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Decision marks first system certification for Boston-based Clear Ballot Group
Silver Spring, Md. – The U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) has certified Clear Ballot Group’s ClearVote 1.4 voting system, verifying its compliance with current federal standards. The determination came after a thorough test campaign conducted by EAC and Pro V&V in Huntsville, Ala. This is the first system certification for the Boston-based Clear Ballot Group.
“At a time when the nation’s voting systems are aging and there is a renewed focus on the accessibility, accuracy and security of elections, the EAC is proud to test and certify voting systems,” said Brian Hancock, Director of the Election Assistance Commission’s Voting System Testing and Certification program. “This process ensures state and local election officials can confidently purchase new equipment that meets federal requirements.”
The ClearVote 1.4 voting system is a paper-based optical-scan voting system that consists of the following major components: ClearDesign (ballot design and election management system), ClearCount (central count, tabulation, and election reporting), ClearCast (precinct count and tabulation), and ClearAccess (accessible voting and ballot marking device).
“Clear Ballot is beyond excited to be the first completely new system to attain EAC certification during a time of the public's recently heightened awareness of the security of America's elections,” said Larry Moore, Founder & CEO of Clear Ballot Group. “The EAC process is constantly evolving, becoming more rigorous and demanding with each system submitted. We are proud to have successfully completed this process and thank the EAC Testing and Certification staff for their diligence during the test process."
The EAC is currently partnering with a diverse working group comprised of representatives from the election community, public sector, private sector and interest groups to develop the next iteration of the election system testing and certification guidelines, VVSG 2.0. In September, the EAC’s Technical Guidelines Development Committee (TGDC) unanimously approved to recommend VVSG 2.0 and sent their recommendation to EAC Executive Director Brian Newby. The EAC’s Board of Advisors and Standards Board are reviewing the new guidelines and there will also be a 90-day period for public comment. The new guidelines are rooted in 17 core voting system functions are expected to be released later this year. The VVSG 2.0 will become the highest standard against which voting systems can be commercially tested in the United States.
The EAC’s Testing and Certification program was a requirement of the Help America Vote Act of 2002, legislation that created the EAC and mandated that the commission provide certification, decertification, and recertification of voting systems, as well as the accreditation of voting system testing laboratories. This legislation marked the first time the federal government funded these activities, a step that allowed states to procure new certified voting systems without the added expense of independent testing and certification.
The Certificate of Conformance and Scope of Certification for the ClearVote 1.4 voting system can be found here. For more information about the certification, please contact Brenda Bowser Soder at [email protected] or 301-563-3951. You can learn more about the EAC’s Testing and Certification program at www.eac.gov.