US Election Assistance Commission - Voluntary Voting System Guidelines Vote
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Section CommentsGeneral CommentsGlossary Comments
 
Name :   Robert Kibrick
Organization :   N/A
Post Date :   9/27/2005

Glossary Comments
Glossary Term :  Audit Trail for DRE
Definition :  
Comment :  Audit Trail for DRE: Paper printout of votes cast, produced by direct response electronic (DRE) voting machines, which election officials may use to crosscheck electronically tabulated totals.  
Association: voting, security
Source: NASS  

Given that the paper printout is derived from the electronic records (and not independently verified by the voters), "cross-checking" can only reveal problems in the printing process. Thus, it is inappropriate to call this an audit trail. Further, this usage is inconsistent with themeaning specified for the broader term “Audit Trail”.