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# Re: Blank Memory Cards

- To: INGRID <ingrid@gesn.com>
- Subject: Re: Blank Memory Cards
- From: "Donald W. Biszmaier" <dbglobal@earthlink.net>
- Date: Mon, 15 Nov 1999 15:01:33 -0600
- Cc: Ian Piper <ian@gesn.com>, support <support@gesn.com>
- References: <002801bf2fb9$4d18cf30$4a03a8c0@sevenof9.globalelection.com>

To All: I had in the past written of the memory card failures in Jefferson Co. Ky. to human error. The reason being that the old BRC system in use by the customer for nearly 12 years used the term "clear" as the GEMS program uses the term "reset". To clear on the old system was totals only since it was not possible to clear the election from the memory packs used. I was concerned in Trinity County, California because it was a small election and the people seemed very careful in their procedures. The first instance in Jefferson Co. was a card that was being duplicated for a recanvas. I felt someone may have cleared it while in the supervisors function. The second card, however, had not been touched since uploading election night. The rate would be 2 of 284 in Jefferson and 1 of 19 in Trinity. I have asked Jefferson to hold the 2 cards aside for us to look at, which they have said they would do. I will call Trinity and see if they still have theirs. In both of these cases the cards were either tried in other accuvote units or another card worked in the unit in use. Hope this helps somewhat. Thanks: Don INGRID wrote: I know of at least one Florida customer that is going to be returning the memory cards that were a problem. Unfortunately, this is a difficult problem to track. Some customers are comfortable resolving the problem on their own and then never report the problem to us, others experience no problems at all and then others experience between 10 to 30% failure in pre-election testing and election day use. Sophia is right, the way a card is inserted into the AccuVote can prompt the "Okay to format" message, but that doesn't account for a card functioning on election day - losing power - and receiving the same message when it was never removed. The frustrating common thread to the problem is that there are few to no common threads and yes Larry is aware that we are experiencing this problems. ~Ingrid -----Original Message----- From: Ian Piper <ian@gesn.com> To: support <support@gesn.com> Date: Monday, November 15, 1999 9:57 AM Subject: Re: Blank Memory Cards I know that one is too many, but how many is "a rash" or "alarming" or "extensive"? We need some hard details. Have the details of these experiences been forwarded to Larry? He is collating election night information. Do we have access to the memory cards that went blank? Do we have access to the AccuVotes that the cards were used in? Do we at least have the AccuVote's Serial Number? We need to retrieve these materials from the field if we're ever going to sit down and figure out what is going on. We need to see this problem happen in front of us otherwise it is going to continue to happen in the field. Ian ___________________________________________________________ There are two ways to write error-free programs; only the third one works. ----- Original Message ----- From: INGRID To: Donald W. Biszmaier ; support Sent: Monday, November 15, 1999 3:30 PM Subject: Re: Blank Memory Cards We are experiencing a rash of memory card failure that is almost alarming. We are looking into what the problems might be. It doesn't seem to matter if the cards are brand new or a few years old. Does anyone else have input or concerns on this issue? So far, we know that there were extensive problems in Virginia and Florida in this past election cycle. ~Ingrid -----Original Message----- From: Donald W. Biszmaier <dbglobal@earthlink.net> To: support <support@gesn.com> Date: Monday, November 15, 1999 9:02 AM Subject: Blank Memory Cards > In the past two weeks I have had three programmed memory cards - one >in election mode and two in post election mode - that have been blank. >When the card is inserted it comes up to format. > I cannot verify what happened to the cards. They may have been >mistakenly erased or the wrong card used, but I cannot find proof of >that either. > Has anyone else had a similar problem? Just thought I would check >after three times. > Thanks: Don >

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  - Re: Blank Memory Cards
    - From: "INGRID" <ingrid@gesn.com>

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