Feb. 25, 2002 – The Virgin Islands Elections System's programming staff, technicians and administrator got 16 hours of training over the weekend in the use of its new Guardian software system.
The software, which is certified by both the Federal Election Commission and the National Association of Election Directors, will provide the Virgin Islands system with an internal audit paper trail which randomly records votes.
The Ballot Image Retention feature, as it's called, serves to augment the recount process. Until now, a recount has entailed processing the same cartridges used in the original count, which always yielded the same number. The BIR would be a backup for the cartridges.
The Guardian system software also:
– Runs the voting machines.
– Lays out ballots.
– Reads the cartridges as they come out of the machines.
– Tallies the cartridges and gives a printout of the results.
Elections supervisor John Abramson Jr. said the software purchase was made out of necessity. "We had a DOS-based system and Guardian, the sole manufacturer of our current voting machines, switched to a Windows-based system," he explained. "If we didn't acquire the software, our machines would have become obsolete."
The $350,000 purchase includes upgrade kits, installation, and software for 140 machines. Guardian services more than a hundred state, county and other government jurisdictions.
Abramson has scheduled followup training including a mock-election exercise for the third week of July. "I'm pleased that we're able to get a very early start in the preparation of the voting machines for the 2002 elections," he said.
