Howard Dean "speaks up" about "e-voting" ---- Todays Wash Post

[cthrumatrix]

'A Massive Experiment' In Voting
In D.C. Area and Across Nation, Touch-Screen Machines Face Biggest Test

By Robert MacMillan
washingtonpost.com Staff Writer
Thursday, September 23, 2004; 2:25 PM

snip

Many have championed "direct recording electronic" voting as the only replacement to the antiquated systems that spawned disasters such as the 2000 Florida presidential election voting debacle, but some predict that they will punch a gaping hole in the nation's democratic fabric.

"I see electronic voting machines as undermining democracies," said former Democratic presidential candidate and Vermont Gov. Howard Dean. "What could happen is an election with less credibility than the presidential election in 2000 had."

Some voting machine makers already are testing versions of their machines with printers attached, but that could add hundreds of dollars to the cost of the hardware. State and local governments have already spent millions of dollars on computerized voting machines, and do not relish shelling out more cash. Local elections boards say that even if they wanted to, they can't do it in time for this election because the machines would have to undergo a new round of federal and state certification.


snip

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A39102-2004Sep21.html
__________________________________________________________
PLUS - watch the special report video on e-voting

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/technology/interactives/evoting/evoting.html
___________________________________________________________

Howard Dean knows the downside and dangers of e-voting...Bev Harris showed him how to hack a computer in 90 sec on MSNBC

[cthrumatrix]

1. Conspiracy Theorists Inflame E-Voting Debate (Wash Post - again)

Conspiracy Theorists Inflame E-Voting Debate
Thursday, September 23, 2004; 2:25 PM
snip
The problem, the theorists say, is that voting machines, once federally certified, cannot be altered. If that happens, they need to be certified again. In the Georgia case, this apparently did not happen. Behler also has talked to several other news sources, telling stories of stolen machines, unencrypted memory cards used in the elections and other security lapses.

The outcome of the 2002 Georgia elections is also used as "proof" of a tie between Republicans and machine manufacturers. Republican candidate Sonny Perdue won his bid for the governor's seat with 51 percent of the vote, ousting Democratic incumbent Roy Barnes. The fact that it was the first time since Georgia allowed consecutive gubernatorial terms in 1978 that the incumbent didn't win added gasoline to the fire as far as e-voting activists were concerned. In addition, former Sen. Max Cleland (D) lost his bid for reelection to Saxby Chambliss (R) that same year in a 53 percent to 46 percent split. A week earlier, he was ahead with 49 percent of the vote, compared to Chambliss's 44 percent

snip

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A39309-2004Sep21.html

[crickets]

15. Grr - in the headline, no less

The second someone cries, "conspiracy theory" about something which has nothing to do with assassinations¹ or UFOs² I want to SCREAM. It's newspeak for, "nothing to see here" and it immediately establishes bias on the part of the person writing the article. I think anyone using "conspiracy theory" as a serious term in a news article should be fired for being a lazy, biased POS who has obviously chosen the wrong profession.

I freely admit my bias on this issue as I live in Georgia, tried to vote? voted in that particular election (including some interesting conversations with poll workers,) and still have no clue quite what the hell happened. Which was, I assume, the point.

When are concerned citizens labeled conspiracy theorists?

Uh-huh. Thank you and have a pleasant tomorrow.

I'm glad Dean and Kucinich are stepping up. I hope more of our honest and concerned representatives join them.


1. Lee Harvey Oswald was a patsy. Magic bullet, my Aunt Fanny.
2. The 'U' in UFO stands for unidentified. Period. The abduction thing is beyond my ken and I make no judgement on that.

[xray s]

2. everyone in the country should use optiscan machines

They are not perfect (the tabulation software can still be faulty) but you have a paper ballot to recount if necessary. I would allow everyone get a ballot in advance if they want to, let them take their time to fill it out at home, and then have them bring it to the polling place to be tabulated. This would be a big help for older voters and first time voters who are intimidated by the process.

That is the only solution to this mess.

[cthrumatrix]

3. kick

[mzmolly]

4. Dean has been talking about this issue for some time. Glad to see

he's still at it. :hi:

[JNelson6563]

5. Dean: In for the long haul

Thankfully.

:toast:

[mzmolly]

8. Thankfully ....

;)

:hi:

[NewYorkerfromMass]

6. Great letters in today's NYTimes on the subject

Here's one of the 4:

To the Editor:

I have a hard time understanding why a paper receipt is not a mandatory requirement for electronic elections. How is it that you can go to your local corner store and receive a paper trail indicating that you bought a six-pack and some cigarettes, but when you vote for the commander in chief of this country, arguably the most powerful position in the world, you get zilch?

Karlie Weltman
Detroit, Sept. 19, 2004

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/23/opinion/l23vote.html?pagewanted=print&position=

[LSK]

7. WOW!!! I was saying he should be doing this in another thread

MAybe hes reading my posts lol!

[shance]

9. THanks for posting*

And thank you Governor.

[madfloridian]

10. Don't forget, Dean hosted Topic A and had Bev on to hack.

It was not that long ago. This is a passion of his. The petition at DFA had a couple of hundred thousand sign it.

[Kanary]

11. Good for Dean. He's not alone. It was many, many months ago

that Dennis Kucinich won an injunction against Diebold.

He's also fighting the good fight.

:)

Kanary

[eridani]

12. Actually, Diebold just dropped the matter

The injunctions were against various student websites. Dennis put the material on his congressional website and Diebold folded instantly.

[Kanary]

13. There was also a legal component to it.

The point is, Dennis has been there for a long time. Just want him to also get the recognition.

Kanary

[ParanoidPat]

14. Dennis was one of the early ones to jump into this......

...... :toast: :evilgrin: :thumbsup: