Diebold machines halted for 2004 in Ohio

[thatgemguy]

BLACKWELL HALTS DEPLOYMENT OF DIEBOLD VOTING MACHINES FOR 2004

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, July 16, 2004

BLACKWELL HALTS DEPLOYMENT OF DIEBOLD VOTING MACHINES FOR 2004

COLUMBUS - Ohio Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell today halted
deployment of Diebold Election Systems' electronic voting devices in
Ohio for the 2004 General Election. The decision is based on
preliminary findings from the secretary of state's second round of
security testing conducted by Compuware Corporation showing the
existence of previously identified, but yet unresolved security issues.
Hardin, Lorain and Trumbull counties had selected to use new Diebold
equipment this November. Those counties will use their current voting
devices in 2004.

"As I made clear last year, I will not place these voting devices before
Ohio's voters until identified risks are corrected," Blackwell said.
"Diebold Election Systems has successfully addressed many, but not all,
of the problems that were identified in our first security review. The
lack of comprehensive resolution prevents me from giving county boards
of elections a green light for this November.

"I look forward to working with Diebold Election Systems and our other
qualified election system vendors as they continue to bolster security
and develop voting devices that meet Ohio's requirement for
voter-verifiable paper audit trails."

In December 2003, Secretary Blackwell released results from two
comprehensive examinations identifying 57 potential security risks
within the software and hardware of the voting devices offered by Ohio's
qualified electronic voting systems vendors: Diebold Election Systems,
Election Systems and Software, Hart Intercivic, and Sequoia Voting
Systems. He ordered the voting machine manufacturers to resolve all of
the identified issues or face a halt in deployment.

Diebold Election Systems was the only vendor to submit revised voting
software and hardware for retesting.

Compuware Corporation, based in Detroit, conducted the thorough
technical analysis of each of the electronic voting device vendors'
software and hardware. InfoSENTRY, based in Raleigh, NC, conducted
on-site vendor inspections and interviews to assess voting system
vendors' security plans, procedures and processes.

A comprehensive report from Compuware detailing the second round of
security reviews will be available at the secretary of state website
www.sos.state.oh.us when the assessment is complete.

-30-

For more information, contact Carlo LoParo at [phone].

[progressiveBadger]

1. Another one bites the dust...

[coloradodem2005]

6. Not just another one.

A very big one bites the dust. My optimism went out a little.

[ParanoidPat]

2. Woooo Hooooooo!

:bounce:

[DaveSZ]

3. Wooooooo

Let freedom ring from Stone Mountain in Georgia, from Lookout Mountain in Tennessee, from the Grand Tetons to the Sierras.

Let freedom ring.

[llmart]

75. Don't you mean let freedom "reign?"

:)

[Philostopher]

4. Good to hear it!

They were down to four counties, anyway, from reports last week. Apparently, many counties claimed budget shortfalls in buying machines, and some had too little staff for implementation. Blackwell lost that round.

[truthisfreedom]

5. BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA! remember this quote from the president of diebold?

deadbold, more like:

IN mid-August, Walden W. O'Dell, the chief executive of Diebold Inc., sat down at his computer to compose a letter inviting 100 wealthy and politically inclined friends to a Republican Party fund-raiser, to be held at his home in a suburb of Columbus, Ohio. "I am committed to helping Ohio deliver its electoral votes to the president next year," wrote Mr. O'Dell, whose company is based in Canton, Ohio.


That is hardly unusual for Mr. O'Dell. A longtime Republican, he is a member of President Bush's "Rangers and Pioneers,'' an elite group of loyalists who have raised at least $100,000 each for the 2004 race. ...

excerpted from the original NYT article...

[jimshoes]

20. I wonder if Wally

will be asking for his money back! ;)

[virgdem]

7. This is great news...

do you know how many states are slated to use Diebold/ESS/Sequoia touchscreen EV machines?

I had read somewhere that about 30 million votes would be affected by Electronic touchscreen voting machines.

It looks like Ohio may now be in play for us. Now if only we could somehow get that idiot Glenda Hood to drop plans to use Diebold machines in Florida. Well, I can dream, can't I.

[Bushfire]

66. Florida bought ES&S iVotetronic touch-screens I thought

here's a link to Miami, and Broward counties having bugs in there systems:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x1958776

[phiddle]

8. This is BIG!

1. Ohio's a swing state---Bush CAN'T win without it, unless he flips Pennsylvania.
2. It's Diebold's home turf, and Wally O'Dell, their CEO is chair of Bush's state campaign. He promised to do "everything in his power to deliver Ohio's electoral votes to President Bush", and he now has much less power!

[PaDUer]

40. I doubt he will flip PA

he's been to PA several times as you know, however, I sincerely doubt he's going to win the state.

[DiverDave]

56. Several?

Try THIRTY!
He aint finished yet either.

[olddem43]

9. Way to go Ken! Yes DU, there are still a few honest

Republicans. On the other hand, Ken Blackwell, currently a Republican, may feel the-times-they-are-a-changin. He changed parties after the Reagan landslide and I believe once before that. Anyway, this is good news to us in the Buckeye State.

[DivinBreuvage]

51. A month ago Blackwell was still insisting these machines were fine

He was on the Lanigan and Malone radio show to talk about his problems with fellow Republican Larry Householder, and toward the end of the show Jimmy Malone brought up the touchscreen issue and mentioned that he had heard so many bad things about them that he just couldn't believe they were ready to be rolled out in Ohio. Blackwell glibly insisted that everything was fine, that the machines had been rigorously tested, and that he had seen nothing to convince him that these machines weren't ready to be rolled out in every county they could get them into.

[gristy]

10. O.M.G.

Mere words cannot express the thanks to the many activists who helped make this happen. Bless them all.

[hyphenate]

11. Yeah, but what about

Florida? Have they given them up in Florida yet?

[bear425]

22. No...not yet

But I hope it will be soon. I live in Florida and I am frightened by the thought of not having a record of votes. Bring back paper ballots!

[flpoljunkie]

27. Voters in e-voting counties, Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, among others must

ask for an absentee ballot, rather than use these electronic machines. These counties ought to be forced to scrap these machines and lease optical scan machines for the November election, if not for the August 31st primary, as well.

You no longer are required to have a reason to request an absentee ballot in Florida.

These optical scan machines must also be required to print out the results at the precincts before the results are sent via modem to the election supervisors' offices. This is crucial.

[bear425]

38. Yes, I will ask for an absentee ballot

Do you know if they are counted initially, or just if the vote is close? Where and with whom do I request an ab ballot? I appreciate any info...Thanks!

[UpInArms]

44. call your county clerk and they will advise you on how to obtain

an absentee ballot.

Usually you cast those as soon as you receive it and it is counted upon receipt back at the clerk's office.

By the way - Welcome to DU Bear425! :hi:

[bear425]

58. thanks for the info

and the welcome! :toast:

[flpoljunkie]

46. As of July, 2001, absentee ballots are counted in the various states...

http://www.electionline.org/site/docs/html/counting_absentee_ballots.htm

In Florida, election supervisors may designate the county canvassing boards to begin to count at 7 am, 4 days prior to election and may continue until official results must be transmitted; overseas ballots are 10 days after the election

Source: National Conference of State Legislatures, July 2001

NOTE: This link explains how absentee votes are counted in ALL the states as of July, 2001.

In Florida, by the way, you can request an absentee ballot after January 1st, for the entire year, but you must make this request every year to continue receiving absentee ballots.

[bear425]

59. thanks for the info! n/t

[wildeyed]

49. What can I, as a non-FL resident,

do to put pressure on FL election officials to change voting procedures? I was involved in write-in campaigns to Ohio officials, but I don't recall being asked to do anything about Florida. Or are the FL officials just so partisan that they are beyond influencing?

[flpoljunkie]

53. Florida newspapers, TV must educate voters who must use e-voting machines

to request an absentee ballot. This is the only solution available to us right now as the Florida Secretary of State, who is charge of elections, sees no problems with electronic voting machines.

Graham and Clinton's bill in the Senate, a companion to Rush Holt's bill seems to be going nowhere. Robert Wexler has federal lawsuits still in play questioning the use of these machines in Florida in November, but they are unresolved.

The only practical answer is to encourage everyone you know who will be voting in these counties--Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach are the largest three--is to request an absentee ballot--which they can right now!

Other counties include Charlotte, Manatee and Sarasota. Will search for a complete list of e-voting Florida counties.

[flpoljunkie]

55. List of Florida Counties that will be using electronic voting machines!

Counties using DRE Precinct Voting Method according to Florida's Secretary of State:

Broward, Charlotte, Collier, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lake, Lee, Martin, Miami-Dade, Nassau, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Sarasota, Sumter

http://election.dos.state.fl.us/votemeth/index.shtml

Click on Certified Voting Systems Lookup and then click on counties that use DRE (touchscreen)

[truthisfreedom]

12. diebold is BASED in Ohio... and they can't even get Ohioans to trust them!

some heads are going to be turning in the coming weeks.

[Imperialism Inc.]

13. Awsome!!

Thanks for posting this.

I have been trying for days to get someone at SOS to take my call about the 4 remaining counties. I guess they were reviewing the info and making their decision. And, what a great decision they made!

[onehandle]

14. President Kerry. nt

[FighttheFuture]

15. Another step toward even more desperate acts by BushCo...

My feeling is it's Kerry in a Landslide, the Senate flips democratic and the House will be weakened further for the Repugs.

So, what will they do to stop this? They have a lot to loose. If the above happens, expect to see investigations start, finally. Some of these jokers may go to jail, unless Bush issues blanket pardons all over the place.

The oather big problem is assuming that power is handed over as it should be, they FUCKED THINGS UP ROYALLY ON EVERY ISSUE AND FRONT!!!
There's a lot of work to start fixing things and to change certain things within our system (Fairness doctrine, Corporate Taxes, etc.) to get it back.

I cannot imagine these criminals relinquishing power so easily. Something is going to happen becasue they know once they are out, they are toast!

[Ready4Change]

16. When I move I'll now consider Ohio.

It's be nice to live in a state where there's a chance my vote my actually, oh I don't know, ACTUALLY BE COUNTED!

[Arugula Latte]

28. Oh, come on now...

What will you ask for next? First you'll want your vote actually counted, next you'll be clamoring for a competent, non-corrupt, non-evil president! Where will it end? ;)

[knitter4democracy]

48. Consider Michigan

We've had it in our constitution for awhile now that there has to be a paper trail, so we haven't had all these touch screen things here at all.

BTW, we were the first English speaking government in the world to declare the death penalty illegal (it's been in our constitution from day one as a state).

[Kahuna]

17. Et tu, Ohio...

[jimshoes]

18. Awesome!

While J Kenneth Blackwell is a Pub, he obviously made the correct decision for the state of Ohio. I applaud this move. I gotta believe everyone that spoke up about the flaws in these machines has made the difference in Ohio.
P.S. ...bush* is toast! That is all!

[gristy]

19. Can you give me a link to this release, please?

I cannot find it on www.sos.state.oh.us or in news.google.

[thatgemguy]

23. link

http://www.sos.state.oh.us/sos/news/index1.htm

[Invalence1]

21. Dangies!!!!!

What a high note to end the week on! Best news in a while. The tide may be turnin'.

[UrbScotty]

24. HALLELUJAH!

FOR THE LORD GOD OMNIPOTNT REIGNETH!

I just HAVE to celebrate.

[prolesunited]

25. I think calls and e-mails

in support of this decision are certainly in order. No Republican has EVER become president without carrying Ohio.

This is so incredible. Without Internet actitvists, I really think they would have been able to steal the election. I wonder what Plan B is?

[proud patriot]

26. Thank you everyone who helped send letters

:bounce:

[Myrina]

29. Wow, Compuware's one of my company's contractors too ...

I think I'll bring bagels to work Monday to say thanks !!

:)

[cmd]

30. Hot Diggity!

and a great big thank you to Bev, CASE and all the people who worked so hard to stop Diebold.

[AP]

31. Mitt Romney's family has ties to Compuware...

G. Scott Romney is on the Board of Directors.

http://investor.compuware.com/ireye/ir_site.zhtml?ticker=CPWR&script=2260

But I think that's just the consequence of being a big detroit company, and the Romneys being a big Detroit family.

[Joanne98]

76. That's interesting

Wasn't his election a "surprise" in 2002? Did the media ever release that exit polling data I wonder?

[wicket]

32. YAY!!!!

:kick:

[NMDemDist2]

33. hooray!!! HUGE WIN for us

great news thanks!

[leesa]

34. Wow! Thanks Bev and BBV crew

[Downtown Hound]

35. Kerry wins Ohio!

Yeah baby! I am confident that Kerry will now carry the state. It was Diebold that had always been the uncertain factor. Say goodbye Bush, and how about you let the door hit you in the ass on your way back to Texas!

[MasonJar]

36. Thank you, Lord.

[WillyT]

37. YEAH BABY !!!

:dudanceofjoy:

:yourock:

[Melsky]

39. Good news indeed

I didn't think it would happen in Diebold home turf!

[TruthIsAll]

41. Beautiful Ohio

Beautiful Ohio
Written by Ballard MacDonald
special lyrics by Wilbert B. McBride
Composed by Mary Earl

I sailed away;
Wandered afar;
Crossed the mighty restless sea;
Looked for where I ought to be.
Cities so grand, mountains above,
Led to this land I love.

Chorus

Beautiful Ohio, where the golden grain
Dwarf the lovely flowers in the summer rain.
Cities rising high, silhouette the sky.
Freedom is supreme in this majestic land;
Mighty factories seem to hum in tune, so grand.
Beautiful Ohio, thy wonders are in view,
Land where my dreams all come true!


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Original Chorus as written by Ballard MacDonald

Drifting with the current down a moonlit stream
While above the Heavens in their glory gleam
And the stars on high
Twinkle in the sky
Seeming in a paradise of love divine
Dreaming of a pair of eyes that looked in mine
Beautiful Ohio, in dreams again I see
Visions of what used to be.

[LittleWoman]

42. Good news/Bad news

I agree that it is great that Blackwell had the good sense to dump the Diebold machines, but let us not forget that a number of Ohio counties are using touch screen voting including Franklin County which includes the mostly Democratic Columbus and the mostly Republican suburbs. There are efforts under way to get a change to a system which would leave a paper trail, but I don't know if they will be successful in time for the November election. I have worked at the polls for many years in Upper Arlington, home of Wally O'Dell, and in the primary in March we had a "challenger" at our precinct who was there by the permission of the Board of Elections. Note: I believe any party can request to have a challenger at any precinct. This individual was a Republican who identified himself as an attorney for one of the larger Columbus law firms and said he was a lobbyist in election matters. It was clear to me that he was there to observe our procedures and not to make any specific challenges at that particular election. He had copies of various Ohio codes that specify challenges to a voter's citizenship and residence and how they are made and how they are to be handled at the polls. The more this guy talked the more uneasy I got. Especially when he kept saying that "they" did not want Ohio to be another Florida. Alarm bells were ringing in my head and after he left for a break I mentioned to my fellow Democrat poll worker that this guy was up to no good. My fellow worker is a little naive and he was not so sure. There were "challengers" at several precincts, all Republican dominated, that day and I think they did this on purpose because the workers there would be less likely to be suspicious of their motives. I believe on Election Day we are likely to see many challenges in the precincts which have a lot of voters who are likely to vote for Democrats especially in areas where there a lot of people who tend to move around a lot as well as areas where there are a lot of naturalized citizens. In Ohio you are not required to show an ID to vote, but if challenged you need to prove that you are eligible to vote at that precinct. We do have provisional ballots, but I am not sure yet if they can be used in these circumstances. The best bet in Ohio is to be sure to have an ID which shows your current address or if your ID shows a different address bring a utility bill with your current address as well. If you are a naturalized citizen, bring your papers or passport it you have one as well as some proof of your current address. These challenges are legal so voters must be prepared just in case. Sorry this post is so long, but I have been feeling like Cassandra since March.

[Imperialism Inc.]

50. That's the other piece of info I want clarification on.

None of the articles on Ohio ever mention the counties already using touch screens. Blackwell says he will not put the machines in front of voters but they already have been put in front of us. A few weeks ago I was given detailed election night procedures for the electronic machines. With the recent news I have been wanting to confirm that they are still going to use them but can't get anyone to take a call! Maybe now that this decision has been made someone will be available next week.

[chimpy the poopthrower]

67. Thank you so much for posting this.

I don't trust Blackwell or the Ohio GOP at all. While this is good news, it shouldn't distract us from the very real problems in Ohio that are still unresolved. Do you have any suggestions?

[Cooley Hurd]

43. Excellent news!!!!!

Was Blackwell appointed by Taft? :shrug: If so, then this is a REALLY good sign!

[Blue-Jay]

45. Can I stop writing letters to Blackwell now?

This is great. :)

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

47. Now the October Surprise becomes the paramount issue

Red alert! Red alert!

Kudos to Bev Harris, Plan 9 Publications, and the entire BBV crew. I do believe you have just saved Democracy. :bounce: :nuke:

[goddess40]

52. Must have found an easier way to rig the election

Will the right "let it happen" again at election time? or have they found a way to abuse the optical scanners?

[Paragon]

54. In-credible

Score one for the good guys. :)

[Chicago Democrat]

57. OH MY GODDESS...THANK YOU!!!

Om Tara Tutare Ture Soha

[gristy]

60. kick

:kick:

[cAMP]

61. good

ohio is key

[goforit]

62. woW..wOW ...WOW!!!!!..............Whatcha gotta say ..Sen. Hagel???

Hmmmmm....
10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1..........

Whine away!!!!!!!!

Way to go OHIO!!!!!!

[struggle4progress]

63. kick

:kick:

[daligirrl]

64. Such good news!

Someone's getting a clue! I hope this happens in Tennessee also. My Mom mentioned that the same thing is being talked about there. And that's major freeperville.

[Merlin]

65. Not sure this means what we think it means.

It says he "halted deployment." It doesn't say those machines already deployed can't be used. I think we need a lot more info about this before celebrating too much. If, for examples, most of the counties already have them, we could still have some serious Ohio problem ahead.

[TOhioLiberal]

71. Well...

They won't be used here in my neck of the woods. Lucas County board of elections opted for the optical scan ballots. It's going to cost the county around $300,000; but to me its worth it.

[Merlin]

72. Optical scan systems should actually cost less per precinct

By the Ohio Sec State's own numbers, the individual DRE machines cost around $3,000, and about 3 are needed per precinct, thus $12,000 per precinct. Optical scan machines cost $4,200. But only one is needed per precinct, thus the cost is $4,200 per precinct.

[TOhioLiberal]

77. Yep, I had heard that...

...The repugs in the district, however are howling like the $300,000 was coming out of their pockets alone! :shrug:

[ArnoldLayne]

68. Good we

don't need them in Ohio.:dem:

[ElementaryPenguin]

NOW I'm starting to believe we are going to get in the White House

THIS IS FUCKING HUGE!! Thank you, Bev Harris!!!

:bounce:
:bounce:
:bounce:

[ElementaryPenguin]

NOW I'm starting to believe we are going to get in the White House

THIS IS FUCKING HUGE!! Thank you, Bev Harris!!!

:bounce:
:bounce:
:bounce:

[ElementaryPenguin]

69. NOW I'm starting to believe we are going to get in the White House

THIS IS FUCKING HUGE!! Thank you, Bev Harris!!!

:bounce:
:bounce:
:bounce:

[LeftHander]

70. Game Over!

The election is not fixed!!

Seems the Bush cabal has to focus on getting out of Washington without ending up in prison much less try to win an election.

Here come the indictments!

[chimpy the poopthrower]

73. Are you all reading the other posts on this thread?

Or are you just responding to the article? Little Woman (#42) and Merlin (#65) and possibly others on thsi thread have pointed out why this isn't as great as it may seem.

[Joanne98]

74. I'm worried about California

It's just like them to do something really sneaky and forgot the swings states and just concentrate on flipping CA. They do have Ar-nold installed.

[absolutezero]

78. YES!

there go dubyas chances of taking ohio