FEVER™ Explained

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Explanation of the FEVER System

The name - FEVER stands for Familiar Experience Voting & Election Reform. The Familiar Experience portion of the name comes from the use of a paper ballot that the voter marks his or her choices on using an electronic stylus (pen) provided as part of the system. The Election Reform portion of the name reflects the realization that voting systems the world over are outdated and in need of a reasonable dose of modern technology.

The FEVER system uses modern technology AND traditional paper ballots to modernize the election process, yet retains the all important audit trail that so many other systems lose.

Product Features and Benefits

FEVER is an innovative hybrid voting solution, combining the paper ballot with modern technology. FEVER uses the paper ballot for familiar voter interface and ease of use. Thereby, eliminating technology apprehension, FEVER will increase public acceptance and voter turnout at the elections. The paper ballot also provides an audit trail should there be a need to validate the election results. The high-tech reader underneath the paper ballot records and stores the voter's choices, eliminating overvotes, reducing undervoting, and allowing for accurate and fast tallying of election results. FEVER automates and streamlines the voting process, while minimizing error and the need for human oversight at each step in the process. Other features include:

• Printed paper ballot allows multiple language ballots to be utilized without expensive system changes.
• Easy setup for election officials at the precinct and higher levels.
• Retention of the paper ballot as the ultimate indication of voter intent.
• Multiple path data transfer eliminates vote data tampering possibilities.
• Simple and easy to use.

Another competitive attribute of FEVER is that it is cost-effective. Governments all over the world will be able to afford upgrading their voting systems. More states, counties, and precincts can afford FEVER and have accurate and fast results at elections, without compromising voter turnout.

Other newly developed systems like the touch-screen voting systems and Internet voting systems scare voters away for several reasons. With those machines, the voting experience is a challenge to many voters who are not familiar with computers. Voters must be trained to use these systems. The time spent on training might not be justified, considering elections sometimes take place only once a year. Due to the infrequency of elections voters forget how to use these systems. Sometimes, all-electronic systems leave voters feeling insecure in regards to whether they voted the way they intended to vote, and that their vote will be counted. With FEVER there is no training and no interpretation of votes. The voter's intent is clear and if there is a question the paper ballot serves as tangible verification.

System Components

The FEVER system consists of the following components. For simplicity, we will describe only the precinct level of the system. Other levels such as the county, state or federal would use the same components in varying quantities.

• FEVER System Computer: This computer is an inexpensive PC custom built to our specifications, using normal PC components and our proprietary software. Typically there would be one system computer per precinct, and an additional system computer at the election headquarters for each level of the election hierarchy.

• FEVER System Controller: This component acts as the hub of the system and controls the electronic data flow within the precinct.

• FEVER Readers: The Readers are the heart of this system. These devices actually record the vote data as input by the voter. The Reader then transfers the vote data to the computer for tallying and storage.

• FEVER Stylus: This special pen is attached to the FEVER Reader and is used by the voter to make choices on a paper ballot by checking a box, filling in a circle or any number of other marking methods.

• Paper Ballot: The paper ballot is low tech at its finest. This simple paper ballot can be most any shape or size, within limitations set by the size of the reader surface. The voter marks his/her choices directly on the paper ballot using the FEVER Stylus. The paper ballot is retained should there be any problems with either the system electronics or should questions arise about election results.

Using the system to vote (from a voter's perspective)

The voter will use the FEVER system much as he or she would when using a regular pen and paper to vote. The only exception is that the paper ballot is placed on the FEVER Reader surface and the voter uses the attached pen to mark the ballot. Here are the steps that would be typical for a voter to use the system.

1. Voter brings registration information to the polling place. We propose to keep the voter registration process separate from the vote collection and tallying system.

2. Election worker checks registration, and if the voter is approved to vote at this location, the worker issues a paper ballot to the voter.

3. When a voting station becomes available, the voter is shown to the voting booth and given simple instructions on ballot placement on the Reader and use of the stylus (pen).

4. The voter places the ballot on the Reader surface and reads the choices for each race on the ballot. To choose a candidate for any race, the voter simply marks inside the corresponding choice box next to the preferred choice.

5. If the voter makes a mistake, he or she can mark a special box on the ballot indicating that a mistake has been made. By marking in this area, the Reader notifies the precinct worker that this voter needs a fresh ballot. Normal ballot voiding procedures are then followed and the voter is issued a new ballot.

6. If no changes are desired, and all races that the voter wishes to consider have been voted upon, the voter chooses a box on the ballot to indicate that he or she is finished voting and considers this ballot to be valid. At this point the Reader is automatically disabled and no further changes or additions can be made by this voter.

7. The voter picks up the completed ballot, leaves the booth and deposits the ballot in a ballot box provided by the precinct.

8. This completes the voting process.

 

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