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Section CommentsGeneral CommentsGlossary Comments
 
Name :   David Dill
Organization :   Verified Voting Foundation
Post Date :   9/30/2005

Glossary Comments
Glossary Term :  VVPAT-Ballot Box
Definition :  
Comment :  Ballot box where the paper record of each voter’s vote is
deposited.
Association: security, voting
Source: no attribution
This definition is potentially problematic, in that it implies that the VVPAT “paper record” is a
ballot. In most existing legislation pertaining to the use of VVPAT paper records (as
printed by a DRE-VVPAT system), such records are not generally afforded the status of a
ballot (i.e., they are not considered the “fundamental record” of the voter’s vote), and are
used only in the case of an audit or recount. Legislation in several states (e.g., California’s
SB 1438) specifically asserts that the VVPAT is “not a ballot”. As such, the container in
which VVPAT paper records are securely stored should more appropriately be referred to
as a “VVPAT-Box” or “VVPAT-storage container”.

Also, the glossary contains no corresponding entry for “Ballot Box”, even though that is a critical component for any voting system.