VSAP Architecture and Certification Links
The new Los Angeles County voting system, VSAP, was recently tested and certified by the California Secretary of State. The testing and certification documents seem to be the only publicly provided documentation on the software and system architecture. The testing reports also bring up some issues found, and there is a response from the counties and analysis by the Secretary of State Staff.
The certification documents for VSAP also illuminate the process of certification, and reference the California Voting Standards Document. These are relevant for any open source voting system to be used in California.
Main Sites
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VSAP project home page: https://vsap.lavote.net/
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VSAP Certification documents: https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/ovsta/voting-technology-vendors/los-angeles-county-vsap/
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CVSS (California Voting System Standards): https://admin.cdn.sos.ca.gov/regulations/elections/california-voting-system-standards.pdf
The standards document is a detailed specification of the requirements for voting systems used in California. The reports of testing procedures reference sections in this document.
Significant Test Reports
The following certification documents are significant for understanding VSAP architecture and the issues found in testing, and the testing process itself:
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Functional Test Report: https://votingsystems.cdn.sos.ca.gov/vendors/LAC/vsap2-func.pdf
Describes the overall system architecture, the testing process, and issues related to the sections in the CVSS
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Software Test Report: https://votingsystems.cdn.sos.ca.gov/vendors/LAC/vsap2-sw.pdf
Describes the system and software architeture, software components (e.g. open source libraries), testing and review process, and issues found referenced to the CVSS sections.
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Security and Telecommunications Test Report: https://votingsystems.cdn.sos.ca.gov/vendors/LAC/vsap2-sec-tel.pdf
Describes the system architecture and testing for security vulnerabilty issues.
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County Response to Testing: https://votingsystems.cdn.sos.ca.gov/vendors/LAC/la-cert-response.pdf
Contains the County and developers response to the issues found in the consultants testing reports.
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Staff Testing Report: https://votingsystems.cdn.sos.ca.gov/vendors/LAC/vsap2-staff.pdf
Summarizes the testing and test results with issues raised, responses, and significance.
Other reports are of interest in understanding testing for usability, accessible voting, and load testing as is relates to requirements:
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Accessibility Testing Report: https://votingsystems.cdn.sos.ca.gov/vendors/LAC/vsap2-acc.pdf
Describes the testing process for usability for normal and special needs voters and results found. The attachments provide the details survey results for testers recruited from the public.
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Volume Testing Report: https://votingsystems.cdn.sos.ca.gov/vendors/LAC/vsap2-vol-log.pdf
Describes the load and reliability testing process and results.
Lawsuit on Usability
There is a lawsuit against LA County for a usability issue in VSAP– the candidate selection screen can only show 4 candidates, and the plaintiffs claim people might not see and vote for candidates on subsequent pages.
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News article on the lawsuit: https://laist.com/2020/01/23/beverly-hills-files-lawsuit-sues-la-county-over-ballot-design-skip-candidates.php
Contains a summary of the issue and complaint, the text of the lawsuit, and a response from the county.
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News article on the VSAP certification: https://laist.com/2020/01/16/los-angeles-county-voting-system-uncertified.php
Contains a summary, written for the public at large, of the issues found in the certification documents listed above, the history and context of VSAP, though somewhat critical of VSAP.