Reply #19: Recount procedure for hand counting punchcards states cards must be

[flpoljunkie]

inspected for hanging chads. I still question if the "test desk" consists of actual election ballots. This test is, after all, the first step in the recount procedure.

4.Punchcards

Test the Program

a) Prepare a new test deck of ballot cards that are punched and then manually count them. This deck must not be the same test deck used for the official count.

b) Process the test deck through the computer to verify that the computer count matches the hand count.

c) If the hand count and the computer count do not match, but the hand count is accurate, all ballots must be manually counted.

The Recount

a) Ballot cards must be inspected for hanging chad attached by one or two corners, mutilations, and other invalidities. If a chad is attached by three or four corners, a vote shall not be counted for that particular candidate, question or issue.

b) Overvotes and blank ballots may be separated from the stack at this time and placed at the top of the stack after the header cards.

c) Ballot page assemblies and rotation header cards must be checked for each precinct for candidate positions to verify that each candidate, question, or issue has been properly identified.

d) The board must randomly select whole precincts whose total equals at least 3% of the total vote. These precincts’ ballots must be manually counted.

e) Run the manually counted precincts through the computer.

f) If the computer count does not match the hand count, and after rechecking the manual count the results are still not equal,all ballots must be hand counted. If the results of the computer count and the hand counted ballots are equal, the remainder of the ballots may be processed through the computer and results tabulated electronically.

g) At the conclusion of the recount, the program must be retested using the pre-audited test deck.