Terms: PC workstations provided by the Secretary of State for the CVRS ("SoS PCs")

1) Will the new SoS PCs interfere with my present network?
Interoperation with your present network is not required for the CVRS machines to function on the RINET network. Please consult the documentation that explains the various network options for further details.

2) How fast is the RINET connection and is it upgradeable?
The RINET connection is 384k. You have the option of upgrading to up to a T1 and paying the difference.

3) Is the RINET-Muni network a secure line?
No. No network connection is secure, but steps can be taken to make it secure.

4) Who is responsible for providing firewall protection?
The Secretary of State's office will ensure that SoS PCs are secured from network vulnerabilities. If you are planning on using the RINET connection for machines not provided by the SoS, you are responsible for taking the necessary measures to protect those machines.

5) If extra drops, wiring or electrical work is needed, who is liable for the cost?
This will be handled on a case-by-case basis. In instances where the SoS office agrees that additional wiring or electrical work is necessary to connect SoS PCs to RINET, the cost will be covered by the SoS. For the purposes of the Vital Registration 2000 (VR2000) system, the Department of Health will use the existing Internet connections to connect to the VR2000 database. In general, for other applications and/or routine uses, the State supports RINET-Muni only to the inside, basement wall of the Town Hall or other single connection. Internal networks are the responsibility of the municipality.

6) Who do I call if the network goes down?
Your first call should go to RINET. They will either fix the problem or know how to properly direct your call.

7) Do the SoS PCs connected to my LAN threaten the security of my LAN?
No. Every effort will be made during setup to ensure integrity of both networks.

8) Why not allow Municipalities to use their existing ISP to connect to the CVRS?
Two reasons: A) Manageability/Reliability of Service - The CVRS is a mission critical application. Downtime is not an option when it comes to managing elections in the state of Rhode Island. While there are certainly cities and towns with highly skilled networking staff who maintain reliable networks, not every town has this. In some cases, the networks or lack thereof in some municipalities would have made it impossible for the Secretary of State to guarantee the functionality of the CVRS which would compromise the integrity of elections across the state. The Rhode Island Department of Health had already decided to develop RINET-Muni with federal Centers for Disease Control (CDC) funding to link all the municipalities in one network for emergency communication purposes. By joining with the Department of Health, the Secretary of State is able to offer a reliable network to all municipalities for the purpose of accessing the CVRS. In the event of a network outage at any municipalities, we have a single point of contact who can assess and solve the problem (RINET). The alternative, having a CVRS running across different networks and different providers, would introduce too much complexity and too many unknown variables in the event of an outage. B) Security - Coupled with manageability and reliability, security and data integrity of the CVRS is critical to the integrity of elections and the privacy of RI's citizens. Only specific machines residing on the RINET network will have access to the CVRS and access to the CVRS will be filtered by rules that allow access only from the RINET network.

9) Will I be able to use my legacy software on the SoS PCs?
Yes. Where possible, existing applications will be installed on the SoS PCs with a valid license. It will be the responsibility of the cities and towns to support these applications.

10) How will updates to OS or anti-virus applications be handled on SoS PCs?
A central domain server has been setup to handle updates and security patches. Updates to Symantec anti-virus software will be handled in the same way.

11) What level of access will municipal IT staff have to the workstations?
This will be determined on a case-by-case basis depending on the complexity of the legacy applications installed on the CVRS hardware.

12) Why can't I do automatic updates on the SoS PCs from our LAN?
To ensure the integrity of the CVRS system and for purposes of accountability, the CVRS Support team will be responsible for updates related to ElectioNET.

13) What if I want to add new software to the SoS PCs in the future?
Contact the CVRS Support team who will review the compatibility of the new applications with the SoS PCs, the CVRS and the network.

14) How will I be able to update legacy software on SoS PCs?
Your IT staff will work with the CVRS Support team to address these issues on a case-by-case basis.

15) Why develop a web-based CVRS if you are limiting access to certain PCs?
Please see the answer to question eight above.

16) Who is accountable for hardware, software or networking issues/support?
The CVRS team will be responsible for any hardware/software issues dealing DIRECTLY with ElectioNet. In-house networking support will be handled internally. External networking support issues will be coordinated between the CVRS Support team and RINET MUNI.

17) Who do I call if the SoS PCs go down?
The CVRS Support team.

1) How will Vital Statistics work with the CVRS application?
Vital Statistics will provide a file of deceased persons to be compared with the CVRS on a monthly basis. This file will be sent directly to the Secretary of State's office and from there, the information will be sent to the appropriate cities and towns for further action.

2) When will Vital Statistics be deployed?
Vital Statistics has deployed the electronic birth system to 10 city/town halls and will complete the installation of VR2000 for the remaining 29 municipalities over the next 4 to 6 months. Each city and town hall will be contacted to schedule the actual installation and training of VR2000 thereby avoiding any possible conflicts with other system changes.

3) Do I need to install extra equipment for Vital Statistics?
This depends on how the Internet connectivity is installed, what the existing printer configuration is and the type of current desktop computers used in each city and town hall. This will be addressed with the individual city/town hall prior to installation.

4) Will I have to use the SoS PCs to view voter registration data?
No, the Secretary of State's website will have a state voter registration database online which can be viewed from any computer with Internet access.

5) Will there be a hardware/software policy put in place for SoS PCs?
Yes. A hardware/software policy has been established.

6) After initial ElectioNET training, will follow-up training be provided?
Contact the Secretary of State for further training as necessary.

7) I like my current Voter Registry application (in-house), will I be able to run both?
No, all voter registration will be done on the CVRS, but you will not lose any functions you had on your previous system.

8) I have questions concerning RINET-Muni, who do I call?
A member of the RINET networking staff will be glad to answer any related questions you have.

9) When is my city/town scheduled for deployment?
Please check with the Secretary of State for the latest information on CVRS deployment.

10) Are Municipalities going to have to pay for RINET-Muni once the four-year term expires?
RINET-Muni is provided free to municipalities for four years. The cost is being covered by federal funds provided by the Rhode Island Secretary of State, Department of Health and Emergency Management Agency. The state will address future funding issues at a later date, but intends to seek further funding to cover the cost of the network.