Prerequisites for Database Export

Important: Before you perform a database export, you must update the workstation to be used to create database exports. We recommend that you identify a workstation(s) to be used for the Database Export process and apply this update. Then, do not apply any Microsoft SQL updates. The Database Export should not be run from any server that hosts your Voter Focus database.

Web Messenger must be running for the database export.

A database export can be performed on any Voter Focus workstation equipped with SQL Server 2008 Express R2 (any version, including Express). The SQL instance name must be MSSQLSERVER. If the machine is not properly equipped, you will see one of the following error messages:

  • SQL Server could not be found—This message indicates that the machine you are running from is not running SQL Server 2008 R2.

  • Local SQL instance is not SQL 2008 R2.  Version is '<version#>'—This message indicates that a different version of SQL Server is running on the computer.

  • Error opening local SQL connection—This message indicates there is a problem connecting to SQL Server.

You will not be able to proceed with the export until the computer is set up properly. To help make setting up SQL 2008 R2 for exports easier, we have provided an automated installation script to assist you. For instructions, see Update the Workstation to Be Used to Create EViD Exports.

Prerequisites for Early Voting

All of the settings below must be configured before you can perform a database export for Early Voting:

All early voting sites and all election day polling places used in the election must be defined in the county database using the Place Maintenance application in Voter Focus > Elections. It’s likely that most, if not all, of your voting sites are already defined, but it is a good idea to check the list in Elections > Place Maintenance to be sure the roster is complete. All information for early voting sites need not be filled in. The only information needed for an EViD database export is:

If you have precincts or precinct splits that are not voting in their normal polling places, assign them to a temporary polling place using one of the following methods:

Method 1 - If you want to have a precinct or precinct split vote in a different physical place, but will keep the backup paper registers and reporting separate, then set up an election override in Voter Focus > Elections > Place Maintenance.

Method 2 - If you want to have a precinct or precinct split vote in a different physical location AND will combine the backup paper registers and reporting, then set up a precinct combination in Election Maintenance.

Before performing a database export for early voting, go to the Maintain Election Settings application in Voter Focus and verify that:

  • The start and end dates for early voting are defined.
  • All precincts voting in the election are defined as voting.
  • All ballot styles are defined and properly assigned to precincts.
  • All precincts have the correct Election Day Polling Place assignment.
    Important: Subsequent changes to precinct details, including ballot style assignments, may require you to do another database export and to recreate activators.

Make sure all EVID settings are configured correctly in:

Prerequisites for Election Day Database Exports

All of the settings below must be configured before you can perform a database export for Election Day:

Make sure all EViD settings are configured correctly in:

If this was not done for Early Voting, setup your voting sites and any temporary polling places as described above.