(December 2019)

1.1 Why this specification is needed The purpose of this specification is to provide a comprehensive, flexible, and interoperable pre-election setup and post-election results reporting XML and JSON format for manufacturers to integrate into their voting equipment and for election offices, the media, and other groups to use in their own software. Some advantages of using this specification are that:

• election results can be reported directly from election offices in this format regardless of voting system manufacturer, thus enabling interoperability;

• the need for custom software and custom reporting formats is greatly reduced;

• jurisdictions that use multiple versions of EMSs and tabulators can more easily combine and transfer information between systems