Within 14 days before election day, the official in charge of elections shall have the voting system tested to ascertain that the system will correctly mark ballots using all methods supported by the system, including through assistive technology, and count the votes cast for all candidates and on all questions. Public notice of the time and place of the test must be given at least two days in advance by publication once in official newspapers. The test must be observed by at least two election judges, who are not of the same major political party, and must be open to representatives of the political parties, candidates, the press, and the public. The test must be conducted by (1) processing a preaudited group of ballots punched or marked to record a predetermined number of valid votes for each candidate and on each question, and must include for each office one or more ballot cards which have votes in excess of the number allowed by law in order to test the ability of the voting system tabulator and electronic ballot marker to reject those votes; and (2) processing an additional test deck of ballots marked using the electronic ballot marker for the precinct, including ballots marked using the electronic ballot display, audio ballot reader, and any assistive voting technology used with the electronic ballot marker. If any error is detected, the cause must be ascertained and corrected and an errorless count must be made before the voting system may be used in the election. After the completion of the test, the programs used and ballot cards must be sealed, retained, and disposed of as provided for paper ballots.
1984 c 447 s 25; 1988 c 424 s 1; 1993 c 223 s 21; 1997 c 147 s 64; 2005 c 162 s 23; 2006 c 242 s 33
Structure Minnesota Statutes
Chapters 200 - 212 — Elections
Section 206.55 — Minnesota Election Law Applies.
Section 206.57 — Examination Of New Voting Systems.
Section 206.58 — Authorization For Use.
Section 206.59 — Payment For Voting Systems.
Section 206.62 — Sample Ballots.
Section 206.64 — Accessibility; Instructions; Assistance To Voters.
Section 206.66 — Violations; Penalties.
Section 206.80 — Electronic Voting Systems.
Section 206.805 — State Voting Systems Contracts.
Section 206.81 — Electronic Voting Systems; Experimental Use.
Section 206.82 — Preparation Of Electronic Voting System Programs And Plans.
Section 206.83 — Testing Of Voting Systems.
Section 206.84 — Methods Of Using Electronic Voting Systems.
Section 206.845 — Ballot Recording And Counting Security.
Section 206.85 — Officials In Charge Of Counting.
Section 206.86 — Counting Electronic Voting System Results.
Section 206.87 — Canvassing Board Duties.
Section 206.88 — Partial Recounts On Electronic Voting Systems.
Section 206.89 — Postelection Review Of Voting Systems.
Section 206.895 — Secretary Of State Monitor.