Missouri Election Authority Challenge

During the pre-election Logic and Accuracy testing for the upcoming General Municipal Election, Missouri voters challenge election authorities to use this opportunity to test all legally valid voter marks as defined in Missouri law. The purpose is to confirm—and publicly demonstrate—that approved automatic tabulating equipment can accurately detect, count, and attribute voter intent as Missouri law requires.

The test is simple. Using the sample ballot for the upcoming municipal election in your jurisdiction, prepare a single test ballot that includes the commonly used filled-in oval along with one or more other marks recognized by Missouri law as valid expressions of voter intent.

The test passes if the ballot is accepted by the tabulator and all expressions of voter intent are correctly detected and attributed to the appropriate candidate or ballot question.

The test fails if the ballot is rejected, or if a legally valid voter mark is categorized and counted as an undervote, as though the voter intentionally abstained from voting in that race or question.

This is your chance election authorities. Record your L&A process and test results and submit them here.
This is your chance voters. Show up and witness the L&A test process and get our questions answered.

Missouri Law:

Missouri’s legal requirement – RSMo 115.456 and 15 CSR 30-9.020/30-9.030: The election authority shall be responsible for insuring that the standards provided for in this rule are followed when counting ballots cast using optical scan voting systems.

The following marks shall be considered expressions of voter intent:

Any ballot which is properly marked in the target area, as specified by the ballot instructions.

Any ballot which is properly marked in the target area, as specified by the ballot instructions.

The target area next to a candidate or issue preference is circled.

The target area next to a candidate or issue preference is circled.

There is a distinguishing mark in the target area next to a candidate or issue preference including but not limited to the following examples:

There is a distinguishing mark in the target area next to a candidate or issue preference including but not limited to the following examples:

The name of a candidate or issue preference is circled.

The name of a candidate or issue preference is circled.

In the event that there are distinguishing marks for two (2) or more candidates, clarified by an additional mark or marks that appear to indicate support, the ballot shall be counted as a vote for the candidate with the additional, clarifying marks.

In the event that there are distinguishing marks for two (2) or more candidates, clarified by an additional mark or marks that appear to indicate support, the ballot shall be counted as a vote for the candidate with the additional, clarifying marks.