Comparison of Voting Technology: 2000 to 2004

NOTE: The following data does include results from Carteret County.

More detailed data for 2000 is available here.
More detailed data for 2004 is available here.
Raw data from the North Carolina State Board of Elections is available at their website.

GOVERNOR

This first table is the overall undervote information for this contest. The columns are:

Year of election
The number of state-wide votes counted in this contest.
The number of voters who voted this particular year.
The state-wide undervote rate.
The average undervote rate of the counties.
The standard deviation of the undervote rate of each county. If smaller the number, the more consistent the counties are with each other. A larger number shows that some counties did well, whereas others did much worse.
Number of counties with available and correct data (i.e., non-negative undervote rates (a negative undervote rate indicates more votes cast than the number of voters who went to the polls).

Year	Counted	Turnout	Undervote	Avg. Undervote	StdDev	Num Counties
2000	2779659	2852007	2.54	3.01	0.18	89
2004	3289070	3369003	2.37	2.66	0.24	89

These next two tables break the undervote information down by technology. We have one table for each year. The columns have exactly the same meaning as in the first table. This allows us to see if any technology tended to out-perform any other technology in that year.

2000 Tech	Counted	Turnout	State-wide Undervote	Avg. Undervote	StdDev	Num Counties
OpScan	1326639	1354296	2.04	2.43	0.21	44
DRE	1158823	1195377	3.06	3.58	0.30	32
PunchCard	269035	276008	2.53	3.06	0.37	8
Paper	7133	7543	5.44	4.67	1.96	3
Lever	18029	18783	4.01	4.13	4.08	2

2004 Tech	Counted	Turnout	State-wide Undervote	Avg. Undervote	StdDev	Num Counties
OpScan	1517947	1547620	1.92	1.96	0.17	42
DRE	1448647	1492542	2.94	3.46	0.50	36
PunchCard	293089	297976	1.64	1.96	0.42	6
Paper	7709	7938	2.88	2.45	0.98	3
Lever	21678	22927	5.45	5.37	5.32	2

This table shows how the undervote rate changes over time as a factor of voting technology. For example, if a county used punch cards in 2000, but optical scan machines in 2004, their undervote data would contribute to the "punch card" row and "optical scan" column. If another county used DRE machines in 2000 and again in 2004, their undervote data would contribute to the "DRE" row and "DRE" column.

The "state-wide" technology entry shows how the undervote rate of the state as a whole changed between the 2000 and 2004 election.

A negative average change means that the undervote rate declined, whereas a positive value means that the undervote rate (for whatever reason) increased. We observe that the state-wide undervote rate decreased in all races from 2000 to 2004; we hypothesize that two factors contributed to this:

Greater training and focus on the part of all election officials. No one wanted to be "the next Florida", and therefore spent a lot of time making sure that everything was in place and everyone was trained.
Greater familiarity with the voting technology in place. Only five counties switched from one technology to another, meaning that the election officials were more likely to understand the best practices associated with their voting technology.

New Tech	Statewide			OpScan			DRE			PunchCard			Paper			Lever
Old Tech	Avg	Dev	Num	Avg	Dev	Num	Avg	Dev	Num	Avg	Dev	Num	Avg	Dev	Num	Avg	Dev	Num
Statewide	-0.35	0.25	89
OpScan				-0.55	0.25	41	0.79	1.05	3
DRE							-0.01	0.51	32
PunchCard				-0.95	0.00	1	-2.14	0.00	1	-0.63	0.29	6
Paper													-2.22	1.14	3
Lever																1.24	9.41	2

PRESIDENT

Year	Counted	Turnout	Undervote	Avg. Undervote	StdDev	Num Counties
2000	2754856	2852007	3.41	3.88	0.18	89
2004	3301630	3369003	2.00	2.24	0.22	89

2000 Tech	Counted	Turnout	State-wide Undervote	Avg. Undervote	StdDev	Num Counties
OpScan	1306982	1354296	3.49	4.09	0.25	44
DRE	1155626	1195377	3.33	3.52	0.26	32
PunchCard	267099	276008	3.23	4.07	0.43	8
Paper	7164	7543	5.02	3.73	3.30	3
Lever	17985	18783	4.25	4.27	0.87	2

2004 Tech	Counted	Turnout	State-wide Undervote	Avg. Undervote	StdDev	Num Counties
OpScan	1513572	1547620	2.20	2.25	0.18	42
DRE	1464017	1492542	1.91	2.45	0.50	36
PunchCard	293536	297976	1.49	1.94	0.32	6
Paper	7870	7938	0.86	0.67	0.42	3
Lever	22635	22927	1.27	1.27	0.12	2

New Tech	Statewide			OpScan			DRE			PunchCard			Paper			Lever
Old Tech	Avg	Dev	Num	Avg	Dev	Num	Avg	Dev	Num	Avg	Dev	Num	Avg	Dev	Num	Avg	Dev	Num
Statewide	-1.64	0.27	89
OpScan				-1.96	0.27	41	-1.08	0.44	3
DRE							-0.98	0.62	32
PunchCard				-2.05	0.00	1	-2.86	0.00	1	-1.82	0.50	6
Paper													-3.07	2.90	3
Lever																-3.00	0.99	2

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR

Year	Counted	Turnout	Undervote	Avg. Undervote	StdDev	Num Counties
2000	2709955	2852007	4.98	5.87	0.27	89
2004	3206592	3369003	4.82	5.33	0.28	89

2000 Tech	Counted	Turnout	State-wide Undervote	Avg. Undervote	StdDev	Num Counties
OpScan	1296386	1354296	4.28	4.80	0.30	44
DRE	1128288	1195377	5.61	6.54	0.46	32
PunchCard	261624	276008	5.21	6.49	0.73	8
Paper	6769	7543	10.26	9.66	1.59	3
Lever	16888	18783	10.09	10.23	5.08	2

2004 Tech	Counted	Turnout	State-wide Undervote	Avg. Undervote	StdDev	Num Counties
OpScan	1483236	1547620	4.16	4.30	0.23	42
DRE	1409407	1492542	5.57	6.12	0.49	36
PunchCard	286113	297976	3.98	4.25	0.51	6
Paper	7234	7938	8.87	9.15	1.45	3
Lever	20602	22927	10.14	10.02	8.37	2

New Tech	Statewide			OpScan			DRE			PunchCard			Paper			Lever
Old Tech	Avg	Dev	Num	Avg	Dev	Num	Avg	Dev	Num	Avg	Dev	Num	Avg	Dev	Num	Avg	Dev	Num
Statewide	-0.54	0.29	89
OpScan				-0.66	0.27	41	0.76	1.70	3
DRE							-0.25	0.55	32
PunchCard				-1.38	0.00	1	-1.80	0.00	1	-1.65	0.88	6
Paper													-0.50	2.29	3
Lever																-0.21	13.44	2

ATTORNEY GENERAL

Year	Counted	Turnout	Undervote	Avg. Undervote	StdDev	Num Counties
2000	2672167	2852007	6.31	7.23	0.30	89
2004	3175762	3369003	5.74	6.39	0.33	89

2000 Tech	Counted	Turnout	State-wide Undervote	Avg. Undervote	StdDev	Num Counties
OpScan	1282442	1354296	5.31	5.99	0.33	44
DRE	1108373	1195377	7.28	8.24	0.48	32
PunchCard	258296	276008	6.42	7.42	0.69	8
Paper	6872	7543	8.90	9.53	1.70	3
Lever	16184	18783	13.84	14.02	6.43	2

2004 Tech	Counted	Turnout	State-wide Undervote	Avg. Undervote	StdDev	Num Counties
OpScan	1470746	1547620	4.97	5.48	0.44	42
DRE	1395960	1492542	6.47	7.08	0.49	36
PunchCard	281562	297976	5.51	5.90	0.60	6
Paper	7226	7938	8.97	8.53	1.42	3
Lever	20268	22927	11.60	11.46	9.14	2

New Tech	Statewide			OpScan			DRE			PunchCard			Paper			Lever
Old Tech	Avg	Dev	Num	Avg	Dev	Num	Avg	Dev	Num	Avg	Dev	Num	Avg	Dev	Num	Avg	Dev	Num
Statewide	-0.84	0.35	89
OpScan				-0.68	0.44	41	0.28	1.37	3
DRE							-0.97	0.62	32
PunchCard				-1.09	0.00	1	-2.60	0.00	1	-0.73	0.17	6
Paper													-1.00	2.59	3
Lever																-2.55	15.57	2

COMMISSIONER OF INSURANCE

Year	Counted	Turnout	Undervote	Avg. Undervote	StdDev	Num Counties
2000	2658414	2852007	6.79	7.61	0.47	89
2004	3165247	3369003	6.05	6.16	0.28	89

2000 Tech	Counted	Turnout	State-wide Undervote	Avg. Undervote	StdDev	Num Counties
OpScan	1276704	1354296	5.73	6.50	0.86	44
DRE	1102728	1195377	7.75	8.36	0.35	32
PunchCard	255970	276008	7.26	8.07	0.71	8
Paper	6708	7543	11.07	10.70	0.95	3
Lever	16304	18783	13.20	13.39	7.06	2

2004 Tech	Counted	Turnout	State-wide Undervote	Avg. Undervote	StdDev	Num Counties
OpScan	1466819	1547620	5.22	5.13	0.28	42
DRE	1390678	1492542	6.82	6.99	0.49	36
PunchCard	280013	297976	6.03	6.20	0.67	6
Paper	7313	7938	7.87	7.37	1.63	3
Lever	20424	22927	10.92	10.80	8.13	2

New Tech	Statewide			OpScan			DRE			PunchCard			Paper			Lever
Old Tech	Avg	Dev	Num	Avg	Dev	Num	Avg	Dev	Num	Avg	Dev	Num	Avg	Dev	Num	Avg	Dev	Num
Statewide	-1.45	0.51	89
OpScan				-1.55	0.93	41	0.36	1.12	3
DRE							-1.21	0.58	32
PunchCard				-2.74	0.00	1	-2.84	0.00	1	-1.17	0.38	6
Paper													-3.33	1.45	3
Lever																-2.60	15.19	2

COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE

Year	Counted	Turnout	Undervote	Avg. Undervote	StdDev	Num Counties
2000	2650758	2852007	7.06	8.06	0.49	89
2004	3140698	3369003	6.78	7.06	0.31	89

2000 Tech	Counted	Turnout	State-wide Undervote	Avg. Undervote	StdDev	Num Counties
OpScan	1275648	1354296	5.81	6.86	0.88	44
DRE	1097254	1195377	8.21	8.93	0.40	32
PunchCard	254900	276008	7.65	8.67	0.78	8
Paper	6660	7543	11.71	11.26	1.43	3
Lever	16296	18783	13.24	13.41	6.14	2

2004 Tech	Counted	Turnout	State-wide Undervote	Avg. Undervote	StdDev	Num Counties
OpScan	1457867	1547620	5.80	5.90	0.33	42
DRE	1378545	1492542	7.64	7.92	0.48	36
PunchCard	276981	297976	7.05	7.28	0.77	6
Paper	7154	7938	9.88	9.25	1.75	3
Lever	20151	22927	12.11	11.97	9.02	2

New Tech	Statewide			OpScan			DRE			PunchCard			Paper			Lever
Old Tech	Avg	Dev	Num	Avg	Dev	Num	Avg	Dev	Num	Avg	Dev	Num	Avg	Dev	Num	Avg	Dev	Num
Statewide	-1.01	0.50	89
OpScan				-1.17	0.93	41	0.88	1.26	3
DRE							-0.85	0.56	32
PunchCard				-1.55	0.00	1	-2.95	0.00	1	-0.59	0.38	6
Paper													-2.01	1.95	3
Lever																-1.44	15.16	2

SECRETARY OF STATE

Year	Counted	Turnout	Undervote	Avg. Undervote	StdDev	Num Counties
2000	2625278	2852007	7.95	8.69	0.34	89
2004	3145504	3369003	6.63	7.11	0.28	89

2000 Tech	Counted	Turnout	State-wide Undervote	Avg. Undervote	StdDev	Num Counties
OpScan	1265937	1354296	6.52	7.06	0.39	44
DRE	1085321	1195377	9.21	9.86	0.42	32
PunchCard	251628	276008	8.83	9.77	0.82	8
Paper	6593	7543	12.59	12.39	0.51	3
Lever	15799	18783	15.89	16.11	8.20	2

2004 Tech	Counted	Turnout	State-wide Undervote	Avg. Undervote	StdDev	Num Counties
OpScan	1457530	1547620	5.82	6.18	0.33	42
DRE	1381060	1492542	7.47	7.93	0.47	36
PunchCard	278708	297976	6.47	7.12	0.92	6
Paper	7043	7938	11.27	9.95	3.01	3
Lever	21163	22927	7.69	7.65	3.04	2

New Tech	Statewide			OpScan			DRE			PunchCard			Paper			Lever
Old Tech	Avg	Dev	Num	Avg	Dev	Num	Avg	Dev	Num	Avg	Dev	Num	Avg	Dev	Num	Avg	Dev	Num
Statewide	-1.58	0.33	89
OpScan				-1.13	0.38	41	0.74	0.96	3
DRE							-1.77	0.59	32
PunchCard				-1.81	0.00	1	-3.91	0.00	1	-1.72	0.40	6
Paper													-2.43	2.51	3
Lever																-8.47	11.24	2

TREASURER

Year	Counted	Turnout	Undervote	Avg. Undervote	StdDev	Num Counties
2000	2629841	2852007	7.79	8.45	0.30	89
2004	3136124	3369003	6.91	7.44	0.32	89

2000 Tech	Counted	Turnout	State-wide Undervote	Avg. Undervote	StdDev	Num Counties
OpScan	1265481	1354296	6.56	7.17	0.38	44
DRE	1087949	1195377	8.99	9.46	0.39	32
PunchCard	253525	276008	8.15	8.94	0.98	8
Paper	6609	7543	12.38	11.93	1.21	3
Lever	16277	18783	13.34	13.47	4.56	2

2004 Tech	Counted	Turnout	State-wide Undervote	Avg. Undervote	StdDev	Num Counties
OpScan	1453520	1547620	6.08	6.41	0.35	42
DRE	1376382	1492542	7.78	8.22	0.48	36
PunchCard	279345	297976	6.25	6.59	1.02	6
Paper	7045	7938	11.25	10.28	2.38	3
Lever	19832	22927	13.50	13.35	10.29	2

New Tech	Statewide			OpScan			DRE			PunchCard			Paper			Lever
Old Tech	Avg	Dev	Num	Avg	Dev	Num	Avg	Dev	Num	Avg	Dev	Num	Avg	Dev	Num	Avg	Dev	Num
Statewide	-1.01	0.30	89
OpScan				-0.93	0.30	41	-0.33	1.51	3
DRE							-1.03	0.54	32
PunchCard				-1.43	0.00	1	-3.27	0.00	1	-1.37	0.42	6
Paper													-1.64	1.74	3
Lever																-0.12	14.85	2

SUPER. OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION

Year	Counted	Turnout	Undervote	Avg. Undervote	StdDev	Num Counties
2000	2614109	2852007	8.34	9.04	0.30	89
2004	3116445	3369003	7.50	7.96	0.30	89

2000 Tech	Counted	Turnout	State-wide Undervote	Avg. Undervote	StdDev	Num Counties
OpScan	1257441	1354296	7.15	7.67	0.36	44
DRE	1082932	1195377	9.41	9.90	0.39	32
PunchCard	251430	276008	8.90	9.89	0.60	8
Paper	6551	7543	13.15	12.98	0.43	3
Lever	15755	18783	16.12	16.31	6.87	2

2004 Tech	Counted	Turnout	State-wide Undervote	Avg. Undervote	StdDev	Num Counties
OpScan	1443441	1547620	6.73	6.95	0.31	42
DRE	1369522	1492542	8.24	8.62	0.46	36
PunchCard	276663	297976	7.15	7.76	0.59	6
Paper	7003	7938	11.78	10.77	2.49	3
Lever	19816	22927	13.57	13.43	9.05	2

New Tech	Statewide			OpScan			DRE			PunchCard			Paper			Lever
Old Tech	Avg	Dev	Num	Avg	Dev	Num	Avg	Dev	Num	Avg	Dev	Num	Avg	Dev	Num	Avg	Dev	Num
Statewide	-1.09	0.31	89
OpScan				-0.87	0.33	41	0.24	1.25	3
DRE							-1.11	0.54	32
PunchCard				-2.06	0.00	1	-2.67	0.00	1	-1.52	0.20	6
Paper													-2.21	2.12	3
Lever																-2.88	15.92	2

COMMISSIONER OF LABOR

Year	Counted	Turnout	Undervote	Avg. Undervote	StdDev	Num Counties
2000	2600983	2852007	8.80	9.42	0.31	89
2004	3119455	3369003	7.41	7.87	0.30	89

2000 Tech	Counted	Turnout	State-wide Undervote	Avg. Undervote	StdDev	Num Counties
OpScan	1251361	1354296	7.60	7.94	0.36	44
DRE	1077559	1195377	9.86	10.57	0.41	32
PunchCard	249613	276008	9.56	10.33	0.63	8
Paper	6673	7543	11.53	11.93	1.05	3
Lever	15777	18783	16.00	16.18	6.35	2

2004 Tech	Counted	Turnout	State-wide Undervote	Avg. Undervote	StdDev	Num Counties
OpScan	1445480	1547620	6.60	6.83	0.35	42
DRE	1370665	1492542	8.17	8.65	0.47	36
PunchCard	276114	297976	7.34	7.93	0.58	6
Paper	7115	7938	10.37	9.90	2.02	3
Lever	20081	22927	12.41	12.30	7.79	2

New Tech	Statewide			OpScan			DRE			PunchCard			Paper			Lever
Old Tech	Avg	Dev	Num	Avg	Dev	Num	Avg	Dev	Num	Avg	Dev	Num	Avg	Dev	Num	Avg	Dev	Num
Statewide	-1.55	0.31	89
OpScan				-1.29	0.31	41	-0.36	1.84	3
DRE							-1.70	0.59	32
PunchCard				-1.74	0.00	1	-2.39	0.00	1	-1.94	0.46	6
Paper													-2.03	2.47	3
Lever																-3.88	14.14	2

AUDITOR

Year	Counted	Turnout	Undervote	Avg. Undervote	StdDev	Num Counties
2000	2605262	2852007	8.65	9.65	0.33	89
2004	3109085	3369003	7.71	8.29	0.28	89

2000 Tech	Counted	Turnout	State-wide Undervote	Avg. Undervote	StdDev	Num Counties
OpScan	1254616	1354296	7.36	8.22	0.44	44
DRE	1077798	1195377	9.84	10.69	0.41	32
PunchCard	250512	276008	9.24	10.40	0.67	8
Paper	6529	7543	13.44	13.19	0.64	3
Lever	15807	18783	15.84	16.02	6.39	2

2004 Tech	Counted	Turnout	State-wide Undervote	Avg. Undervote	StdDev	Num Counties
OpScan	1443216	1547620	6.75	7.28	0.34	42
DRE	1365090	1492542	8.54	9.04	0.45	36
PunchCard	273436	297976	8.24	8.63	0.83	6
Paper	7085	7938	10.75	10.43	1.65	3
Lever	20258	22927	11.64	11.55	6.05	2

New Tech	Statewide			OpScan			DRE			PunchCard			Paper			Lever
Old Tech	Avg	Dev	Num	Avg	Dev	Num	Avg	Dev	Num	Avg	Dev	Num	Avg	Dev	Num	Avg	Dev	Num
Statewide	-1.36	0.31	89
OpScan				-0.93	0.30	41	-2.60	4.46	3
DRE							-1.51	0.58	32
PunchCard				-0.65	0.00	1	-2.57	0.00	1	-1.10	0.60	6
Paper													-2.76	1.43	3
Lever																-4.47	12.44	2

Counties included in total:
ALAMANCE
ALEXANDER
ALLEGHANY
ANSON
ASHE
AVERY
BEAUFORT
BERTIE
BLADEN
BRUNSWICK
BUNCOMBE
BURKE
CABARRUS
CALDWELL
CAMDEN
CARTERET
CASWELL
CATAWBA
CHATHAM
CHEROKEE
CLEVELAND
COLUMBUS
CRAVEN
CUMBERLAND
CURRITUCK
DARE
DAVIDSON
DAVIE
DUPLIN
DURHAM
EDGECOMBE
FORSYTH
GASTON
GATES
GRAHAM
GRANVILLE
GREENE
GUILFORD
HALIFAX
HARNETT
HAYWOOD
HENDERSON
HOKE
HYDE
IREDELL
JACKSON
JONES
LEE
LENOIR
LINCOLN
MACON
MARTIN
MCDOWELL
MECKLENBURG
MITCHELL
MONTGOMERY
MOORE
NASH
NEW HANOVER
NORTHAMPTON
ONSLOW
ORANGE
PASQUOTANK
PENDER
PERQUIMANS
PERSON
PITT
POLK
RANDOLPH
ROBESON
ROCKINGHAM
ROWAN
RUTHERFORD
SAMPSON
SCOTLAND
STANLY
STOKES
SURRY
TRANSYLVANIA
TYRRELL
VANCE
WAKE
WASHINGTON
WATAUGA
WAYNE
WILKES
WILSON
YADKIN
YANCEY

Counties not included in total:
CHOWAN
CLAY
FRANKLIN
HERTFORD
JOHNSTON
MADISON
PAMLICO
RICHMOND
SWAIN
UNION
WARREN