Diagram 1 — Technology Systems Map
All major election systems by phase · Data flows shown with arrows
← Back to Systems & Vote Flow
State-level system
County hub (EMS)
Voter access / check-in
Ballot capture & tabulation
Results & certification
Audit & verification
PRE-ELECTION
ELECTION DAY
POST-ELECTION
STATE SYSTEM
Statewide Voter Registration System
(SVRS) — master voter roll, maintained by state
COUNTY HUB — USUALLY AIR-GAPPED
Election Management System (EMS)
Designs ballots · Programs all equipment
Aggregates all results · Produces reports
COUNTY PROCESS
Ballot Programming & L&A Testing
Logic & accuracy test on all equipment before election
IN-PERSON VOTING PATH
CHECK-IN
E-Pollbook
Voter check-in
Queries SVRS live
ACCESSIBLE VOTING
Ballot-Marking
Device (BMD)
Prints marked paper ballot
PRECINCT TABULATION
Precinct Optical
Scanner
Scans & counts paper ballots
AFTER POLLS CLOSE
Encrypted Memory
Card / USB Drive
Sealed · bipartisan transport to county
MAIL / ABSENTEE PATH
BALLOT DELIVERY
Voter Requests or Receives
Mail Ballot
BALLOT RETURN
Voter Marks Ballot &
Returns in Signed Envelope
COUNTY PROCESSING
Signature Verification
Matched to voter registration sig.
Cure process if mismatch
CENTRAL COUNT TABULATION
Central Count Tabulator
High-speed scanner counts mail ballots
Results fed directly to county EMS
COUNTY — ALL RESULTS
EMS Aggregation
Combines precinct + mail + provisional
Produces official county totals
COUNTY PROCESS
County Canvass
Reconcile voters checked in vs. ballots cast
Reports results to state
STATE LEVEL
State Certification
Secretary of State certifies official results
Typically 2–4 weeks after election
MANDATORY IN MOST STATES
Post-Election Audit
Risk-Limiting Audit (RLA) or hand count
Paper ballots vs. machine totals confirmed
voter data
programs
transport to county · upload to EMS