Election Software offers voter-verified paper audits.July 16, 2007 -
Suited for touch-screen and optical scan voting systems, Assure® implements SHA1/RSA digital signatures on software installation files and requires activation of variable password-based administrator card to complete installation process. Strong cryptography digitally signs AccuBasic reporting script on AccuVote-OS optical scan system memory card to detect attempted tampering. Attempts to tamper with reports or change software on election equipment are immediately recognized and thwarted.
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Original Press release
Diebold, Inc.
5995 Mayfair Rd., P.O. Box 3077
North Canton, OH, 44720
USA
New Diebold Election Systems Software to be Previewed at Upcoming IACREOT Conference
Assure® software offers new security features and voter-verified paper audit capabilities
ALLEN, Texas, June 27 -- Diebold Election Systems, Inc. (DESI) will preview its new Assure® election system software suite at this year's International Association of Clerks, Recorders, Election Officials and Treasurers (IACREOT) Conference held in Charlotte, N.C., from July 16-21.
DESI has incorporated enhanced security features into its existing suite of voting system software, now named "Assure," to further expand system operation. This evolutionary software family provides a wide breadth of enhancements to jurisdictions using new or existing Diebold touch-screen and optical scan voting systems throughout North America. Assure election system software is expected to receive Election Assistance Commission (EAC) federal testing approval late this summer.
"Assure election system software provides unmatched security and verification capability for large and small jurisdictions nationwide that use DESI voting solutions," said Dave Byrd, president, Diebold Election Systems. "Assure adds additional layers of security and more flexibility for voters and election officials, helping make every vote cast on DESI equipment safe, secure and accurate."
Assure election system software provides enhanced protection by implementing SHA1/RSA digital signatures on software installation files, and it requires the activation of a variable password-based administrator card to complete the installation process. This software feature authenticates the integrity of software installation files and the person loading the system software.
The software also includes strong cryptography to digitally sign the AccuBasic reporting script on the AccuVote-OS optical scan system memory card in order to detect any attempted tampering, similar to the protection used in the AccuVote-TSX touch screen system. Assure also includes encryption of the Global Election Management System (GEMS) database, providing an additional security barrier against potential criminal activity.
Attempts to tamper with the reports or change the software on DESI election equipment are immediately recognized and thwarted. Previous versions of DESI voting software employed Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) data encryption and SHA1/RSA digital signatures to secure election data and results. The Assure election system software now adds this higher level of protection to election equipment software installation files and the AccuBasic scripts. It protects the integrity of the ballot and every single vote that is cast.
"The same advanced security software that has guaranteed the integrity of election data and results can now be used to secure installation files and additional components of the system," said Byrd. "Assure software is a culmination of security enhancements developed through the years in addition to the latest developments in sophisticated digital signature protection."
Assure election system software also makes DESI touch screen voting equipment using a voter-verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT) more flexible and user friendly. Assure provides additional space for expanded race descriptions, making it easier for voters to clearly review their selections on paper before their vote is cast. This paper-based presentation occurs simultaneously to the presentation of the election race summary on the screen, so voters can quickly and easily review and compare their selections on the screen with the paper VVPAT printout.
The functionality and accuracy of DESI systems have been proven in actual elections and in parallel monitoring accuracy tests for many years. Physical security, such as locks and tamper evident tape and seals, chain of command processes and procedures, election oversight by poll workers and party representatives, and sound election operations management and auditing procedures complete a secure election process.
About Diebold Election Systems
Diebold Election Systems, Inc. is a wholly owned operating subsidiary of Diebold, Incorporated, a global leader in providing integrated self-service delivery systems and services. Headquartered in Allen, Texas, Diebold Election Systems provides high-quality voting technology to jurisdictions of all sizes, along with comprehensive service and support capability, and is committed to elections accuracy, security and integrity. For more information on Diebold Election Systems, visit the company's Web site at www.dieboldes.com, or call 1-800-433-VOTE.
Source: Diebold Election Systems, Inc.
CONTACT:
David Bear,
Diebold Election Systems,
+1-317-997-9300,
or dbear@pstrategies.com
Web site: http://www.dieboldes.com/
http://www.diebold.com/
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