Legal Definitions - zero tape

A zero tape, sometimes referred to as a zero report, is a printed record or electronic file generated by an electronic voting machine at the very beginning of an election day. Its primary purpose is to confirm that the machine has not registered any votes prior to the official start of voting. This document serves as crucial evidence that the voting machine's internal counter is set to zero, ensuring a fair and accurate tally of votes throughout the election period.

Election officials often retrieve and verify a zero tape publicly to demonstrate transparency and build trust in the election process. It also plays a vital role in post-election audits, allowing authorities to compare the initial zero count with the final vote totals to detect any discrepancies or errors, thereby upholding the integrity of the election.

• Example 1: Opening a Polling Place

  On Election Day morning, before the polling place officially opens its doors to voters, the chief poll worker for Precinct 12 activates an electronic voting machine. Following state regulations, they print a physical "zero tape" from the machine. This printout clearly displays "0" for every candidate and ballot measure, confirming that no votes have been recorded yet. The poll worker then signs and dates the tape, often posting it publicly or placing it in a secure logbook, to assure voters and observers that the machine is starting with a clean slate and will accurately record all votes cast that day.

• Example 2: Early Voting Center Initialization

  An early voting center is preparing to open for its first day of voting. Before any voter casts a ballot, the election supervisor invites representatives from different political parties and independent observers to witness the initialization process. The supervisor demonstrates how each voting machine generates a digital "zero report" on its screen, and then prints a physical copy. This report explicitly shows that all vote counts are at zero, providing immediate visual proof to all present that the machines are ready to accurately record votes from the very first early voter without any pre-existing tallies.

• Example 3: Post-Election Audit Verification

  After a closely contested local election, an independent audit team is reviewing the results from several precincts. As part of their verification process, they request the "zero tapes" that were generated by each voting machine on Election Day morning. By comparing these initial zero tapes with the final vote tallies recorded by the machines, the auditors can confirm that the total number of votes cast matches the difference between the final count and the verified starting point of zero. This comparison helps to identify any potential anomalies or ensure the integrity of the vote count from start to finish, providing an important layer of accountability.