MIAMI – The Miami-Dade Elections Department put its voting equipment through rigorous testing today in preparation for the Presidential Preference Primary Election on January 29, 2008.
Randomly selected touch screen units (iVotronics) and the optical scan units used to tabulate absentee ballots were subjected to logic and accuracy testing, which simulates what happens during an actual election from opening the equipment to transmitting and tabulating results. As with all elections, the Department exceeded the State’s testing requirements.
Prior to each election, the Department develops a test plan that has a predetermined outcome. “Scribes,” who are Elections Department employees, vote on the iVotronics and on paper absentee ballots. The votes are then tabulated to ensure that the results reflect the predetermined outcome.
“As expected, test results were 100 percent accurate. We believe strongly in the integrity of the system, and that every vote cast on Election Day will be accurately captured and tabulated,” said Lester Sola, Supervisor of Elections, “The equipment performed as expected and we are on target for our preparation of the January 29th election.”
The Elections Department encourages all registered voters to take advantage of their opportunity to vote. There is no need to wait for Election Day, Early Voting starts on Monday, January 14th and there are 20 convenient locations throughout Miami-Dade County.
