§ 3506.14Testing and auditing of voting equipment

(A) Prior to each election, the board of elections shall do both of the following as instructed by the
secretary of state:


(1) Test and audit the variable codes applicable to that election to verify the accuracy of any
computer program that will be used for tallying the ballot cards for each precinct in which an
election will be held;


(2) Conduct systematic logic and accuracy testing of every component of every voting machine,
marking device, or piece of automatic tabulating equipment with every ballot style to be used in the
election to ascertain that the ballots are accurate and that the machines, devices, and equipment will
accurately record, mark, or count the votes cast for all offices and on all questions and issues, as
applicable. The test shall be conducted by processing a pre-audited group of ballots so marked as to
record a predetermined number of valid votes for each candidate and on each question and issue, and
shall include for each office one or more ballots that have votes in excess of the number allowed by
law in order to test the ability of the automatic tabulating equipment to reject those votes. In that test
a different number of valid votes shall be assigned to each candidate for an office, and for and
against each question and issue. If an error is detected, the cause for the error shall be ascertained
and corrected and an errorless count shall be made and certified to by the board before the count is
started.


(B) All automatic tabulating equipment to be used in an election shall pass the same testing
described in division (A)(2) of this section at the beginning and conclusion of the election day count
before the election returns are approved as official.


(C) The board shall give public notice of the time and place of all testing to be conducted under this
section by proclamation or posting as in the case of notice of elections. All testing under this section
shall be conducted by bipartisan teams of election officials.




                                                  Page 1

(D) No voting machine, marking device, or piece of automatic tabulating equipment shall be used in
an election in this state without undergoing successful testing under this section.


(E) On completion of the election day count, the programs, test materials, and ballots shall be sealed
and retained as provided for paper ballots in section 3505.31 of the Revised Code.




                                                 Page 2