Re: Updated Beta 1.94y release ready for order

[Guy Lancaster <glanca@gesn.com>]

  Another Beta release of 1.94y is ready for order from McKinney that
restores feeder operation.  It seems that feeder control has been
disabled since 1.94x.  Oops!

  Features of this release will be needed in Yavapai so the general release should be out soon.  While it's rather late to add new stuff, please review the release notes if there is anything in particular that you were expecting in this release.  Otherwise, any and all final testing is appreciated.

  Thanks.

          Guy

Title: Accu-Vote Release 1.94y

RELEASE NOTES
Accu-Vote Optical Scanner - Beta Release 1.94y
Revised December 11, 2000

Purpose

A maintenance release to fix some bugs and provide some new features.

Compatibility

The 1.94y release of the Accu-Vote firmware is based on the 1.94x release. The precinct count upload protocol remains compatible with all 1.9 VTS versions. The precinct count download protocol and the memory cards are compatible with previous 1.94 releases.

All Releases

• Allow setting February 29th on leap years.
• Fix modem detection bug introduced in 1.94x that prevented communications when using a common Accu-Vote internal modem.
• External USR modems tested at 9600 bps for communications with GEMS.
• Add a setup mode option that enables sorting when the auto feed mode is selected.  When enabled, a ballot to be sorted will stop the feeder with a prompt like "COUNTED BALLOT - RECORD WRITE-IN".  By default, this is not enabled.  If the setup configuration is saved to memory cards, this option will be saved.
• Re-enable feeder control which has been disabled since 1.94x.

Precinct Counter (PC) Release

Also in the 1.95e release:

• Support the new GEMS-1.16->Setup->AccuVote Options->Tally Settings->Auto Absentee checkbox which allows the Accu-Vote to determine whether a ballot should be counted as polling or absentee based on its ballot identification marks.  This requires either that polling and absentee ballots have unique card numbers in which case the absentee ballots can be counted at any time without the use of header cards, or that the new Counter Group Header cards be used to resolve conflicts.
• Support new Counter Group Header cards.  With the GEMS Auto Absentee option selected, these can be used to override the count group normally associated with a particular card ID or to resolve conflicts when a particular card ID is used in multiple count groups (i.e. polling and absentee).  With the Auto Absentee option selected, the old Absentee Count Card operates as a Counter Group Header, Absentee card.
• Support using either the "Counter Group Header, Polling" card or the "Counter Group Header, No Override" card to return to polling count mode after counting absentee ballots using an Absentee Count Card.  This applies only when the new GEMS Auto Absentee option is not enabled.
• No longer require the Absentee Count Card before the Ender Card when counting absentee ballots at the polls.
• When using a ballot box (i.e. when not using a feeder), no longer require that an override be cleared before setting a new override.  Previously when a Precinct Header Card was used, you would need to use a Precinct Separator Card before using a new Precinct Header Card.  In non-feeder modes the YES and NO buttons must be held while feeding any control card which is considered a sufficient check against accidental use.
• When using an Accu-Feed, an override using either a Precinct Header Card or a Counter Group Header Card must be cleared before a new override can be set or before the Ender Card will be accepted.  In feeder mode, the Accu-Vote will quietly process all control cards as long as all header cards are matched by appropriate ender cards.
• The pre-election unmarked and fully marked ballot tests now identify all control card types and can be used to verify that control cards are readable.  At this time the tests do not identify the override ID on the override cards.

New for 1.94f:

• When using counter group overrides, check that the card is valid for the current counter group.  Prior to the Auto Absentee option there were absentee counters for all cards when using absentee cards.  Now cards can be absentee only or polling only.  The override cards are only needed when Auto Absentee is enabled and there are ballot cards that are not unique to a count group (i.e. they are used for both polling site and absentee voting).
• Fix bug that caused reports to loop endlessly when trying to determine the party code for partisan closed primary ballots.

Versions

(AV-OS-PC-AE Beta Rel 1.94y) Precinct Counter American English Beta Release 1.94y with checksums A:8B11 and B:CBAA dated 00-11-03.

(AV-OS-PC-AE Beta Rel 1.94y) Precinct Counter American English Beta Release 1.94y on a 128K ROM with checksum 8AC1 dated 00-11-03.

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