Section 16.1-06-15 - Mandatory testing of voting systems before each election and after tabulation of ballots1. All voting systems used in this state must be tested according to guidelines established by the secretary of state and as follows to ascertain whether the automatic tabulating equipment will accurately count the votes cast for all offices and measures. The testing must be conducted prior to each election at which the system will be used. The testing must be done by the county auditor or county auditor's designee, and after each test, the testing materials and any preaudited ballots used during the test must be sealed and retained in the same manner as election materials after an election.2. The test of a voting system employing paper ballots must be conducted by processing a preaudited group of ballots on which are recorded a predetermined number of valid votes for each candidate and measure and must include for each office one or more ballots which have votes in excess of the number allowed by law in order to test the ability of the automatic tabulating equipment to reject such votes. During the test a different number of valid votes must be assigned to each candidate for an office and for and against each measure. If an error is detected, the cause of it must be ascertained and corrected, and an errorless count must be secured and filed as provided in this section.3. The test must be conducted at least one week before the election. One week before the test is conducted, the county auditor must send the district chairman of each political party having a candidate on the ballot a notice of the test. The notice must state the time, place, and date of the test or tests and that the district chairman or district chairman's designee may attend.4. At the conclusion of the test, the programming for each voting device must be sealed within the device with a unique numbered seal that must be verified by the election inspector before the opening of the polls to make sure the programming has not been removed from the device.5. After each election, the secretary of state shall order a random testing of the voting system programming for one precinct in each county of the state according to logic and accuracy testing procedures detailed in subsection 2 and as may be further defined by the secretary of state in writing. This test is to be conducted before the meeting of the county canvassing board.Amended by S.L. 2023 , ch. 204( HB 1192 ), § 4, eff. 8/1/2023.Amended by S.L. 2011 , ch. 152( SB 2254 ), § 12, eff. 8/1/2011.