AUSTIN, Texas, Jan. 17, 2017 – With its third federal certification in less than two years, Hart InterCivic’s innovative Verity® Voting system continues to gain momentum as a leading choice for jurisdictions eager to replace aging voting systems with forward-looking technology.
The most recent release of Verity Voting, which was certified last month by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC), includes remote transmission technology to accelerate the reporting of Election Night results. No other voting system has ever achieved EAC certification of remote transmission technology that is fully compliant with the Voluntary Voting System Guidelines, Version 1.0 (VVSG 2005).
Verity’s new “Relay” feature works in conjunction with Verity Scan, Hart’s user-friendly paper ballot scanning device. Instead of requiring poll workers to physically transport memory devices that contain results to a central jurisdiction office, Verity Scan with Relay automates the transmission of results thorough secure telecommunications. Particularly in the case of rural, remote areas or difficult travel conditions, the option for remote transmission can be critical. Relay provides an additional benefit – its intuitive graphic dashboard illustrates which polling places have reported returns, enabling administrators at the central office to monitor and manage polling place status in real time.
As with all other aspects of the Verity Voting system, security and ease of use were paramount values when designing the Relay feature. Verity’s remote transmission option complies with encryption and authentication protocols defined in the Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS), and with other rigorous federal telecommunication standards for election technology. While Verity Scan with Relay uses high-tech security measures, it is easy for polling place officials to use, because its functionality is seamlessly integrated into the Verity Scan workflow. When poll workers close the polls, Relay securely transmits results; no additional steps are required.
Because an emphasis on remote transmission is unique to certain regions and election officials, achieving the right balance of security, modularity, usability, and customer requirements was essential. “This exciting Relay technology was Hart’s response to customer requests,” said Phillip Braithwaite, President and CEO of Hart InterCivic. “When key county and local officials voiced a strong desire for remote transmission, we put our developers to work. The result is a faster, more direct way to tally votes that many other jurisdictions will appreciate.”
Using adaptable technology that works with AT&T, Sprint, Verizon and other carriers, the Relay function is compatible with private carrier networks and uses commercial off the shelf (COTS) broadband technology.
“With this latest milestone, we build on Hart’s promise to continually expand and improve upon Verity,” said Braithwaite from the company’s Austin headquarters. “In 2015, Verity was the first all-new voting system in years to achieve EAC certification. With our second EAC certification, Verity added the first all-new direct record electronic (DRE) device. And now, Verity brings another first to the industry – the first remote transmission solution to achieve EAC certification. We are proud of our history of innovation and our strong commitment to meeting customers’ needs.”
Since the EAC certified Verity Voting’s first release, jurisdictions in eight states have purchased the system. Braithwaite expects to announce several new Verity commitments within weeks.