Defined term

Open Source

Open Source: Computer software with its source code (human readable code) made available with a license in which the copyright holder provides the rights to…

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Software

Definition

Computer software with its source code (human readable code) made available with a license in which the copyright holder provides the rights to study, change, and distribute the software to anyone and for any purpose. Open source software may be developed in a collaborative public manner. Voting and election systems that contain open source software have had that software reviewed by multiple professional and amateur programmers. Open source systems are usually not free and are typically licensed like other software. Systems can be fully open source or may have only a portion of their software open source.

Alternative Definitions

Definition 2

Computer software with its source code made available with a license in which the copyright holder provides the rights to study, change, and distribute the software.

Source: NIST WebType: semantic
Definition 3

Computer software with its source code (human readable code) made available with a license in which the copyright holder provides the rights to study, change, and distribute the software to anyone and for any purpose. Open source software may be developed in a collaborative public manner. Voting and election systems that contain open source software have had that software reviewed by multiple, professional and amateur programmers. Open source systems are usually not free and are typically licensed like other software. Systems can be fully open source, or may have only a portion of their software open source.

Source: EAC IT Glossary for Election OfficialsType: external
Definition 4

Computer software with its source code (human readable code) made available with a license in which the copyright holder provides the rights to study, change, and distribute the software to anyone and for any purpose. Open source software may:

Source: NIST Election GlossaryType: standard
Definition 5

A method of software development in which the course code is made publicly available for testing and comment by a wide audience. Not only is the level of public confidence in the software raised by its transparency, but the size of the viewing community increases the chance that errors will be detected. The Open Voting Consortium, www.openvotingconsortium.org, is developing an open source voting system.

Source: Electronic Voting GlossaryType: external

Sources

1
Glossary of Election Terms, U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC)
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2
NIST Election Terminology Glossary, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
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3
EAC Glossary of Terms
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4
EAC IT Glossary for Election Officials
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5
EAC Information Technology Terminology
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6
EAC Glossary of Election Terms
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7
NIST Election Glossary
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8
Electronic Voting Glossary
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