I thought these links would be of interest. They basically discuss how the canvassing process works in NY State. Basically the current system with mechanical lever voting machines work. The machine has mechanical registers and an excellent paper trail. It is very easy for outsiders to observe and see what is going on. No voting system is corruption proof, but the current system in NYC (which uses mechanical lever voting machines) would require collusion by many people to steal votes and even then, because of the way the system is designed, it would be difficult to steal votes on a grand scale.
The switch to computerized systems in the USA was a major mistake. (AFAIK, NY is the only state that hasn’t switched yet, but it is scheduled to make the change soon.) You can’t observe the code in real time and you can’t be guaranteed how many registers the source code has. You can’t be guaranteed that the system purchased by the state (each state govt has this responsibility in the USA) is the one actually installed and running on election day. (This has been proven and you can find the information on many web sites concerned with election integrity.) You can’t even be sure that there isn’t a network card hidden in the machine changing the results. In computerized systems its much easier to steal votes and it is easier to do so on a larger scale with fewer, perhaps even with only just one person.
Mechanical lever machines are the best type of machines for the job. However, unfortunately, there simply appears to be no political will to keep them in this country. The best compromise available that does have a large grassroots effort behind it, is the PBOS machines. It is a computerized systems with many of the inherent weaknesses, but at least the paper trail, created by each voter, is of high quality and available for a vote recount if necc.
Here are 3 links:
1) State of New York 2004 Election Law (which apparently is the latest in effect)
http://vote.nyc.ny.us/pdf/documents/nys/elaw2004.pdf (fyi – has index at the end)
See pages [ETA: page numbers listed are the Adobe document reader page numbers, not the actual document itself page number]:
Pg 289 Article 9 Canvass of Results
Title I At the Polling Place (Lists every section heading in Title I up front)
Pg 305 Title II Canvass by Board of Elections (Lists every section heading up front).
Pg. 308 Section 9-208 Provisions for recanvass of vote in every election district in the state; procedure in case of discrepancy
Highlights – the Board of Elections compare the results tabulated on the voting machines to the canvass sheet totals prepared by the poll inspectors from each election district. If it is clear that it is just a simple error such as a column transposition it's corrected. If it is more complicated than that, than the voting machine is open and every single ballot is recounted.
Political parties and candidates can send representatives to observe the recanvassing process and also procedures taken in the event of a discrepancy. IMHO, there is no substitute for allowing many observers at every critical step of the process to help ensure election integrity. Voting systems built on mechanical lever systems with good paper trails allow for this. Computerized systems don't.
2) Poll Workers Manual (for Election Day Operations in NYC, issued by the BoE in NYC)
http://vote.nyc.ny.us/pdf/documents/boe/pollworkers/pollworkersmanual.pdf
Much of the 2004 Election Law that pertains to poll workers is restated in the manual.
More links of interest can be found at:
3) Board of Elections if the City of New York
http://vote.nyc.ny.us/
