Mercuri method
Encyclopedia
The "Mercuri method" is another name for a Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail
—a modification to DRE (electronic) voting machines
that provides for a physical (paper) audit record that may be used to verify the electronic vote count. Because these machines record votes internally, in computer software, vote fraud may be difficult to detect. Reconciling the electronic vote count with the physical vote count in all, or a random sampling of, machines allows poll-workers to screen for vote fraud. The election benefits from the efficiency of the DRE machines, and the confidence instilled by a physical record.
The method works by displaying a (paper) vote record under glass or clear plastic after the voter indicates their vote(s). The voter is instructed to verify that the paper record correctly indicates their vote. They then finalize their vote by pressing a button or pulling a lever, and the paper record is stored. This is called a voter verified paper audit trail
. At no point is there an opportunity for the voter to remove the paper record from the voting area, since to do so would allow for there to be a receipt which could be used to coerce the voter into voting for a candidate or to allow selling of votes.
The Mecuri method is named after Rebecca Mercuri
who described it in her PhD Thesis at the University of Pennsylvania
in 2000 further elaborated on the topic.
Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail
Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail or Verified Paper Record is intended as an independent verification system for voting machines designed to allow voters to verify that their vote was cast correctly, to detect possible election fraud or malfunction, and to provide a means to audit the stored...
—a modification to DRE (electronic) voting machines
DRE voting machine
A direct-recording electronic voting machine records votes by means of a ballot display provided with mechanical or electro-optical components that can be activated by the voter ; that processes data by means of a computer program; and that records voting data and ballot images in memory components...
that provides for a physical (paper) audit record that may be used to verify the electronic vote count. Because these machines record votes internally, in computer software, vote fraud may be difficult to detect. Reconciling the electronic vote count with the physical vote count in all, or a random sampling of, machines allows poll-workers to screen for vote fraud. The election benefits from the efficiency of the DRE machines, and the confidence instilled by a physical record.
The method works by displaying a (paper) vote record under glass or clear plastic after the voter indicates their vote(s). The voter is instructed to verify that the paper record correctly indicates their vote. They then finalize their vote by pressing a button or pulling a lever, and the paper record is stored. This is called a voter verified paper audit trail
Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail
Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail or Verified Paper Record is intended as an independent verification system for voting machines designed to allow voters to verify that their vote was cast correctly, to detect possible election fraud or malfunction, and to provide a means to audit the stored...
. At no point is there an opportunity for the voter to remove the paper record from the voting area, since to do so would allow for there to be a receipt which could be used to coerce the voter into voting for a candidate or to allow selling of votes.
The Mecuri method is named after Rebecca Mercuri
Rebecca Mercuri
Dr. Rebecca Mercuri, Ph.D is an expert in computer security, especially in electronic voting where she has been researching, writing about, and testifying since 1989...
who described it in her PhD Thesis at the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
in 2000 further elaborated on the topic.