-23-7.

A CONTEST in which more than one candidate can be chosen, and a voter may vote for more than one. Also FIELD RACE, MULTI-SEAT CONTEST, VO TE FOR N OF M, VOTE FOR NO MORE THAN N.

“Any qualified elector at any election who takes or receives any money or other valuable thing, upon the condition that the same shall be paid at any future time, in exchange for the vote of such elec…

Ballot that contains all of a voter's selections and has been cast.

Person permitted to cast a ballot.

Device used with some electronic voting machines programmed for each voter to enable the machine to display the correct ballot style for the voter's precinct.

A card identifying that a voter requires assistance with the voting process, and in some cases the type of assistance required.

When a question on the ballot has received enough votes to pass.

A card identifying that a voter requires assistance with the voting process, and in some cases the type of assistance required.

In Hawaii, an ELECTION OFFICIAL who assists the CHAIRPERSON in managing the POLLING PLACE and administers special procedures such as handling SPOILED BALLOTS and CURBSIDE VOTING.

A list designed to help voters successfully navigate the elections process, from registering to vote to casting a ballot on Election Day.

When a voter files a formal allegation of a violation of voting rights, such as intimidation or refusal to uphold an election law.

A form used to file a complaint or allegation of a violation of voting rights.

VOTER Education Coordinator

Drop-off, Rolloff

Digital databases of publicly available records of who is registered to vote and who cast ballots in past elections. Voter file records indicate whether or not someone voted in a given election, but d…

Illegal interference with the process of an election, either by increasing the vote share of a favored candidate, depressing the vote share of rival candidates, or both.

Phone number where any individual can report a complaint or allegation of a voting rights violation.

A guide that provides additional election information such as the voter's polling place and hours, information about candidates, questions, and instructions for voting.

A means of proving a person's identity for the purposes of voting, according to the laws of the jurisdiction. Common forms of Identification are Driver's Licenses and Passports.

A UNIQUE IDENTIFIER assigned to a voter in Indiana. Ind. Code §3-7-13-13.

The “amount of time from when the system comp letes its response until there is detectible voter activity. In particular, note that audio pr ompts from the system may take several minutes and that thi…

A “BENCHMARK used in the VPP. A measure of voting accuracy and variance, based on the mean accuracy per voter and the associated sta ndard deviation. Each voter is given a certain number of “voting op…

Cards furnished by an elections office to registered voters that contains information regarding a voter's registration record, such as registration number, registration date, name, party affiliation, …

A guide that provides additional election information such as the voter's polling place and hours, information about candidates, questions, and instructions for voting.

A guide that provides additional election information such as the voter's polling place and hours, information about candidates, questions, and instructions for voting.

A means by which voters may propose new laws or amend existing laws by gathering signatures from registered voters to either enact a law or place the issue on the ballot for the public to vote on.

How the voter attempted to express their vote choices through actions taken to mark, verify, and cast an issued ballot.

A standard for counting ballots that aims to ensure that ballots are counted in accordance with the goals of the voter, using written rules for both human processes and machine algorithms to ensure th…

Threat of violence, manipulation, harassment, or fear for the purpose of influencing how a person votes.

A list of the individuals that have registered on an electoral roll where a voter resides, as a prerequisite for being entitled to vote.

Cards furnished by an elections office to registered voters that contains information regarding a voter's registration record, such as registration number, registration date, name, party affiliation, …

Everything that is necessary in order for an individual to be able to vote in an election.

An official who is responsible for election administration.

A term used by election officials when referring to a voter's record. Voter Registration also refers to the requirement for citizens to register with a state or local elections office in order to be e…

An office that performs voter registration activities. N. J. S. §19:31-6.11.

An official sworn statement of information used to register to vote by voters. This is sometimes referred to as a Voter Registration Card.

An official sworn statement of information used by individuals to register to vote.

An official sworn statement by an elections office to attest that a citizen is a registered voter.

In Illinois, Iowa and Pennsylvania, a body that de termines the qualifications of applicants for registration.

An effort by a government authority, political party, or other entity to register to vote persons otherwise entitled to vote. Participants in a voter registration drive distribute voter registration f…

A list of the individuals that have registered on an electoral roll where a voter resides, as a prerequisite for being entitled to vote.

A list of the individuals that have registered on an electoral roll where a voter resides, as a prerequisite for being entitled to vote.

A distributed or centralized system that permits the collection, storage, editing, deletion, and reporting of voter records. The Help America Vote Act (HAVA) requires each state to have a centralized,…

A “slip of paper with a number printed or stam ped on it that an election judge gives the voter who in turn deposits it in an envelope or on a spindle on the voting machine.” Wyo. Rules §1.4(mmm).

Data on reported voting and registration activities, including factors such as turnout and age.

The number of people voting in an election. This number is typically reported as a percentage of the total number of voters in an election divided by the total number of registered voters in a given p…

Processes or protocols that enable a voter to confirm that their ballot was received, and in some cases, counted as cast; End-to-end verifiability (E2E) is an extension of Voter verification/Voter ver…

The act by a voter of satisfying herself that he r vote has been correctly captured and counted. “Confirmation by the voter that all votes were recorded as the voter intended.” 2007 VVSG. Cf. ELECTION…

Any “registered voter who resides ten miles or more from the voter's designated polling place by the most direct route for public travel.” 2 Hawaii. Rev. Stat. §15-1.

A “voter who has a permanent or temporary phys ical disability, as set forth in 42 U. S. C. §1973ee-6(4).” Ind. Code §3-5-2-50.2. Voter’s Bill of Rights A list of fundamental electoral entitlements re…

Abbreviation for “voter with disability.”

A set of legal and constitutional protections designed to ensure the opportunity to vote in free and fair elections.

A written statement confirmed by oath or affirmation, declaring a fact or set of facts.

System by which votes are recorded in a voting location by means of marks made in voting targets designated on one or both sides of a ballot card or series of cards. An optical scan system reads and t…

A voting system feature that provides the voter an opportunity to verify that his or her ballot selections are being recorded correctly, before the ballot is cast.

Human-readable printed record of all of a voter’s selections presented to the voter to view and check for accuracy.

In DRE systems, a paper document containing evidence of a voter’s contest selections that they can check before officially casting the ballot.

Physical paper records of voter ballots as voters have cast them on a voting system. In the event that an election recount or audit is called for, the VVPPRS provides the official record of the ballot…

Physical paper records of voter ballots as voters have cast them on an electronic voting system. In the event that an election recount or audit is called for, the VVPT provides a supporting record. Th…

A “ VOTE-CAPTURE DEVICE that gathers votes via an ELECTRONIC VOTER INTERFACE and allows the voter to alter previously ma de votes without spoiling the ballot.” 2007 VVSG. Abbreviated VEDB. This is in …

A type of VVPAT in which the voter may touch the pape r ballot after it has been printed, as opposed to VIEW-ONLY systems, in which the ballot is pr otected behind a transparent shield. Voter-handled …

Voter-verifiable paper audit trails or records are the paper trails contemporaneously printed by DRE voting machines that display to the voter a hard copy record of the voter’s selections. Sighted vot…

A “paper CVR produced by a VOTE-CAPTURE DEVICE that supports VOTER VERIFICATION (e.g., VVPAT and EBM). 2007 VVSG.

A “paper record of the voter's choices, viewable prior to casting the ballot, which may be the paper ballot itself; the paper trail shall be used by the state or its contractor to check either the ver…

That which has actually been verified by a voter. For example, a hand-marked optical scan ballot is inherently voter-verified since it has been personally filled out by the voter. Cf. VOTER-VERIFIABLE…

1. A “human-readable printed record of all of a voter’s selections presented to the voter before the vote is cast.” 2005 VVSG V.1, APPENDIX A. 2. A “printed version of the ballot that voters may view …

A “permanent, individual paper ballot that is ma rked either manually by the voter or with the assistance of a device and verified by the voter as correctly reflecting the voter's intent, before the v…

A VVPAT. An “auditable paper record that: (I) Is available for the elector to inspect and verify before the vote is cast; (II) Is produced contem poraneously with or employed by any voting system; (II…

Used in request and response messages. Voter optionally includes this class to describe a voter’s classification per criteria on the voter’s request form, e.g., united-states-citizen or eighteen-on-el…

Used in request and response messages. Enumeration for voter status classifications, used in the Type attribute of VoterClassification. Whether the voter status, e.g., eighteen-on-election-day, is tru…

Used in request messages. Enumeration for types of registration helpers, used in the Type attribute of RegistrationHelper. Name Value assistant For a registration assistant. witness For a registration…

Used in request and response messages. Used to include information about a voter’s identification that may be required in a registration request. Voter includes VoterId. AttestNoSuchId is used to atte…

Used in request and response messages. Enumeration for the type of voter ID, used in the Type attribute of VoterId. Name Value drivers-license Used for a driver’s license. local-voter-registration-id …

Used in response messages. For indicating an election that the voter participated in. Participation does not imply a counted ballot. Attribute Multiplicity Type Attribute Description {BallotStyle} 0.1…

Used in response messages. Used to represent a voter record stored in a Voter Registration Database (VRDB). VoterRecord optionally contains additional information useful to the voter, including a desc…

Used in response messages. For indicating a successful response to a lookup request. A lookup for a single voter may result in multiple VoterRecord being returned. This can occur if the voter has dupl…

The root element for request messages. For defining items pertaining to the status and type of the voter records request and when it was generated. VoterRecordsRequest includes the Subject association…

Used in request messages. Enumeration for the type of voter records request, used in the Type attribute of VoterRecordsRequest. Name Value ballot-request For requesting a ballot, possibly in conjuncti…

A voter who requires assistance or assistive technology to assess processes that are not universally designed.

Used in response messages. Enumeration for the status of the voter in a Voter Registration Database. Name Value active For a voter in active status. inactive For a voter in inactive status. other Used…

The number of ballots received which includes ballots that have not yet been accepted for counting.

A form of Internet voting that allows voters to transmit their voted ballot from any Internet-connected device and location to which they have access, e.g., home/office computer, smartphone, tablet. F…

A committee formed to advise the state of New Jersey on voting requirements for the disabled. N. J. Stat. Ann. §19:8-3.7. Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act An Act of Congress, p…

VOTING Accessibility FOR THE Elderly AND Handicapped ACT

The area in which voting takes place. In Utah, “the area within six feet of the voting booths, voting machines, and ballot box.” Utah Code §20A-1-102(79).

An enclosed area in which a person stands for privacy while casting a ballot.

A “arrangement authorized by local legislation whereby multiple voting machines may be used in a single precinct.” Ala. Admin. Code §307-X-1-.01(16).

A method for voting; either in person, by mail, or Internet; also known as voting opportunity. Voting

“Items sufficient to enable a DRE or EBP to activate a ballot of the BALLOT CONFIGURATION that is appropriate for a given voter.” 2007 VVSG.

The “capability to detect overvoted ballots or ballots which cannot be read by the automatic tabulating equipment.” 10 Ill. Comp. Stat. §5/24B-2. See also VOTING DEFECTS.

An “overvoted ballot, or a ballot which cannot be read by the automatic tabulating equipment. 10 Ill. Comp. Stat. §5/24B-2. See also VOTING DEFECT IDENTIFICATION.

An ELECTION OFFICIAL in the District of Columbia responsible for explaining operation of the voting system to voters.

A device that is part of the voting system.

“An area set off from another in the same m unicipality for voting purposes. It includes wards and precincts. In a municipality that has only one voting district, it means the entire municipality. The…

The “room within the VOTING PLACE that is used for voting.” N. C. Gen. Stat. §163-165(9).

The “aspects of the voting milieu outside of the voting system that are encountered by voters, e.g., ramps, lighting, noise, temperature, electro-magnetic interference.” 2005 VVSG V.1, APPENDIX A. See…

All devices, including the voting machine, used to display the ballot, accept voter selections, record voter selections, and tabulate the votes.

All software, hardware (including facilities, furnishings and fixtures), materials, documentation, and the interface used by the election personnel, maintenance operator, poll worker, and voter, requi…

Ordered steps that election personnel, poll workers or voters follows to perform the tasks for each operational environment.

Electronic or printed material that provides information for the election officials, poll workers or voters.

The space provided next to the name of each candidate and ballot question choice, to be used for marking a vote.

A term defined in HAVA to encompass various required items of information that must be furnished to voters at POLLING PLACES. “the term ‘voting information’ means— (A) a sample version of the ballot t…

Information provided to a voter that describes the procedures for voting. This information may appear directly on the paper or electronic ballot or may be provided separately.

The mechanism that directly records a voter’s choices via mechanical lever-actuated controls into a counting mechanism that tallies the votes without using a physical ballot.

The “complete list of all voters prepared from the information contained in the original permanent registration records in the possession of the local board of canvassers.” R. I. Gen. Laws §17-1-2(19)…

A physical location where voters may cast their ballots.

The mechanical, electromechanical, and electric components of a voting system that the voter uses to view the ballot, indicate his/her selections, and verify those selections. In some instances, the v…

A “ BALLOT posted on or in the VOTING MACHINE and referred to by the voter to indicate the voting locations for each contest.” Md. Elec. Code §1-101(ww).

The “person who shall have charge of pr eparing and arranging the voting machine for elections.” N. J. Stat. Ann. §19:47-1. Likewise in Miss. Code §23-15-401.

The “method of electrically, mechanically, or electronically recording and counting votes upon being cast.” Hawaii Rev. Stat. §16-11. Cf. PAPER BALLOT VOTING SYSTEM.

“The representatives of each political party on the county election commission shall jointly appoint a voting machine technician who is a member of their political party and who is qualified by traini…

A person who assures that a voter is given acce ss to a voting machine only after having been

Devices that voters use to cast their votes and that tabulate the number of votes cast for candidates and for and against the measures on the ballot

A group in Minnesota “established to inves tigate and recommend to the legislature requirements for additional options for voting e quipment that complies with the requirements of section 301 of the H…

A “cross mark or check mark.” Ind. Code §3-5-2-51.

Election-related items that are required under the VRA to be provided bilingually. “The term ‘voting materials’ means registration or voting no tices, forms, instructions, assistance, or other materia…

1. A method of registering choices. The “use of: (1) paper ballots; (2) voting machines; (3) ballot card voting systems; (4) electronic voting sy stems; or (5) any combination of these; to register vo…

Term used to designate the group of people associated with elections, including election personnel, poll workers, ballot designers and those responsible for the installation, operation and maintenance…

A “TEST METHOD that measures how well subjects perform various voting tasks.” 2007 VVSG.

A building or other location where in-person voting takes place.

A person appointed to witness the distribution of ballots and the voting process. Utah Code §20A-1-102(83). Also POLL WATCHER.

Specific response field on a ballot where the voter indicates the selection of a candidate or ballot proposition response.

A voting position target refers to that area of the ballot adjacent to each candidate or measure, or that area of the ballot specifically designated to record the voter's choice for that contest. The …

Election administration division corresponding to a contiguous geographic area that is the basis for determining which contests and issues the voters legally residing in that area are eligible to vote…

Entire array of procedures, people, resources, equipment, and locations associated with conducting elections.

A ballot marking device used by voters to punch holes in a ballot card to mark their selections.

An “apparatus in which BALLOTS or BALLOT CARDS are inserted for the piercing of ballots by the voter. The hole may be in the form of a round dot, rectangle, square, or any other shape that will clearl…

1. A receipt indicating that a voter has voted, but not revealing anything about the voter’s choices. “If a mechanical voting system is used whereby votes are directly recorded electronically: (a) A v…

Generally an official who maintains the record of legally registered voters, often the COUNTY CLERK. In Texas, the tax assessor-collector is the voting registrar. Texas Elec. Code §12.001. While tradi…

The place on a BALLOT where the voter is instructed to ma rk her preference for a candidate or question. N. M. Admin. Code §1.10.12.7(T). Also “voting response field” or VOTING TARGET. Wyo. Sec’y of S…

A law or set of laws that make it more difficult for people to vote.

The set of laws that protect a citizens ability to participate in public elections.

Voting rights act of 1965

A list of the individuals that have registered on an electoral roll where a voter resides, as a prerequisite for being entitled to vote.

A collection of activities including ballot issuance, voter interaction with the vote-capture device, voting, verification, and casting.

The status of a VOTE-CAPTURE DEVICE at a give time. The 2007 VVSG identify several such states: ACTIVATED, IN USE, OPEN, PRE-VOTING, POST-VOTING, READY, SUSPENDED.

The location within a polling place where voters may record their votes. A voting station includes the area, location, booth, or enclosure where voting takes place as well as the voting machine.

A term used by election officials to describe whether a voter's record shows that the voter is eligible to vote and/or if they have voted.

A device used to mark either an analog ballot or direct-recording electronic voting machine.

The total combination of mechanical, electromechanical or electronic equipment (including the software, firmware, and documentation required to program, control, and support the equipment) that is use…

A “ballot designed for use with a voting system.” Tex. Elec. Code §121.003(11).

The process by which the EAC, through testing and evaluation conducted by an accredited Voting System Test Laboratory, validates that a voting system meets the requirements set forth in existing votin…

A LOG “ initialized by the CONFIGURATION DATA supplied by the manufacturer. From that point on, it functions like a diary of the system. Entries are made by ELECTION OFFICIALS whenever any change occu…

The EAC operates a voting system testing and certification program. This program tests and certifies hardware and software and may also decertify those systems. This program accredits test laboratorie…

An “individual engaged in private enterprise or a business entity engaged in selling, leasing, marketing, designing, building, or modifying voting systems to the state, a political subdivision of the …

All the executable code and associated configuration files needed for the proper operation of the voting system. This includes third party software such as operating systems, drivers, and database man…

Voting systems certified by the EAC are tested to a set of voluntary standards providing requirements that voting systems must meet to receive a Federal certification. These standards are referred to …

A program in Indiana under which the state contracts with outside entities to propose certification standards, test voting equipment and conduct random audits of elections. Ind. Code §3-11-16.

Privately owned testing laboratories that test voting systems and other election systems for conformance to the VVSG or other requirements.

VSTLs are privately owned testing laboratories that test voting systems (and other election systems) for conformance to the Voluntary Voting System Guidelines (VVSG) or to other requirements, includin…

VSTLs are privately owned testing laboratories that test voting systems (and other election systems) for conformance to the Voluntary Voting System Guidelines (VVSG) or to other requirements, includin…

Examination and testing of a computerized voting system by using test methods to determine if the system complies with the requirements in the Voluntary Voting System Guidelines and with its own speci…

Testing laboratory accredited by the National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program in the field of voting systems testing. See also testing authority.

“(A) be accessible for individuals with disa bilities, including nonvisual accessibility for the blind and visually impaired, in a manner that provides the same opportunity for access and participatio…

A “vote cast in a voting system that is not a WRITE-IN VOTE.” Texas Elec. Code §211.002(10).

VOTING Systems AND Procedures PANEL

A concept from MARK-SENSE and PAPER balloting. The “space on a special paper ballot which the voter marks to cast a vote for a candidate, judge or question.” Iowa Admin. Code 721-22.101(52). See also …

“Immediately after the close of registration of voters preceding any election, the chief election officer shall establish one or more voting units in each precinct polling place … The clerk in prepari…

A procedure in Minnesota that allows a person to register on Election Day if another voter of the same PRECINCT swears an oath that the individual resides in that precinct.

Weakness in an information system, system security procedures, internal controls, or implementation that could be exploited or triggered by a threat source.

See vulnerability assessment.

Systematic examination of an information system or product to determine the adequacy of security measures, identify security deficiencies, provide data from which to predict the effectiveness of propo…

In the NICE Framework, cybersecurity work where a person: Conducts assessments of threats and vulnerabilities, determines deviations from acceptable configurations, enterprise or local policy, assesse…

An “attempt to bypass or break the security of a system or a device. Like functional testing, vulnerability testing can falsify a general assertion (namely, that the system or device is secure) but it…