Test Script Generator
  A service of CSTS
See also ATS
 
Help on Sets
Instructions for Individual Test Sets
Why Individual Sets?

The testing protocol is designed to minimize the total number of test ballots that must be cast. To do that (and still exhaustively test the ballot on at least one machine) means that not all machines are tested using the same sequence of ballots. Thus individual test sets are used.
The "A" Set: The all ballots "A" set if obtained by checking the Separate "A" Set check box on the main input page.
The test protocol may require that at least one machine be exhaustively tested, that is, have a complete test sequence of all ballots. Normally this testing is done on the ADA compliant machine, and is thus called the "A" machine. (The "A" can stand for either "all ballots" or "ADA compliant machine".) The first ballot of this "A" test sequence (The A Set) will normally be cast using the ADA compliant input (audio).
If the test protocol does not require testing one machine exhaustively, you may still want to produce the "A" set as it does contain all test ballots.
Additional Sets: The remaining machines for each precinct (voting location) will have all the ballots for the complete test sequence divided among the machines. The algorithm used will assure that every machine is tested with at least two ballots. It will also result in the total votes cast equal to a multiple of the number of votes in the complete test sequence (the A Deck).
Machine and Set Naming: :The ADA compliant machine is identified by "A". The remaining machines are identified by numbering them sequentially from 1 (i.e., 1, 2, 3, ...) up to the number of remaining machines. The last numbered machine is identified by the number one less than the total number of machines (because of the A machine). The Set names will then be the machine number over (slash) the total number of machines.
Machines tested per location: The set names are grouped based on the number of total machines. You enter a list of these number of total machines (comma or space delimited) as the "Set Sizes." Do not enter duplicate values or 1. See the Example below. (See also the main input page.)
Example 1:      Individual Sets is checked.
     Set sizes is "3, 5"
     Separate "A" Set is checked.
One precinct has a total of three machines. These are:
        A, 1, 2
The corresponding test sets are:
        A, 1/3, 2/3
Another precinct has a total of 5 machines. These machines are:
        A, 1, 2, 3, 4
The corresponding test sets are named:
        A, 1/5, 2/5, 3/5, 4/5
The A deck is used for the A machine for both precincts, however, the first (1) machine in the two precincts use uniquely different test sets (1/3 and 1/5).
In this example, there are seven unique test sequences (sets) generated in the order:
        A, 1/3, 2/3, 1/5, 2/5, 3/5, 4/5
Example 2:      Individual Sets is checked.
     Set sizes is "3, 5"
     Separate "A" Set is not checked.
One precinct has a total of three machines. These are:
        A, 1, 2
The corresponding test sets are:
        A/3, 1/3, 2/3
Another precinct has a total of 5 machines. These machines are:
        A, 1, 2, 3, 4
The corresponding test sets are named:
        A/5, 1/5, 2/5, 3/5, 4/5
There is no A deck produced. The A machine for each precinct uses uniquely different test sets (A/3 and A/5), just like the other machines.
In this example, there are eight unique test sequences (sets) generated in the order:
        1/3, 2/3, A/3, 1/5, 2/5, 3/5, 4/5, A/5
Example 3:      Individual Sets is not checked.
     Set sizes is empty (it is not used since Individual Sets is not checked.)
     Separate "A" Set is checked.
There is only one set produced:
        A
It is left to the user to create additional test sets using the Ballot to Terminal Mapping Tables produced after the A set.
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Test Script Generator (v3.1) © 2008-2010, 2014 CSTS, Dr. James A. Whitcomb
Developed for the Transylvania County Board of Elections
Provided as a free service by CSTS to all counties in North Carolina