AVANTE patented verifiable optical scan solutions with proven accuracy are configured with commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) hardware of computers, printers, and document imaging scanners with flexibility to accommodate election and voting methods of:
► Counting voters marked ballots in precinct under public observation
► Counting ballots marked by automatic "ballot-marking-devices" under public observation
These patented solutions are developed and proven with the most stringenet accuracy and integrity requirements in mind to accommodate the spectrum of complex elections in USA, South America and others as well as more common and simpler parliamentary and presidential elections in Canada, European, Africa and Asia. Contact an AVANTE voting system and election expert today.
AVANTE's PATENTED OPTICAL-VOTE-TRAKKER® is the first
optical scan system providing technological improvements that reduce reading and tally errors on paper ballots. Some of the highlights:
- AVANTE's OPTICAL-VOTE-TRAKKER® was the first optical scan solution to achieve less than 1 error in 1.5 million marks and was certified to the FEC 2002 Voting System Standards.
- This is achieved through patented quantitative pixel counting mark technology that differentiates slightly lighter marks and slightly smeared marks.
- By using patented dimensional scaling and fiducial marking, the system recognizes natural paper expansion and shrinkage due to moisture, mechanical folding, and wrinkles.
- AVANTE OPTICAL-VOTE-TRAKKER® was the first optical scan solution to capture digital ballot picture images during scanning to provide electronic audits of the paper ballot counting process.
- The capturing of picture images during scanning is like taking a video of the actual ballots that have been submitted for counting. Other than precinct count applications, the system scrambles the picture image order to provide voter privacy.
- There should be complete detailed chain-of-custody management of the ballot opening and handling process before they are submitted for scanning. For checks and balance, a video recording of the complete process under public view would minimize any possible challenge to the election process.
- AVANTE OPTICAL-VOTE-TRAKKER® is the only optical scan solution that uses “write-once-read-many” (WORM) CD-Rs or DVDs as its transfer and storage media eliminating doubts over data corruption.
- The same WORM type CD-R is used for loading ballot templates.
- AVANTE OPTICAL-VOTE-TRAKKER® is the only optical scan solution that includes optional use of patented randomly generated paper ballot identifiers used to eliminate forged ballots and double counting.
- A unique randomly generated paper ballot identifier is generated and printed on the paper ballot in the form of machine-readable barcode.
- The identifier is not tied to the voter registration system or any particular voter.
- The unique randomly generated number prevents any forged ballots.
- The unique ballot identifier automatically prevents any double counting.
- AVANTE OPTICAL-VOTE-TRAKKER® is the first to provide automatic rank-choice voting to facilitate instant run-off election. Paper ballots and electronic ballots are generated at the same time within the same EMS (Election Management System) that allows voters to rank all candidates in accordance to their preference. The software automatically perform the "run-off" instantly as part of the tabulation of votes.
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AVANTE OPTICAL-VOTE-TRAKKER® is the first integrated verifiable and auditable election systems to provide end-to-end auditability with unparalleled counting accuracy. Election integrity is enhanced from ballot generation, printing, delivery, counting, imaging, audit logs, data protection with hashing using randomly generated ballot identifier, write-once-read-many (WORM) data transfer media and encryption during transmission.
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VOTER PREVIEW, ACCURACY AND SECURITY
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State/Federal Requirement
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AVANTE Central Count Solution
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1. Over-voted Contests
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§ EAC: Provide alert as such
§ Some States Election Codes require specific contest be noted
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Ø Highlighted on digital ballot image
Ø Digital ballot images automatically extracted for manual review and canvassing
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2. Under-voted Contests
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§ EAC: Provide alert as such
§ Some States Election Codes require specific contest be noted
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Ø Highlighted on digital ballot image
Ø Digital ballot images automatically extracted for manual review and canvassing
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3. Selections as Read by Scanner
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§ EAC: No requirement
§ No other system provides such capability
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Ø Full-face digital ballot image with highlighted over-voted and under-voted contests.
Ø Selections showed and noted.
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4. Ability to decipher light and color marks and “write-in”
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§ EAC: No requirement
§ No other system provides such capability
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Ø Automatic review of difference between different level of oval markings
Ø Automatic ballot image extraction of write-in for ease of tabulation
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5. Ability to read ballots that are folded, high moisture, etc
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§ EAC: Less than one error in 1,500,000 marks
§ No other system provides such capability
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Ø Scaled to read with 100% accuracy.
Ø First ever to reach 0% error in 1,500,000 marks
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6. Ability to prevent double counting
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§ EAC: No requirement
§ No other system provides such capability
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Ø Optional use of unique random ballot identifier that is machine readable (not human readable) to prevent double counting
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7. Ability to detect faked ballots
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§ EAC: No requirement
§ No other system provides such capability
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Ø Optional unique random ballot identifier that is machine readable (not human readable) to detect and reject faked ballots
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8. Speed for Processing Ballot
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§ EAC: No specific requirement
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Ø 2.2 seconds for 8.5”x14” duplex ballot
Ø 2.6 seconds for 11”x17” duplex ballot
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BALLOT FLEXIBILITIES AND COSTS
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State/Federal Requirements
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AVANTE Central Count Solution
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1. Ballot Sizes
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§ No special specifications
§ Traditional availability:
o 8.5”x14”
o 8.5”x18”
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Ø 8.5”x11” (Duplex)
Ø 8.5”x14” (Duplex)
Ø 11”x17” (Duplex)
Ø 12”x18” (Duplex)
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2. Ballot Paper
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§ No special specifications
§ Traditional requirements:
o 90-lb card stock
o Special Paper
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Ø 24-28-lb with 90 or higher brightness copying paper (recommended)
Ø 20-lb with 84 brightness (minimum)
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3. Ballot Type
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§ Single Ballot Sheet with Full-Face Presentation for Some States Election Code
§ Some jurisdictions use “vertical” while others use “horizontal” candidate-selection presentation
§ No special Federal requirements
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Ø Single Ballot Sheet with Full-Face Presentation in either Horizontal or Vertical Candidate/Selection Presentation
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4. Ballot Limitation
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§ No special specification. Typical:
o All ballot styles must be pre-printed
o Limitation as to number of ballot styles
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Ø Print and mark ballots as needed.
Ø No need for pre-printed ballot
Ø No limit of ballot styles
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5. Typical Ballot Costs
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§ >$0.90 Per Ballot Sheets with Both Sides Printed (8.5”x18”, 90-lb card stock)
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Ø $0.30 Per Ballot Sheet with Both Sides Printed (11”x17”, 24-lb Paper)
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Below suggests a workflow for the paper balloting solution
AVANTE provides “Ballot-On-Demand”; “Precinct-Based-Review-Ballot”; Precinct and/or Central Count Optical Scan Systems for Unparalleled Election Integrity
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Comparative Analysis on Performance of Different Class of Optical Scan Systems
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AVANTE OPTICAL VOTE-TRAKKER®
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Conventional Optical Systems
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1. Accuracy
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§ Tested accuracy to read ballots to exceed “Help America Vote Acts” (HAVA) requirements with less than 1 error in 1,500,000 marks.
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§ Not known. Many have proven to be less than accurate as required by HAVA.
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2. Audit Capability
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§ Captured digital ballot image (a picture of the ballot) as they are scanned as part of audit trail to prevent post election ballot tampering.
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§ Not available.
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3. Double Count Prevention
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§ Optional machine authentication (machine readable random identifier) to prevent double counting.
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§ Not available.
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4. Fake Ballot Detection
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§ Optional machine authentication (machine readable random identifier) to detect and reject faked ballots.
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§ Not available.
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5. Post Scan Assessment
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§ Automatic assessment of light markings and erased markings for the under-voted and over-voted ballots.
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§ Not available.
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6. Duplex Capability
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§ Yes. Read ballot multiple ballot sheets with ballot on both sides.
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§ Yes. Read ballot multiple ballot sheets with ballot on both sides.
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7. Availability
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§ Total commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) hardware to meet urgent delivery requirements within days of ordering.
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§ Made to order. May take more than 3 months if not in stock.
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Counterfeiting, tampering via smearing, changing, substituting, adding and removing of paper ballots are all well documented problems using paper ballots. These problems are more difficult to control in central count optical scan elections.
Both the central count and precinct-based optical scan voting systems certified for use by most states are older technology systems developed almost 20 years ago. They are all “direct recording electronic” voting systems in the sense that the input from the ballots are read by the optical scanner and deciphered by computer software rather than reading the inputs from the display screen after touches by the voters. The same types of computer-related security vulnerabilities associated with touch-screen or touch-pad DREs exist with these old style optical systems.
Contact an AVANTE voting system and election expert today.
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