Setting Up for Version 1

For Version 1, some work needs to be done before the actual election.

These instructions apply primarily for Assembly elections on Ridvan 1. For other types of elections, there may be variations.

1. Prepare the "community list" with the names of all voters.

2. Get the TallyJ core software tested on each computer

3. Prepare to set up a network at the election venue

Optional setup

• Install the Announcer and/or Reporter on one computer

• A video projector and screen (for the Announcer and Reporter)

More details...

Preparing a community file.

• The community file is an XML file that follows a particular pattern.

  • How the community file is created does not matter, as long as it matches the pattern, or schema that is described in the "community.xsd" file.

  • Using the "Files" page in the Core program, you can create a new Community file. Once created, you can use the "Community" page to add and remove names from the list.

• If a list of adult voters is NOT available to you ahead of time, you can choose to build the community list as you enter ballots. This can work for any size of community, but it is preferable to start with the entire list.

• If you have a list of adults in another system, including spreadsheets, you may be able to create the entire community file by exporting the names to a formatted text report, structured to match the sample community file. The "Community File generator" available from the Google Code web site uses this approach.

Setup a Network

An experienced pair of tellers working at one computer typically can enter about 60 ballots in an hour. For large communities, it is likely best to have multiple computers in use, to speed the tallying process.

• Each computer must have a separate copy of the Election File.

• All the computers can share a single copy of the Community File.

The best way to do this is to connect the computers together in a network. If possible, a wireless router is the simplest to use, and reduces the need for wiring. With a strong enough wireless router, connections can be made to the computer at the front desk for doing Registration, and to a computer connected to a projector for the Announcer and/or Reporter.

Once connected together, all the computers can "map a drive" to a shared folder on one computer, designated as the central computer. That folder can be where the TallyJ core package was unzipped. If done this way, that folder contains the TallyJ.HTA application and the Data folder (among other files). In the Data folder, you would place a copy of your single Community File.

You would also prepare a copy of the Election File for each of the computers that will be used. This can best be done by creating a new Election File (on the Files page in TallyJ). Once created, use the "Election" page to configure the type of election, and other details. Set the Computer Code to "A". Then, using the "Files" page, copy that Election File to a new name, for instance "Computer B". Then open that file, and set the Computer Code to "B". Repeat that process until all the Election files are prepared.

If creating a network of computers is not possible, the alternative solution is to deliver a copy of the Community File and a prepared Election File to each computer. This can be done by USB memory stick, diskette, email or some other process. Once the ballots have been recorded, the Election Files need to be collected back to a central computer, and merged into a final Election File.