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AccuVote2000
 Hernando
County uses the
AccuVote2000
as its method of balloting. AccuVote
is a
state certified optical scan voting system
manufactured by Diebold. This system streamlines the voting process, while providing a
simple, fast and secure method of conducting an election.
Of
paramount importance is the fact that the AccuVote system is voter
friendly.
The
Accu-Vote 2000 provides the voter an easy method of casting his
ballot. At the polls the voter receives a paper ballot in a
secrecy folder. Using a felt tip marker provided at the voting
booth, the voter records his vote by filling in the oval next to his
choices.
The
Accu-Vote system also addresses the needs for security, accuracy and
integrity throughout the voting process.
 Security: After voting, the voter takes his ballot,
in the secrecy folder, to the Accu-Vote tabulator and inserts it
into a slot on top of the machine. The scanning device reads
the votes cast and deposits the voted ballot into a locked and
sealed ballot box. This eliminates ballot handling and provides
total ballot security.
When the
polls close, votes are tallied at each precinct, printed for posting
at the precinct and transmitted by modem to the Hernando County
Supervisor of Elections Office. All precinct totals are received by the
Election Center and integrated into a jurisdiction wide report
showing the total of votes cast at all precincts.
 Accuracy
and Integrity: The Accu-Vote 2000 has undergone rigorous testing
to pass state certification requirements. Using the most
advanced technology in the election industry, the Accu-Vote system
provides not only an easy to mark ballot, but also insures that your
vote is counted. Using paper ballots, the system collects
permanent, physical records of voter choices. This verifiable
audit trail and audit log accounts for every activity performed
during the election process.
Election Results: Not only are ballots counted at
the precinct, but results are available within minutes at each
precinct and are transmitted to the Election center for accumulation of
the votes. The general public will not only be able to access
the results by traditional media report and calls to the elections
office, but also by logging on to our website.
The Accu-Vote system also
provides the advanced features necessary to conduct elections with
ease and confidence. For the Supervisor of Elections, the Accu-Vote system
streamlines each stage of an election while providing comprehensive
security measures. The system helps provide a secure election
environment through a combination of passwords, security levels and
physical locks.
For
precinct workers, the Accu-Vote is compact and
lightweight so that it can be easily transported to and from the
polling place. Poll workers are trained and certified on the
setup, election day use and ending of the election.
The
system's components are:
The Accu-Vote Tabulator:
The tabulator is a multi-functional unit that is the heart of
the voting system. It counts and tabulates the ballots at
precincts on election day and communicates with the host computer at
the elections office by transmitting results via modem for accurate
and timely jurisdiction-wide results.
The
Host Computer (Vote Tally System): The host computer is a
PC-based computer system configured to perform all of the necessary
functions of the application software, from the beginning of the
election process, to the posting of final jurisdiction-wide results.
Visible
Light Reader: The Accu-Vote tabulator utilizes visible
light reader technology that permits the voter to shade in the oval
next to the candidate of choice with a standard pen or pencil.
This is especially advantageous in the absentee-voting environment.
Internal Battery Backup: The Accu-Vote
tabulator employs a battery backup feature that acts as an
uninterruptible power supply. The battery is automatically and
continuously charged. It engages during a power failure to
permit the voting process to continue. It also provides enough
power to print the zero tape at the opening of the polls and ready
the Accu-Vote system to begin accepting ballots, continue
counting ballots, or even print and transmit results at the closing
of the polls.
Ballot
Size, Flexibility: The Accu-Vote ballot is 8.5" wide and
can be 11", 14" or 18" long depending upon the number of races,
candidates and issues on the ballot. Ballot layout is freeform
and flexible and can be formatted in one, two, three or four
columns, front and back. The standard 8.5" width also makes
printing less complicated. Since either the 8.5" x 11" size or
the 8.5" x l4" size ballots accommodates most elections, standard
size boxes and shelves can be used for transport and storage.
TeleResults: The Accu-Vote system pioneered
modem transmission of precinct results directly from the polling
place to the host computer for jurisdiction-wide results using
standard landlines.
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