The Central Electoral Board (JCE) ran a simulated election on Friday that
revealed several flaws in the computer programs that will be used to report the
voting results from the various provinces. According to El Caribe newspaper, the
JCE had to conduct the simulation for several hours so that the technical staff
could adjust the system to make it less sensitive to small errors in data
transmission. According to Miguel ?ngel Garc?a, the IT director for the JCE, the
technical difficulties appeared in all ten provinces and the National District,
Santo Domingo. According to Garc?a, the security systems that were installed to
avoid hacking attempts were a little too rigid. His technicians, he said, were
working to correct the problem. Other difficulties cropped up when the various
municipal boards tried to scan the plasticized paper that held the simulated
voting returns. The JCE?s IT department declared that it would be in permanent
session to make sure the recently installed equipment would be in perfect
working order in time for Sunday?s elections. Several international observers,
including a few ambassadors, were shown the flow diagrams of how the election
materials were being distributed, and seemed reassured. US ambassador Hans
Hertell told reporters that he and his colleagues have confidence in the OAS and
the delegation of international observers. According to the Diario Libre, the
Verizon company has finished the installation of voice and data transmission
networks for Sunday?s big event. Chief JCE Judge Luis Arias, as well as other
JCE judges, visited the operation center to observe the final touches being made
on the 114 lines that will link the municipalities to the JCE offices in Santo
Domingo. Nelson G?mez, the chief judge of the Administrative Chamber of the JCE,
told reporters that they will get daily reports from the company that is
responsible for network security. As the clock winds down on election day,
today?s El Caribe shows members of the armed forces guarding the containers that
hold the election materials, ready for distribution. Tomorrow, 11 May, the JCE
will publish facsimiles of the ballots in the largest newspapers.