Redwood City , CA – With thousands of groups across the country mobilizing to watch polling places and Election Day operations, San Mateo County Elections is rolling out the welcome mat and starting early. “What we do in order to prepare for Election Day determines whether or not Election Day is a success,” explained Warren Slocum , San Mateo County ’s Chief Election Officer.

San Mateo County Elections installed a webcam to make it possible for the public to watch the Logic & Accuracy (L & A) phase of election readiness. “Viewers will see the Election staff and the appointed L & A Board members testing every aspect of the vote tabulating machines,” said Slocum. “When people question the validity of the vote, they zero in on the voting machines and ask how do we know that all the votes were counted correctly?”

The Logic & Accuracy (L & A) testing process is the Elections Office answer to that question. Website viewers can log on and watch the staff test the voting machines for accuracy from October 11 to October 15. Online viewers will have a bird’s-eye view of the tightly controlled testing and verification process that ensures accurate vote tabulation on Election Day.

The webcam will showcase the tremendous volume, scale, and complexity of the testing process that may be a surprise and comfort to viewers. They will see the staff running “superdecks” through 523 Eagle vote tabulating machines that voters see in their polling places each election. Superdecks are stacks of test ballots that have been hand-marked, checked, re-checked, and tabulated to reflect all the possible voting choices on all of the ballot styles used in this election. Elections workers have marked 15,675 test ballots to create 209 superdecks that include English, Spanish and Chinese language ballots. These superdecks are used to simulate voting conditions on Election Day.

By feeding the pre-marked and tabulated ballots into the Eagle machine and checking the results against the pre-marked results grid for that ballot style, the superdeck trials determine if the counting and reporting features on each vote tabulation machine are working accurately. “If the voting tabulation machines are 100% accurate, we use them,” explained Slocum, “if a voting machine doesn’t pass the L & A test, we won’t use it.”

“I am confident of the vote totals because our pre-election processes and post election audits are rigorous. But don’t take my word for it—judge for yourself!” challenged Slocum. Everyone is invited to log on and watch the process. Simply go to www.shapethefuture.org and click on the “Election Watch: Webcam 2004” to watch L & A testing.

“As Chief Elections Official, I am committed to doing whatever it takes to build voter confidence,” said Slocum. “If people see the preparation, the diligence, the testing and time that is devoted to every aspect of our election operation, they will have increased confidence in the election results.”

Qualified political parties within the County may designate a representative to observe the process in accordance with the Elections Code. Members of the public may also observe the process in person. The Elections Division requests that all observers contact the Elections Office at (650) 312.5370 to obtain further information and regulations regarding elections observers.