Causes of missing ballot image files referenced by CVRs

Determine whether the missing ballot image files referenced by cast vote records (CVRs) in Fulton County’s 2020 U.S. Presidential election EMS datasets were caused by human error, malfeasance, programming errors, or malware in the election management system.

Background

The author reports that large numbers of ballot images referenced by cast vote records were not produced, including entire batches. The absence of these image files compromises the ability to verify tabulation integrity.

Without additional information or forensic access, the underlying reason for the missing images—ranging from benign error to malicious interference—remains unresolved.