Put a paper ballot into a Minnesota tabulator and the machine seems to finish its work in seconds. What the voter does not see is everything around that moment: The limits on network connections, the testing done before voting begins, the witnesses who can watch those tests and the paper ballot that remains after the machine counts it. 

How do we know the equipment is doing what it is supposed to do? Minnesota does not rely on the tabulator alone. 

The vote starts on paper 

Minnesota uses paper ballots for all elections. Optical-scan tabulators read the marks voters make, but the paper ballot remains the official record and can be used in a recount or post-election review. 

State law also sharply limits how ballot recording and tabulating systems can connect to other technology. Except for wired connections within the polling place, the systems may not be connected directly or indirectly to an electronic network, including the internet. Wireless communication and modem connections are prohibited while the equipment is being used to record or tabulate votes. 

Before voting, test the machine 

Voting equipment must be tested before it is used. Under Minnesota law, officials run predetermined test ballots through the system and compare the results with the totals they already know should appear. The test must include ballots designed to make sure the system handles errors such as overvotes correctly. 

If the equipment produces an error, officials must identify and correct the cause and produce an errorless count before the system can be used. 

The accuracy test is public. It must be announced in advance, be open to political parties, candidates, the press and the public, and be witnessed by at least two election judges who are not from the same major political party. 

Jory, Administrative Services Director for Crow Wing County, describes what that looks like locally: 

“In Crow Wing County, we have the election judges of that precinct come in and set up the equipment, do the public testing. That way they’re familiar with it; they are the ones that are going to be administering the elections for that precinct. … The public is invited and encouraged to come watch that process. There’s many checks and balances throughout that the public is more than welcome to see and ask questions.” 

— Jory, Administrative Services Director for Crow Wing County 

After the polls close 

Minnesota law draws a clear line between tabulating votes and reporting results. After the polls close, the head election judge must first create a printed record of the precinct results. Only after that record exists may the accumulated tally be transmitted electronically to a central reporting location. Those transmitted results remain unofficial until the canvassing board completes its reconciliation. 

The paper ballots remain available for another check. After every state general election, counties conduct public post-election reviews in precincts selected by lot. Election officials manually count ballots in specified races and compare the hand count with the machine totals. If a discrepancy exceeds limits set in law, the review expands. 

Technology speeds the count. Paper preserves the evidence. Testing checks the equipment before voting, and post-election review checks selected results afterward. 

Want to see the testing yourself? Contact your local election office for public accuracy test information, or visit MNvotes.gov to learn more about Minnesota voting equipment.