From the voter’s perspective, an election begins and ends when they cast their ballot, for most of the country. However, for election officials working behind the scenes, the timeline for an election cycle extends far beyond Election Day—both before and after. A major component of this extended timeline is pre-election testing.
Pre-election testing involves verifying that election systems are functioning correctly, well before voters cast their ballots. This process is conducted before Election Day, and sometimes before early in-person voting begins. Pre-election testing can be referenced by a number of different terms, such as logic and accuracy testing, public tests, or acceptance testing, however, for the purposes of this post, we will use the term pre-election testing.
The reason for pre-election testing is to ensure all software and hardware components are functioning properly and that the technology is configured correctly. These tests are regularly conducted on voting systems and follow a set of standards, which are often customized to meet specific state or local jurisdictional requirements.
In recent years, pre-election testing has grown to include other election-supporting technologies. However, very few resources are available for election officials to adapt to these new technologies.
Recognizing this, the Election Supporting Technology Evaluation Program (ESTEP) team developed a set of Guidance for Pre-Election Testing Procedures to serve as a guide for new and emerging technologies. This guidance aims to assist jurisdictions in conducting effective pre-election testing on three key systems:
This guidance is designed to provide a structured overview of what should be included in an effective pre-election test for these systems. While not exhaustive, these sample procedures are crafted with consideration for how each system functions. ESTEP guidance focuses on verifying functionality and accuracy across these systems, with adaptability in mind.
For instance:
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Verifying an electronic poll book’s software and hardware configuration ensures accurate voter check-ins.
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Confirming an election night reporting system’s display of results ensures transparency and reliability.
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Validating the export of absentee ballot data into an electronic ballot delivery system ensures accuracy in electronic ballot delivery.
It is also important to note that these guides are not intended to be exhaustive or all-inclusive. They are intentionally general to allow customization based on the unique requirements of individual states or local jurisdictions. They are meant to serve as a foundation that jurisdictions can tailor to their specific needs.
If you have questions or would like additional information on these procedures, please contact the ESTEP team at estep@eac.gov. Alternatively, election officials can view other great resources and best practices for conducting elections at eac.gov/election-admin.