# Terminal do mesário
**Wikidata**: [Q114862434](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q114862434)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/terminal-do-mesario

## Summary
The **Terminal do mesário** is a specific computer terminal integrated into the Brazilian DRE voting machine system. Functioning as an electronic input/output device, it serves as the interface for data entry and display within the computing system. The device is named after the "mesário," the poll worker who operates the voting station during Brazilian elections.

## Key Facts
- **Classification:** It is an instance of a **computer terminal**.
- **Function:** Defined as an electronic or electromechanical hardware device used for entering data into, and displaying data from, a computer or computing system.
- **Component:** It is a distinct **part of the Brazilian DRE (Direct Recording Electronic) voting machine**.
- **Etymology:** The device is **named after the "mesário"** (poll worker), indicating its specific operator.
- **Visual Resource:** An image of the device is archived under the Wikimedia Commons category **"Terminal do mesário"**.
- **Context:** It is utilized in the context of election programming and system updates.

## FAQs
### Q: What is the Terminal do mesário?
A: The Terminal do mesário is a computer terminal classified as an input/output device. It is a hardware component used for entering and displaying data within a computing system.

### Q: How is the Terminal do mesário used in elections?
A: It is a part of the Brazilian DRE voting machine. It allows the mesário (poll worker) to interact with the computing system to perform tasks such as data entry and system updates.

### Q: Why is it called Terminal do mesário?
A: The device is named after the "mesário," the official poll worker responsible for managing the voting section. This reflects its designation as the interface for the polling station official rather than the voter.

## Why It Matters
The Terminal do mesário plays a critical role in the operational integrity of the Brazilian electronic voting system. As a dedicated computer terminal, it bridges the gap between the human operator (the mesário) and the complex DRE voting machine software. By providing a specific interface for data entry and display, it allows poll workers to manage the voting process, perform system updates, and ensure that the ballot box functions correctly.

Its existence signifies the specialized division of labor in modern electronic elections; just as voters have a dedicated interface for casting ballots, officials require a distinct terminal for administrative functions. This separation helps secure the voting process by restricting administrative access to designated hardware operated by sworn officials. As an instance of a computer terminal adapted for electoral use, it exemplifies how general computing architectures are modified to solve specific, high-stakes civic problems.

## Notable For
- Being a specialized **computer terminal** designed specifically for poll workers.
- Its integration as a core component of the **Brazilian DRE voting machine**.
- Its specific designation as a hardware device for **data entry and display** in a voting context.
- Being directly **named after the operator** (mesário), highlighting its user-specific design.

## Body
### Technical Classification
The Terminal do mesário is fundamentally classified as a **computer terminal**. In the context of hardware, this defines it as an electronic or electromechanical device used for entering data into, and displaying data from, a computer or computing system. Unlike a personal computer, a terminal often serves as an access point to a larger central system.

### System Integration
The device is a distinct **part of the Brazilian DRE voting machine**. The DRE (Direct Recording Electronic) system is the standard for electronic voting in Brazil. The inclusion of this terminal indicates a specific hardware module dedicated to the administrative functions of the voting machine, separate from the voter interface.

### Operational Context
The terminal derives its name, **"Terminal do mesário,"** from the role of the "mesário." In the Brazilian electoral system, a mesário is a citizen appointed to serve as a poll worker, managing the logistics of the voting station. This naming convention implies the device is the primary control point for these officials to manage the voting session, update programming, or verify system status.