Paper Vote Scanning Accuracy in the 2020 Election
Dear ACT Electoral Commission,
In accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 2016, I apply for access to documents held by the Commission, including correspondence, relating to paper vote scanning accuracy in the 2020 election.
I apply for access to documents about:
Manual checking of scanned paper ballots, including:
* the number of scans flagged for manual checking
* the number of votes considered formal and informal after manual checking
* estimates or discussion of the number of ballot papers which were actually ambiguous, but were not flagged by the scanner for manual checking
Audits of paper ballot scanning, including:
* the number of formal and informal ballots audited
* the number of errors found
* any reviews or changes to the audit method or process
The overall accuracy of the process, including:
* comparisons of the ACT's electronic scanning and counting accuracy with the accuracy of scanned or manual recounts in other jurisdictions
* any errors discovered in paper ballot scans or counts
Yours faithfully,
T Wilson-Brown
OFFICIAL
Dear T Wilson-Brown
Please find attached an acknowledgment letter in relation to your recent
access application.
Ro Spence | Deputy Electoral Commissioner
ACT Electoral Commission
Phone: 02 6205 0224 | [mobile number]
[1][email address] | [2]www.elections.act.gov.au | [3]facebook |
[4]twitter | [5]youtube
Level 6, 221 London Circuit, Canberra City
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References
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5. http://www.youtube.com/user/ElectionsACT
OFFICIAL
Dear T Wilson-Brown
Please find attached a letter in relation to your recent FOI access
application regarding ballot paper scanning.
Ro Spence | Deputy Electoral Commissioner
ACT Electoral Commission
Phone: 02 6205 0224 | [mobile number]
[1][email address] | [2]www.elections.act.gov.au | [3]facebook |
[4]twitter | [5]youtube
Level 6, 221 London Circuit, Canberra City
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all copies of this transmission along with any attachments immediately.
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References
Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
2. http://www.elections.act.gov.au/
3. http://www.facebook.com/ElectionsACT
4. http://www.twitter.com/ElectionsACT
5. http://www.youtube.com/user/ElectionsACT
OFFICIAL
Dear T Wilson-Brown
Please find attached, in relation to your access application, your Access
application decision notice and the accompanying Reason for decision
notice and schedule of documents.
Also attached are the eight documents relevant to your access application.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions in relation to
this matter.
Ro Spence | Deputy Electoral Commissioner
ACT Electoral Commission
Phone: 02 6205 0224 | [mobile number]
[1][email address] | [2]www.elections.act.gov.au | [3]facebook |
[4]twitter | [5]youtube
Level 6, 221 London Circuit, Canberra City
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This email, and any attachments, may be confidential and also privileged.
If you are not the intended recipient, please notify the sender and delete
all copies of this transmission along with any attachments immediately.
You should not copy or use it for any purpose, nor disclose its contents
to any other person.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
2. http://www.elections.act.gov.au/
3. http://www.facebook.com/ElectionsACT
4. http://www.twitter.com/ElectionsACT
5. http://www.youtube.com/user/ElectionsACT
Dear Ro,
Thank you for providing these documents.
Does Elections ACT keep statistics about how many of the actual paper ballots are retrieved for checking during verification?
(My understanding is that verification officers are typically looking at scanned images of the digits or ballots, rather than directly looking at the paper ballots.)
Yours sincerely,
T Wilson-Brown
OFFICIAL
Good morning Tim,
Thank you for your question. No, Elections ACT does not maintain statistics on the number of physical ballot papers retrieved as part of the V3 verification process.
You are correct that verification officers typically look at the scanned images on the screen. In the vast majority of cases this is sufficient to determine the voter's intention. Generally speaking, it is when a number is written over a previous number or over scribble that retrieving the physical ballot paper is required in order to determine the voter's intention.
Such a request to view the physical ballot paper can be made at the time by either the verification officer or a candidate scrutineer overseeing the count.
If you have an interest in this process you would be more than welcome to attend the 2024 election ballot paper scanning scrutiny process as an invited guest.
Ro Spence | Deputy Electoral Commissioner
ACT Electoral Commission
Phone: 02 6205 0224 | [mobile number]
[email address] | www.elections.act.gov.au | facebook | twitter | youtube
Level 6, 221 London Circuit, Canberra City
-----Original Message-----
From: T Wilson-Brown <[FOI #7099 email]>
Sent: Thursday, 15 April 2021 5:18 PM
To: Spence, Rohan <[email address]>
Subject: Re: Freedom of Information request - Paper vote scanning accuracy in the 2020 election
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the ACT Government. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognise the sender and know the content is safe.
Dear Ro,
Thank you for providing these documents.
Does Elections ACT keep statistics about how many of the actual paper ballots are retrieved for checking during verification?
(My understanding is that verification officers are typically looking at scanned images of the digits or ballots, rather than directly looking at the paper ballots.)
Yours sincerely,
T Wilson-Brown
-----Original Message-----
OFFICIAL
Dear T Wilson-Brown
Please find attached, in relation to your access application, your Access
application decision notice and the accompanying Reason for decision
notice and schedule of documents.
Also attached are the eight documents relevant to your access application.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions in relation to
this matter.
Ro Spence | Deputy Electoral Commissioner
ACT Electoral Commission
Phone: 02 6205 0224 | [mobile number]
[1][email address] | [2]http://www.elections.act.gov.au/ | [3]facebook |
[4]twitter | [5]youtube
Level 6, 221 London Circuit, Canberra City
References
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Ty Wilson-Brown left an annotation ()
A decision on your access application is now due on 15 April 2021."
Due to third-party consultation.