Board certifies Election Systems & Software EVS 6.5 voting system for Michigan

The Board of State Canvassers voted to certify Election Systems & Software Inc.’s EVS 6.5 voting system for use in Michigan.

Bureau staff said the version upgrade is a routine vendor release that updates operating systems on high-speed scanners and tabulators, adds BitLocker encryption, and introduces the DS300 precinct tabulator along with high-speed scanners ADS450 and ADS950. The upgrade also updates election-management computers to Microsoft Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2021 and servers to Microsoft Windows Server 2022, staff said.

“My recommendation is that the board certify this upgrade based on the testing,” the presenting staff member said, noting the system underwent laboratory testing by Pro V&V, an Election Assistance Commission–approved test laboratory, and was certified by the Election Assistance Commission. Staff also said they ran internal tests, exercised the components with test ballots, and had assistance from the Macomb County Clerk’s Office during testing.

Board members asked about the update cycle, whether issues have been found during testing, and whether dual-factor login is required for county programming machines. Staff said version upgrades of this type commonly occur every election cycle or roughly every two years and that the vendor and test lab process can constrain timing. Staff said minor issues found in testing are typically corrected through software updates before broader deployment and that dual-factor authentication is supported by the system; staff said they would follow up on whether counties are required or merely recommended to use dual-factor login.

A motion to certify the ES&S EVS 6.5 voting system was made, seconded and carried.