verity build - colorado...archiving data . using external storage media . use cd-rs and dvd-rs as...

© Hart InterCivic Inc.

Verity Build 66XX-XXX A Verity_1.0_CoursePack_Build

Getting Started Module 1

In this course, election officials and staff will:

• Obtain an overall grasp of Verity Office

• Have the information and skills necessary to operate Verity Build software for any election

• Learn how to create paper ballots and electronic files for off-site printing

• Learn how to create vDrives

objectives

benefits of Verity Build

“Any kind of election” - Verity Build allows election administrators to define any kind of election through one unified workflow. Whether you want in-person voting, by-mail voting, paper or electronic ballots, with printed text or audio, Build is your “one-stop” tool to manage all of your data, in one application. User choices and flexibility - Verity Build offers a variety of paper sizes, voting types, device settings, and reporting options to deploy your election just the way you want. Security, privacy, and transparency - Verity Build employs Verity Keys for two-factor authentication, robust user controls over ballot serialization to protect voter privacy, and easy-to-read plain language audit logs for transparency.

Ballots

Polling Place

Touch Writer Scan

vDrive

vDrive

vDrive

Ballots

Scanner

Verity system overview


Using Verity Touch Writer, voters mark digital ballots via a touch screen. After the voter has confirmed their selections, the marked ballot prints. The voter then retrieves and casts their ballot.


Verity Touch Writer is compatible with Verity Access, which provides the following voter input options (in addition to the touch screen): buttons with scrolling wheel, headphones, and tactile button or sip-and-puff devices. The Verity Access can be docked within the Verity Touch Writer or held in hand.


Verity Scan is a polling-place-based digital scanner for voted ballots. I can be used with manually marked ballots or those printed via the Verity Touch Writer. If a voter marks contests incorrectly on their ballot, Verity Scan gives the voter the opportunity to check and/or correct their ballot before casting. Verity scan deposits scanned paper ballots into its secure ballot box for locked storage.


In the Verity system, vDrives are used to transfer ballots from software to device for voting, and to transfer voted ballots to software for tabulation.

vDrives also carry the audit log for their associated device to ensure voting remains fair.

Verity security features

Verity Key, is a small security device that is programmed for each election. Verity Key is inserted into a USB port. Verity Key is part of Verity’s two-factor authentication process. Two-factor authentication requires each user to have something (a programmed Verity Key) and to know something (the passcode associated with the Verity Key). Both the user passcode and the Verity Key must be authenticated together. Certain operations within the Verity Voting system require the Verity Key to be inserted and the passcode to be entered. Only when the Verity system authenticates the Verity key and password will it allow the operation to continue. If Verity fails to authenticate a Verity Key or password, the Verity Key may not have been programmed properly for the current election.

Verity Key

Verity security features

Verity Security Features • Verity Voting utilizes the AAA (authentication,

authorization, and audit) security framework • All Verity software has been tested by an

independent voting system test lab and the Election Assistance Commission to ensure proper security.

• Verity uses a multi-layered authentication process • Verity software is tamper evident • Comprehensive audit logs are generated for all

login attempts, data transfers, configuration changes, and errors. Logs are stored redundantly and securely.

• Vote records are stored redundantly for security and auditability.

• The integrity of the data is protected from power outage, power surge, magnets, and rough handling.

managing users

User Management

Choose Users button from Verity Election Office Dashboard

managing users

Adding Users

• Click Add to add a new user

• Set rules for all users on the right

managing users

Adding Users

• Type the new User Name

• Click the + to view and assign roles

managing users

Adding Users

• Assign roles for each Application

managing users

Adding Users

managing users

Deleting Users

• Click Delete to remove a selected user

managing users

Password Tips

• Passwords must be at least 6 characters

• Passwords should contain a numbers and letters

• Passwords should contain uppercase and lowercase letters

managing users

Audit Logs and System Logs

Through the Verity audit and system logs, you can:

• Track every action performed in plain language

• Easily view which user performed each action

• View at what time each action was performed

managing elections

Election Management

Choose Manage button from Verity Election Office Dashboard

managing elections

Election Management Overview

An election is highlighted when selected

managing elections

Actions Button

Add, Copy, Rename, Delete, Import, Archive or Restore an Election

Verity Build

Keys vDrives Print Ballots

similarities to BOSS

• Verity Layout and Build replace BOSS

• Audio Recordings are done within Layout, and

can be completed after database is finalized

• Media is created from Verity Build, which is

separate from Verity Layout

Verity Build

Overview of sequential steps

• Open the election and set preferences • Proof the election

• Data Validation • Ballot Preview • Reports • Proof Audio

• Configure the Election Settings • Accept the election • Print ballots • Create vDrives • Create Keys

using the help tab

getting started

Exercise 1.1

Open Verity Office and create users for the Build application. Delete unnecessary users, if needed.

Activities in the Elections Tab Module 2

Opening the Election from Layout

opening the election from Layout

• Select the election, then click Open

Setting Preferences

setting preferences

• Set default election preferences

Activities in the Elections Tab

Exercise 2.1

Load and open training election as created in Verity Layout.

activities in the elections tab


Exercise 2.2

Note file path of ElectionData.zip and practice backup procedures.



Exercise 2.3

Set database preferences.


Activities in the Proof Tab Module 3

Validating Data

validating data

• View any data validation errors

• Items with a must be corrected before you can continue

Print and use the following reports to proof ballot content and associations: • Contest List • Early Voting and Election Day Polling Place Detail Lists • Early Voting and Election Day Polling Place Summary List Proof ballot content and associations for: • Spelling and Content • Contest Details • Contest options • Write-in lines • Party information • Candidate details • Contest instructions • District, Precinct, and Polling Place associations Review all audio after recording. • Listen for any mispronunciations, especially with candidate names. • Listen for truncated words at the beginning and ending of audio strings. • Listen for extreme changes in volume from string to string.

Proofing the Ballot

Proofing best practices

proofing the ballot

Proofing the Ballot

Proofing Using the Touch Writer Listen to all audio on the Touch Writer. • Confirm that all audio strings are clear, audible, and

associated with the appropriate text. Proof the Ballot Summary Screen for all ballot styles. • Verify that all contests and candidate names appear

without avoidable truncation or needlessly small font size.

proofing the ballot

Proof ballot layout aesthetics and usability • Ballots should be simple, well spaced and easy to understand. • Ballot content should be laid out evenly throughout the page. • Assess fold patterns on different ballot styles. • Try reading the ballot upside-down or from bottom to top to

encourage careful examination. Make changes and edits in the database, copy forward, generate, and proof again. Ballot Production Service Customers should test vDrives as soon as they are received. Notify BPS as soon as possible with edits and changes.

Proofing te Ballot

Proofing Using Paper Ballots

proofing the ballot

Proofing the Ballot

Previewing the Ballot

the proof tab

Ballot stubs • Avoid any folds occurring just above or below a ballot stub

perforation

Fold lines • Avoid folding through barcodes • Avoid folding through option boxes whenever possible • Avoid folding against the grain of the paper

Build allows users to pre-assess position of fold lines and perforations on screen, giving opportunity to reposition contests or fold lines on the ballot

Best practices for paper ballot processing start with ballot creation

ballot layout best practices

Proofing the Ballot

Proofing Fold Lines While Creating Your Ballot

Consider the placement of fold lines when laying out your ballot. • Avoid folding ballots through option boxes and barcodes as dirt

may accumulate in the fold. • Where possible, evenly distribute contests across columns. • Add additional space between contests by using empty ballot texts

and pipes, not by using carriage returns. • Use the minimum number of folds required to fit the ballot into its

envelope. • Be familiar with all of your ballot styles. Some may require a

different type of fold than others. • Avoid folds that go through a column of option boxes. • Avoid excessive folding and creasing.

proofing the ballot

Proofing the Ballot

Proofing Fold Lines While Creating Your Ballot

Before mailing • Educate persons folding ballots on proper ballot folding procedure. • Fold ballots evenly, uniformly, and avoiding short folds along the

top of the sheet. • Short folds at the top of a sheet can cause a ballot to fold over

within a batch and thus be improperly scanned. • Folds through a barcode may affect a scanner’s ability to read

ballots

proofing the ballot

Proofing the Ballot

Viewing, printing, and reading reports

proofing the ballot

• Select the desired report, then click Print

Proofing the Ballot

Audit Log and System Log reports

Audit Log and System Log reports are available in the reports section for each application. For Build, these reports are located under the Proof tab, under Reports. Audit Log Report • Logs all activity for the Build application. • Records user identities and actions performed.

System Log Report • Logs all workstation logins and other actions performed on the

network that are independent of the specific applications. • Records user identities and actions performed

reports

Proofing the Ballot

Proofing Audio

proofing the ballot

• Select the desired item, then click the Play button to hear recorded Audio

• Recording status is indicated in the right hand column

Activities in the Proof Tab

Exercise 3.1

Scroll through the issues list in the Data Validation tab and verify that each line has zero issues. Correct any issues in Verity Layout as needed.

activities in the proof tab

Activities in the Proof Tab

Exercise 3.2

Preview and/or print one of each ballot style.



Exercise 3.3

Assess fold line locations by enabling the fold lines off/on functionality.


Exercise 3.4

Print All Contests, Polling Place List, Election Media Devices Created , and, Audit reports and review.


Exercise 3.5

Verify that all desired audio has been recorded by playing each recorded string.

Activities in the Configure Tab Module 4

election settings

Printed Ballots

election settings

Voting Type Setup

election settings

Device Reports

election settings

Device Passcodes

election settings

Device-Specific Rules - Scan

election settings

Device-Specific Rules – Touch Writer

accepting the election

• Accept the election ONLY after all data has been proofed and verified.

• Once accepted, no further changes are allowed (with the exception of Ballot Audio and Translations)

archiving data

Using external storage media

Use CD-Rs and DVD-Rs as the primary backup method because they are the most reliable media to use for long-term archival. DVDs are capable of holding about seven times more data than CDs.

activities in the configure tab

Exercise 4.1

Set locally appropriate naming conventions and serial number display rules for sample and official ballot labels.


Exercise 4.2

Set rules for each voting type (allow tally, polls close date/time, and end of day type).


Exercise 4.3

Set rules for device reports.


Exercise 4.4

Create all passwords for all devices and voting types.


Exercise 4.5

Set device-specific rules for each applicable device type (Scan, Touch, Touch Writer, Ballot).

Activities in the Configure Tab

Exercise 4.6

Accept the election.

Activities in the Create Tab

Module 5

printing ballots

Introduction to printing

There are two basic options when printing paper ballots: • ballots can be printed on-demand and in-house, or • ballots can be printed by a third-party, or “contract,”

print vendor who typically uses a commercial digital document printer.

Hart has developed a print vendor certification process designed to standardize the various practices used by commercial print shops. If using a contract printer, be sure that they conform to the recommended guidelines.

printing ballots

Printing ballots

printing ballots

Using a print queue

printing ballots

Using Ballot Overlays

Use the Ballot QC Overlay to check the alignment, position, and size of all barcodes and the page frame that surrounds the ballot content. Check both the front and back of the ballot.

managing vDrives

Planning vDrive quantities

Test Mode vDrives: 1 vDrive for each Touch Writer to be used in the Logic and Accuracy Test (LAT) 1 vDrive for each Scan to be used in the LAT 1 vDrive for ballot proofing 1 vDrive for use at the help desk (optional)

managing vDrives

Planning vDrive quantities

Election Mode vDrives 1 vDrive for each Touch Writer to be used in the election – Early Voting and Election Day 1 vDrive for each Scan to be used in the election – Absentee, Early Voting, and Election Day 10% of total as spare Election mode vDrives

managing vDrives

Writing vDrives

managing vDrives

Reading vDrives

managing Keys

Practicing Key security

• Log and limit access to Keys.

• Remove Keys from equipment when not in use.

managing Keys

Writing Keys

• Choose a Key type from the drop-down menu

• Choose an administrator password

• Set up additional passwords, if desired

• Click Write

managing Keys

Reading Keys

activities in the create tab

Exercise 5.1

Practice printing ballots “on-demand” from the Print Ballots window. Print one “Official” ballot for each precinct. Add watermark, set starting serial number, include stub, and/or practice using the print queue as appropriate for the implementation.


Exercise 5.2

Practice printing ballots “to file” from the Print Ballots window. Choose one precinct, set as “Official,” and name the print file using the following naming convention: <<precinct>>_official_<<quantity>>.ps. Include party name, if applicable.


Exercise 5.3

Create at least 5 vDrives using “Official” as the device type for use in training with other applications. Read at least one vDrive after writing all.


Exercise 5.4

Using the vDrive tracking log, create at least 1 “Official Election Key” for use in training with other applications. After writing the Key, remove, then reinsert the Key and read.

Review and Conclusion Module 6

review

Review • Loading the Election • Proofing the Ballot • Configuring Election Settings & Devices • Printing Ballots & Writing Media

database archival

After the election, back up all election data onto recordable CD-Rs or DVD-Rs using the disc-burning software installed on all Verity computers. When backing up data: • Create at least two copies of each CD or DVD. Store one copy offsite. • Label the surface of the disc—not the jewel case—with a permanent

marker. • Label each disc clearly to avoid confusion. On the disc, write:

o Application being backed up o Name and date of the election o What mode or state the database is in o Time/date-stamped folder name (if applicable) o Date and time of the backup

• Store discs away from direct sunlight, and in a climate controlled room. • Do not back up data solely to a hard disk drive (internal or external). Hard

disk drives can be used for short term data storage during the election event, but should not be used as a long-term archive.

reloading an election

Previously created elections can be reloaded into Verity, for example: • Reloading an election from an archive to review,

module by module, how it was created

• In the event of computer loss, reloading an election onto a new PC/installation

Q&A

Questions?

review and conclusion

Exercise 6.1

Discuss archival of election data and reloading elections in Verity Build.

verity build - colorado...archiving data . using external storage media . use cd-rs and dvd-rs as...

Documents