Below is a whitepaper that provides specific procedures and process enhancements to optimize the current election ecosystem to maximize the four cornerstones of elections–accessibility, transparency, security, and verifiability. This Gold Standard results in the following benefits:
- Enhanced voter trust
- Reduced costs and complexity
- Simpler instructions for poll workers
- Transparency of the election process
- Greater accessibility
- Reduced time and errors for counting ballots
- A way to verify results quickly and easily
It would not take a lot of time or money to institute this system as a replacement for electronic voting machines. Alternatively, it could be used as an emergency plan in the event of equipment or power failure.
Furthermore, the Gold Standard process can be utilized to train poll workers, volunteers, and election personnel on an enhanced method for hand-count auditing.
Hand counting of hand marked ballots can be done inexpensively and efficiently. In fact, our results across several tests conducted in various locations across the nation show that it is entirely feasible to count 1,000 ballots in roughly three to four hours with three teams of four people (for 10 races per ballot).
Our team would be happy to work with local election officials to explain and demonstrate this method. The video links in the document also provide direction.