Voting Equipment Approval Process

The Wisconsin State Elections Board has promulgated a set of administrative rules to establish the process for the approval of electronic voting equipment in Wisconsin. Before the State Elections Board will begin the process the vendor must sign a written agreement to pay the related costs of the approval process.

When applying for approval in Wisconsin the vendor must submit a copy of a report from an independent testing authority approved by the National Association of State Election Directors that the equipment has been qualified to meet the current 2002 standards established by the Election Assistance Commission.

Voting equipment and materials are reviewed by Elections Board staff and an advisory panel of local election officials. The vendor must set up and demonstrate a series of mock elections; a spring nonpartisan election with a Presidential Preference vote, a September partisan primary election and two November general elections, one that includes a presidential ballot and one that includes a ballot for statewide partisan offices including Governor.  There will also be a separate demonstration for members of the public, including persons with disabilities and legislators.

After the Elections Board staff and the advisory panel have reviewed the test results and examined the equipment, the system is demonstrated at an Elections Board meeting. The Elections Board review consists of a demonstration and a review of the evaluation made by the advisory panel and the Elections Board staff.  The Elections Board makes the final determination on the approval of the voting system at a public meeting.

Several Vendors have expressed interest in selling voting equipment in Wisconsin.  The lists below detail all vendors with approved or pending complete applications for approval.  A more detailed status report regarding voting equipment can be found here.

Accessible Voting Equipment Funding:

      Section 301(3) of the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) requires that every voting system used in a federal election:

be accessible for individuals with disabilites, including nonvisual accessibility for the blind and visually impaired, in a manner that provided the same for accesss and participation (including privacy and independence) as for other voters....through the use of at least one direct recording electronic voting system or other voting system equipped for individuals with disabilites at each polling place.

In order to comply with this requirement, $18,000,000 in HAVA funds has been allocated for the purchase of one accessible voting system per polling place.  This memo explains how municipalities can access these funds.  The Accessible Voting Equipment Funding Application should be used by municipalities that apply for funding.