Re: EML Vocabulary

[VotingProj@aol.com]

In a message dated 5/23/01 5:11:18 AM Eastern Daylight Time, 
wysong@technodemocracy.org writes:

<< Subj:     EML Vocabulary
 Date:  5/23/01 5:11:18 AM Eastern Daylight Time
 From:  wysong@technodemocracy.org (Thom Wysong)
 To:    election-services@lists.oasis-open.org
 
 
 It seems to me that, sooner or later, we will run into a problem with 
 people using different definitions for the same term, or different terms 
 for the same concept. When this happens, we'll probably need to come to 
 agreement on a common term and common definition for those concepts we need 
 to refer to.
 
 One possible solution is to use the terms and definitions that the US 
 Federal Election Commission (FEC) uses in it's Voting System Standards 
 (VSS) manual. Version 1.0 of the US VSS was published in 1990. The 
 standards are currently being revised. Volume 1 of Version 2.0 of the US 
 VSS is scheduled to be released for public comment on 29 June 2001. The 
 glossary from the new Volume 1 may be of use to us.
 
 The final version of that glossary is not yet available. However, I do have 
 a draft version of it that was created on 01 August 2000. The draft version 
 is available at 
 http://www.technodemocracy.org/resources/US-FEC-VSS2-Glossary-2000-08-01.html
 
 This glossary does not contain all the terms that we'll likely need to use. 
 It also contains terms that we won't likely need. Additionally, we may 
 decide that the definitions the FEC uses don't quite fit our needs. 
 However, they can be a starting point for us.
 
 -Thom
  >>

Dear Thom,

That is extremely helpful. I wanted to share an exchange of emails between 
two Virginia election officials which reflects just this problem. I may even 
be somewhat guilty in my response.

Best,

Deborah

Deborah M Phillips
Chairman and President
THE VOTING INTEGRITY PROJECT
"Defending Your Freedom By Protecting Your Vote"
www.votingintegrity.org
(888) 578-4343
PO Box 6470
Arlington VA 22206

Subj:   Re: One more report for you
Date:   5/23/01 9:55:24 AM Eastern Daylight Time
From:   VotingProj
To: Cclear@co.arlington.va.us

Dear Charlotte,

Well, I think you and Carol may be confusing several issues.  OASIS is not a 
computer application. It is a non-profit organization that oversees creation 
of various standards. The creation of an election Extensible Markup Language 
(XML) is happening and it will be completed in 6-9 months.  There is 
tremendous sensitivity among those on the OASIS Technical Committee for an 
EML about accessibility, but as I understand it, accessibility is not a data 
problem per se, so much as it is a platform problem. But the OASIS EML 
technical committee will be including a representative from the National 
Federation for the Blind and other groups to ensure that they have inputs on 
the final product.

Finally, OASIS adopts standards for a wide range of XML's. Carol should be 
clear that one is not the same as another.  I would recommend you both spend 
some time on the site for the EML:  
http://www.oasis-open.org/committees/election/index.shtml

Best,

Deborah

Deborah M Phillips
Chairman and President
THE VOTING INTEGRITY PROJECT
"Defending Your Freedom By Protecting Your Vote"
www.votingintegrity.org
(888) 578-4343
PO Box 6470
Arlington VA 22206

Subj:    Fwd: RE: One more report for you
Date:   5/23/01 7:34:28 AM Eastern Daylight Time
From:   Cclear@co.arlington.va.us (Charlotte Cleary)
To: votingproj@aol.com

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Subject: RE: One more report for you
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Charlotte,  thanks for keeping me in the loop.  I do have a concern re:
Oasis.  As a member of the State Social Service Board, we deal with this
computer application in one of our programs and receive nothing but
complaints on its usage.  It is very time consuming and you have to fill
each slot with an answer if you want to progress onward in the program.  I
suggest we take a long look at this program, esp. for you Registrars.

Carol Ann Coryell