Tabulator - Voting Machine - Receipts (Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Public Records Division)

Hello,

Your request has been forwarded to the Elections Division for response. Please note that the Public Records Division deals with appeals of public records requests. It is not the custodian of all public records.

Responses to each of your requests are provided below, in the order in which they were listed in your email.

“Purchase Orders and/or Receipts for electronic voting equipment (AKA Tabulators) since 1998. Please include Model Name, Vendor, and Date Purchased at minimum.”

This office has no records responsive to your request, as tabulators are purchased by cities and towns who choose to use them. Cities and towns have the option of using tabulators that have been certified for use by this office, but they are responsible for purchasing or leasing the equipment from approved vendors.

Audits on any voting equipment (include dates, company, costs) per M. G. L. c. 54 § 33I

Records relating to post-election audits held under chapter 54 §109A of the General Laws may be found on our website at https://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/elepostelection/postelectionidx.htm. There are no companies involved in post-election audits, as they are conducted by local election officials. Cities and towns conducting the audits pay for the cost of the audit, if there are any costs.

Please note that the statute you cited in the above request does not pertain to audits.

Devices removed (when removed, when originally purchased, reason for removal)

It is unclear what this request is referring to. We are unable to provide a response to this request without additional clarification about the records you are seeking.

Devices with serial numbers and model used in 2020 presidential election.

Attached, please find a list of voting equipment approved for use in Massachusetts. This office has no records regarding serial numbers of the tabulators, as the equipment is purchased or leased by local election officials directly from the approved vendors.

Devices with serial numbers and model numbers in current circulation to be used in next election/November 2022.

This office has not approved or decertified any tabulator since 2020, however, the deadline has not yet passed for communities to vote to change their voting equipment. Again, this office has no records responsive to your request regarding serial numbers.

When the name "Sara Cooke" or "Sara Breton" occurred on voting records. Looking for dates I voted. (Please interchange, as name may include middle initial of E. or Elizabeth. For confirmation: Snipatuit Road, Pine Street, Hazel Road, Wall Street are the addresses to cross confirm).

The above records, to the extent that they exist, would be maintained in the state voter database. Under chapter 51 §47C of the Massachusetts General Laws, information contained in the state voter database is not a public record available from this office. Such information is limited to certain entities listed in that statute, including statewide candidates, statewide ballot question committees, and state party committees. This information is, however, publicly available from the town clerk where you may have been registered to vote.

In Rochester, under maiden name of Sara Breton, I was a poll worker. Kindly include those dates as to when I was working for the town.

This office has no records responsive to this request, as poll workers are appointed by town officials. Records relating to town employees or town appointees would be in the custody of the Town of Rochester.

I hope this information is helpful.

Regards,
Debra O’Malley
Elections Division
Secretary of the Commonwealth
(617) 727-2828

Please be advised that you may appeal this response to the Supervisor of Public Records within 90 days or seek judicial review by commencing a civil action in superior court. G.L. c. 66 §10(A); 950 CMR 32.08(1).