From: Al Kolwicz [mailto:alkolwicz@qwest.net]
Sent: Tuesday, September 04, 2007 4:41 PM
To: Jonathan Tee (Jonathan.Tee@SOS.State.CO.US)
Cc: Colorado Voter Group (ColoradoVoter@googlegroups.com); Mike Coffman (mike.coffman@sos.state.co.us)
Subject: SCORE
Dear Jonathan,
We just scanned the most recent SCORE IVV status report. If we understand correctly, it is the intention of CDOS to go live with the system before taking action on any of the recommendations that we submitted. This would be very disappointing.
Apparently we were overly optimistic when we expressed our July 11th hopeful impression that CDOS might consider opening up the SCORE II project before it is too late.
We recommended several steps that can and should be taken to improve SCORE’s probability of success:
1. Publish on the web a layered set of documentation including the roll-out plan.
2. If it does not already exist, prepare a document that details the system requirements, the way that each requirement will be measured, and the minimum standard of performance for each requirement. We’ll work with you to develop this if you wish.
3. Invite professional criticism, and praise, via a public discussion group. We would administer this if you wish.
4. Conduct a public presentation of the system – at a level of detail suitable for an audience of professional systems folk. We will help set the agenda, if you wish.
The public needs to be comfortable with the system. It cannot be forced down their throats. To attempt to do so risks stimulating a negative attitude that need not happen.
Election officials are not, in general, experts on security, systems architecture, testing, etc. Any problems or deficiencies that are identified before the system is released can be repaired much more efficiently than after. It just makes sense to take advantage of Colorado’s technology experts.
I hope that you will emphasize to the Secretary of State our deep concern that the SCORE application will go live, and then go into crisis mode. This is totally unnecessary and totally undesireable.
Al
Al Kolwicz
Colorado Voter Group
2867 Tincup Circle
Boulder, CO 80305
303-494-1540
AlKolwicz@qwest.net
www.AlKolwicz.net
www.coloradovotergroup.blogspot.com