| Electronic voting controller gains certification, runs Windows Embedded |
Dec. 20, 2004
Chassis Plans is shipping a small PC intended for use in computerized voting systems, kiosks, and other Windows Embedded applications. The "11309-101" is Federally and multi-state certified for use in Direct Recording Electronic (DRE) voting systems, according to the company.
(Click for larger view of the Chassis Plans 11309-101)
Chassis Plans says it designed the 11309-101, along with several partners, to control the LCD panel, touch screen, printer, and network interfaces on DRE voting systems. Potential customers for the device include Accupoll, Diebold, EES, Hart, Sequoia, and VoteHere. The device can be used in systems that provide a voter-verified paper audit trail, it says.
The 11309-101 comes with a choice of processors, including 800MHz or 1GHz Via C3 CPUs. It can include a 2.5-inch (laptop-sized) hard drive up to 80GB in capacity, up to 1GB of Flash, and 512MB of RAM on an SO-DIMM module. I/O interfaces include a Ethernet 10/100 port, two USB 1.1 ports, a parallel port, PS/2 keyboard/mouse ports, audio I/O, and a VGA port supporting up to 1920 x 1440 resolution. A Type-II (double-height) PCMCIA slot is available for wireless card, removable storage, or other system expansion. The system measures 6 x 4.75 x 2.5 inches, and weighs 1.5 pounds.
According to Chassis Plans, the 1309-101 offes a robust design, high performance, a small footprint, and other features that make it suitable for use in kiosks, military, machine control, and other applications. The device supports both Windows CE and Windows XP Embedded.
Further details on the Chassis Plans systems are available on the company's website.
Helping America vote
The US government increased funding for voting equipment modernization following highly publicized equipment deficiencies that contributed to delayed 2000 presidential election results. According to an August 2004 Associated Press story, two years after passage of the Help America Vote Act (HAVA), issues remain as to what constitutes certification, who does it, and under what circumstances. The companies involved in testing voting technology "operate in secrecy, and refuse to discuss flaws" encountered in the new machines, according to the AP story. Another concern is that the voting machine vendors themselves pay for the certification, the AP story says.
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