I was a poll watcher, and we have in Alabama what I assume are the same machines (or very similar).
1) The machines are plugged in 30 minutes to one hour before the polls open.
2) The ballot container is opened and verified to be empty.
3) The ballot counter on front of the machine is verified to read zero.
4) A tape (similar to a cash register tape) is run which shows all vote counts for all seats and all other issues to be zero.
5) The tape is checked and verified. This tape is not to be torn or detached from the machine until the final tabulation at the end of the day.
6) The voting occurs during the day.
7) Voting is closed.
8) The precinct inspector locks the machine and pushes a button which runs the final vote tabulation at the end of the day. It is printed on the same tape that was used to record the zero count earlier in the day before the polls opened. In other words, the beginning zero count, all overvotes and undervotes during the day, as well as the final tally are all shown on the same UNBROKEN tape. This tape is selaed in an envelope and becomes the official record.
9) This official record is also reported in the cartridge - which I assume is a non-volatile memory similar to a flash memory card.
10) Other tapes showing the results are printed out and sent to various officials and posted on the door of the polling place. Our precinct ran a total of 5 additional tapes.
It should be easy for lawyers - if they know the system - to create and trace a good paper trail. For example, it the zero portion of the tape is not attached to the final tally, something is rotten.
This assumes the GOP lawyers are not bullied or steamrolled.
Unfortunately, if Minnesota is using the Accuvote machines, due to the idiocy of some software engineers who developed the firmware in those machines, it is possible for the tape to show zero counts when the actual counts are non-zero. And its possible for the printout on the tape to not accurately reflect the ballot count at the end of the election either.
The memory cards need to be very carefully examined - and until then preserved under seal as evidence.
That’s similar to how I remember it in Fairfax County, VA several years ago, when we used the Shouptronic machines. the machines arrived sealed with metal bands stamped with a number which matched the number in our documents. Also, our documents recorded the “protected counter” number, which was a mechanical counter that recorded every vote the machine tallied since it was built.
Same process as you described with the unbroken tape and the cartridges. When we were finished, things were handled strictly, in accordance with the procedures. Even to pack the machines up and seal them with number stamped metal bands which were also recorded on official results.
On that point of calling in the numbers....seems they would have called in the numbers based on what they wrote down. The article seems to think they called in a lower number and then wrote the correct (higher) number.
Very suspicious. The Coleman campaign/RNC should be talking to those election officers and poll watchers if they are smart.