By HCA Staff Report
• Testing & sealing: Before ballots are mailed, every Colorado county performs Logic & Accuracy tests to verify tabulation accuracy. After testing, devices are sealed with tamper-evident tags and documented chain-of-custody logs.
• Legal lock-down: Colorado Revised Statute 1-7-509 and Rule 21 of the Secretary of State’s election rules make it a criminal offense to alter certified software after testing begins.
• Escrowed code: Vendors must deposit their certified source code with the Colorado Secretary of State and the U.S. Election Assistance Commission. This ensures the state can operate or audit the system even if a vendor folds or is sold.
• County control: During the election, only county election staff operate machines; vendor technicians have no remote or physical access.
• Audit trail: Colorado’s risk-limiting audit compares random paper ballots to digital tallies after every election, providing an independent verification layer.
Election timeline:
• Sept 23 – L&A testing begins
• Oct 4 – L&A testing completed (state deadline)
• Oct 11 – Ballots mailed statewide
• Nov 4 – Election Day
• Nov 18 – County canvass and certification
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