Election Reform, Fraud, & Related News WEDNESDAY, 12/14/05

[autorank]

http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/meast/12/13/iraq.main/index.html

Truck with allegedly fake ballots detained

Four soldiers, Sunni politician killed in separate incidents

Wednesday, December 14, 2005; Posted: 12:52 a.m. EST (05:52 GMT)

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- With the country's parliamentary elections slated for Thursday
and early voting already under way, a truck carrying what are believed to be fake ballots was detained in the Iraqi border province of Wasit, the U.S. military said Tuesday.

U.S. investigators were being sent to examine the ballots in Wasit, located on the
Iranian border southeast of Baghdad.

The truck's driver was Iranian, as was the truck's license plate, said an Iraqi
Interior Ministry source. Authorities are investigating reports that other vehicles
with possible fake ballots have been trying to cross the border into Iraq.


Mourners bury Sunni Arab candidate Muzhir Naji al-Dulaimi,
killed by gunmen in Ramadi on Tuesday.

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see
your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Fine, fine words cast aside by the President who had the unmitigated gall
to say his morst inspiring political philosopher was Jesus. That is his
biggest lie ever!

Election Reform, Fraud, & Related News WEDNESDAY, 12/14/05

All members welcome and encouraged to participate.

Please post Election Reform, Fraud, & Related News on this thread.

If you can:

1. Post stories and announcements you find on the web.

2. Post stories using the "Election Fraud and Reform News Sources" listed here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x371233

3. Re-post stories and announcements you find on DU, providing a link to the original thread with thanks to the Original Poster, too.

4. Start a discussion thread by re-posting a story you see on this thread.

If you want to know how post "News Banners" or other images, go here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=203&topic_id=371233#371391



All previous daily threads are available here:
http://www.independentmediasource.com/DU_archives/du_2004erd_el_ref_fr_thr_calenders.htm

Please

"Recommend"

for the Greatest Page (it's the link just below).

[autorank]

1. CA: GuvWurld Says CA Counties, Call the Cops on Diebold

We are producing some of the best stuff out there on election fraud. To wit, GuvWurld’s work locally to inspire counties across the state to take on Diebold. Seems they put in some uncertified code, illegal as it turns out. Who do you call? Read the piece, there are many.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2310273&mesg_id=2310273">MAJOR ACTION ITEM

http://guvwurld.blogspot.com/2005/12/campaign-to-unite-california-election.html

Monday, December 12, 2005

A Campaign To Unite California Election Reformers

A recently released report by the non-partisan watchdog arm of Congress, the Government Accountability Office (GAO), has laid bare the unsecure and unreliable conditions of U.S. elections. Beyond just what could happen, the GAO has meticulously documented what has happened in the past few years, concluding:
Nevertheless, there is evidence that some of these concerns—including weak controls and inadequate testing—have caused problems with recent elections, resulting in the loss and miscount of votes. (p.38)

When votes are lost and miscounted, there is no way to be certain what the true outcome should be from an election. We can thus say that current election conditions ensure inconclusive outcomes, and provide no basis for confidence in the results reported. Among the many citations, the GAO report refers to an April 20, 2004, Staff Report from the California Secretary of State's office which reported that Diebold had admitted to violating state law in each of its 17 client counties (listed below):

he VSPP initiated an audit of all 17 California counties using Diebold voting systems. The audit discovered that Diebold had, in fact, installed uncertified software in all its client counties without notifying the Secretary of State as required by law, and that the software was not federally qualified in three client counties. Diebold eventually acknowledged that it had failed to notify the Secretary of State of its proposed system modifications, and that its failure to obtain certification for those modifications violated state law. (p.3)

In response to that revelation, GuvWurld recently pondered:

Who allowed Humboldt's voting machines to have uncertified software installed in them? Was someone in the Humboldt County elections department complicit in this crime or merely negligent? Is this person still employed by the elections department, and if so, why?

These questions have been referred to the Humboldt County District Attorney and Grand Jury. These same questions are valid in each of the 16 other California counties using Diebold touch screens and/or scanners. GuvWurld hereby calls for a coordinated effort among election reformers to make this an issue throughout the state. Why? Look what appeared on page four of the same CA SoS report:

Diebold's conduct has created an untenable situation for both county and state elections officials. Some county officials have felt compelled to defend untested, unqualified and uncertified Diebold voting systems, having authorized large capital outlays only to find out on the eve of or during an election that the systems do not function as promised. Before the March <2004> Primary, county officials repeatedly warned that, without certification of particular voting system components, the election could not be conducted because it was too late to devise and implement back-up plans.

If elections officials were or are in an "untenable situation," then voters are in an even worse position. We are trying to draw a line in the sand demonstrating our refusal to accept election conditions that will continue to guarantee inconclusive outcomes. Necessary to this goal is a similar line in the sand laid down by elections officials. After all, if they say elections "could not be conducted" under certain circumstances, why have we not seen a cancelled election? Where will elections officials draw their line in the sand?

Many elections officials will never do that. Such people do not warrant the trust of the public and must be the first to resign or be removed from office. Try this line: "If you are resigned to the status quo, you must resign your office and make way for someone determined to improve election conditions." Anyone who continues defending, excusing or apologizing for current election conditions has no business in election administration or in any other public office.

Action Steps:
1. Forward this message to District Attorneys, Grand Juries, County Supervisors, City Councilmembers, and local media in each of Diebold's 17 CA client Counties (listed below), requesting investigation of Diebold's crimes and any possible involvement of local elections officials.

2. Follow up with phone calls requesting:
o Election department officials be asked to acknowledge and affirm their understanding of the GAO's findings, or submit their resignation;

o Diebold be declared an unfit business partner, ruling out any further use of Diebold voting equipment, any future contracts with Diebold, and all privately owned, proprietary voting systems;

o City Councils and County Boards of Supervisors adopt the Voter Confidence Resolution outlining conditions necessary to ensure conclusive election outcomes and create a basis for confidence in the results reported.

3. Turn to those around you and discuss how else to draw a line in the sand. In particular, we greatly need the leadership of California's many established election reform groups acting in solidarity with this call to action.
CA Counties Using Diebold:
Alameda
Fresno
Humboldt
Kern
Lassen
Marin
Mendocino
Modoc
Placer
Plumas
San Diego
San Joaquin
San Luis Obispo
Santa Barbara
Siskiyou
Trinity
Tulare
Click HERE to see which CA counties use which voting systems.

Resources:

CA election code: http://www.election-reform.us/laws/

CA voter complaint form: http://www.ss.ca.gov/elections/elections_fraud.htm

CA newspaper contacts: http://newsdirectory.com/news.php?co=USA&p=ca

CA Grand Jurors Association: http://www.nvo.com/cgja

CA District Attorneys: http://doju.tripod.com/california.html

CA Boards of Supervisors: http://www.cicg.org/search/roster.php

[Wilms]

12. Discussion

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2310273

[autorank]

2. The World: Diebold Sued on Voting Machines—Scott + Scott LLC USDC No. OH

George Burns: “Say good night Wally.” Wally O’Dell: “Good night Wally.” They’re toast.

http://today.reuters.com/investing/financeArticle.aspx?type=governmentFilingsNews&storyID=URI:urn:newsml:reuters.com:20051214:MTFH44437_2005-12-14_01-35-57_N13181340:1

Law firm says filed suit against Diebold

Tue Dec 13, 2005 8:35 PM ET

NEW YORK, Dec 13 (Reuters) - A law firm said it filed suit on Tuesday against Diebold Inc. <DBD.N> alleging the voting-machine maker lacked sufficient internal controls, was unable to be confident in the quality of its voting machines and made misleading statements about its condition.

The lawsuit was filed by Scott + Scott LLC in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio and seeks class-action status.

On Monday, the company, which also makes automatic-teller machines, said chief executive Walden O'Dell is resigning for personal reasons and named Thomas Swidarski, president and chief operating officer, to replace him.

[Wilms]

16. EXCLUSIVE: SECURITIES FRAUD LITIGATION FILED AGAINST DIEBOLD, INC!

EXCLUSIVE: SECURITIES FRAUD LITIGATION FILED AGAINST DIEBOLD, INC!

Eight Current and Former Executives Named as Co-Defendants, Including former CEO O'Dell and New CEO Swidarski

Class Action Suit Alleges Fraud, Insider Trading, Manipulation of Stock Prices, Concealment of Known Flaws in Voting Machines and Company Structural Problems

by Brad

12/13/2005

The BRAD BLOG can now report that a Securities Fraud Class Action suit has been filed against Diebold, Inc. (stock symbol: DBD ) naming eight top executive officers in the...

The BRAD BLOG can now report that a Securities Fraud Class Action suit has been filed against Diebold, Inc. (stock symbol: DBD) naming eight top executive officers in the company as co-defendants. The suit has been filed by plaintiff Janice Konkol, alleging securities fraud against the North Canton, Ohio-based manufacturer of Voting Systems and ATM machines on behalf of investors who owned shares of Diebold stock and lost money due to an alleged fraudulent scheme by the company and its executives to deceive shareholders during the "class period" of October 22, 2003 through September 21, 2005.

The suit was filed today in U.S. Federal District Court in Ohio and alleges the company "artificially inflated" stock prices through misleading public information designed to conceal the true nature of Diebold's financial and legal situation. The defendants are also alleged to have attempted to disguise well-known and ongoing problems with Diebold's Voting Machine equipment and software. Additionally, the suit alleges insider trading by defendants resulting in proceeds of $2.7 million. Remedies are sought under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

snip


Konkol's complaint as filed today demands "a trial by jury."

snip

http://www.bradblog.com/archives/00002153.htm

Discussion:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1984583

[autorank]

3. FL: Irony—Leon County Dumps Diebold after successful hack.

Well, I apologize to Harri Hursti for my faux ‘autorank challenge’ propping JeffK as the hacker to take down Diebold. Hursti got rid of them in the “Heart of Darkness.” Thanks!


http://www.nwprogressive.org/weblog/2005/12/breaking-florida-county-dumps-diebold.html

BREAKING: Florida county dumps Diebold

BREAKING NEWS from Black Box Voting:

Due to security design issues and contractual non-performance, Leon County (Florida) supervisor of elections Ion Sancho told Black Box Voting that he will never use Diebold in an election again. He has requested funds to replace the Diebold system from the county. He will issue a formal announcement to this effect shortly.

Finnish security expert Harri Hursti proved that Diebold lied to Secretaries of State across the nation when Diebold claimed votes could not be changed on the memory card.

A test election was run in Leon County today with a total of eight ballots - six ballots voted "no" on a ballot question as to whether Diebold voting machines can be hacked or not. Two ballots, cast by Dr. Herbert Thomson and by Harri Hursti voted "yes" indicating a belief that the Diebold machines could be hacked.

[Wilms]

13. Special Report: BBV Attempts to Penetrate Leon County Optical Scan

Special Report: Black Box Voting Attempts to Penetrate The Leon County Florida Optical Scan Voting System.

December 13, 2005

In January of this year Leon County Supervisor of Elections Ion Sancho was contacted by representatives of Black Box Voting .org, a non-partisan elections advocacy group, to see if their computer experts could successfully circumvent the security of the Leon County voting system. Supervisor Sancho agreed to this proposal and in three separate attempts over a four month period, computer experts Dr. Herbert Thompson and Harri Hursti visited the Leon County Elections Office in their efforts to penetrate the county voting tabulation equipment and alter election data.

The tests focused on two areas: outside or external hacks, specifically examining the modem and any lines going to the vote tabulation computer, and simulated inside or internal penetrations. The results were clear. No outside hack was accomplished. This was not the case however when the hacker was physically present at the vote tabulation computer terminal.

Granted the same access as an employee of our office, it was possible to enter the computer, alter election results, and exit the system without leaving any physical record of this action. It was also demonstrated that false information or instructions could be placed on a memory card (the device used to program the individual voting machines and record the voter’s votes) and create false results or election reports.

What conclusions can be drawn from this exercise? First, the optical scan voting system was resistant to external penetration, including using the modems which transmit election results from the precincts to the central vote accumulator. Outside hacking is seen as one of the greatest potential threats to undermining citizen confidence in the election process. The Leon County Supervisor of Elections is tremendously relieved that such penetration was not accomplished.

snip

http://www.leonfl.org/elect/SpecialReport.htm

[Wilms]

34. Note:

The above Leon County Election Supervisor post is at least a few months old.

Sorry for the mix-up.

[Wilms]

14. Bad News Keeps Rolling In for Diebold

Bad News Keeps Rolling In for Diebold

By John Gideon, Information Manager, VoteTrustUSA
December 13, 2005

On the heels of the filing of a securities fraud law suit today, BlackBoxVoting.Org has announced that a test election was done on a machine in Leon County, Florida today and the Diebold security measures were easily defeated.

In a report of the test and it's results, Jim March of BlackBoxVoting.Org relates: Due to security design issues and contractual non-performance, Leon County supervisor of elections Ion Sancho told Black Box Voting that he will never use Diebold in an election again. He has requested funds to replace the Diebold system from the county. He will issue a formal announcement to this effect shortly.

Finnish security expert Harri Hursti proved that Diebold lied to Secretaries of State across the nation when Diebold claimed votes could not be changed on the memory card.

A test election was run in Leon County today with a total of eight ballots - six ballots voted "no" on a ballot question as to whether Diebold voting machines can be hacked or not. Two ballots, cast by Dr. Herbert Thomson and by Harri Hursti voted "yes" indicating a belief that the Diebold machines could be hacked.

snip

http://www.votetrustusa.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=498&Itemid=30

[Wilms]

15. Leon County Discussion

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=203&topic_id=404851&mesg_id=404851

[autorank]

4. CA: “Worst County in America” Approves Diebold—Dumb & Dumbest!!!

CA: “Worst County in America” Approves Diebold—Dumb & Dumbest!!!
Read the news folks. These guys are going broke, they’re being successfully hacked, they’re being sued, their CEO got “resigned”, and they probably broke the law in CA. So, what do you do? You approve them as your voting machine company. Losers!

http://www.appeal-democrat.com/articles/2005/12/13/news/local_news/news6.txt

Touch voting OK expected

By Rob Young/Appeal-Democrat


Supervisors are expected to vote Dec. 20 on Clerk-Recorder Joan Bechtel's recommendation to purchase 225 touch-screen voting machines manufactured by Sequoia Voting Systems, the same type recently bought by Yuba County.

<snip>

The machines will leave a “paper trail” as required by the state Secretary of State's office and will tell voters if they've voted for too many candidates for one office or not enough, said Bechtel.

(Sequoia is the only CA state certified brand.) But hey...

County officials also looked at machines made by Diebold Elections Systems and another firm, Election Systems & Software, neither of which is state-certified, said Bechtel

[Wilms]

26. NC: Warren County looking at Diebold for voting machines

Not so fast, autorank. ;)



Warren County looking at Diebold for voting machines

By JASON ALSTON, Daily Dispatch Writer

WARRENTON - The Warren County Board of Elections is primed to enter an agreement with Diebold Election Systems to purchase voting equipment for next year.

Warren currently owns MicroVote elections equipment. MicroVote, however, failed to receive recertification from the state board of elections in time and now MicroVote machines cannot be used in North Carolina. Warren's MicroVote election equipment, according to board director Debbie Formyduval, is now obsolete.

The elections board voted unanimously Tuesday night to seek an agreement with Diebold to purchase 40 voting machines, a scanner for absentee ballots and a barcode reader. Diebold has not yet priced the equipment and is probably waiting to see how many North Carolina counties go with Diebold since each county will pay the same amount for each machine regardless of the size of the county and how many machines total it orders.

snip

http://www.hendersondispatch.com/articles/2005/12/14/news/news10.txt

[autorank]

5. FL: Volousia County FL pressured on voting machine selection. Editorial

The scene of the original crime now forced to take on voting machines that suck. Look at the last two paragraphs of this. The word is out. It’s all a bunch of lies and propaganda.

http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/Opinion/Editorials/03OpOPN21121305.htm

Reliable elections
County's long-term option: paper ballots for all

Last update: December 13, 2005

The problem is, the technology is well behind the law. So the County Council faces a conundrum. It will have to meet the federal deadline because it must abide by the law. It could also lose a $700,000 federal grant to help pay for voting machines if a contract isn't signed by Dec. 31. Yet the voting systems for the disabled that are before the council will not serve the voters well in the long run.

<snip>

"In a series of recent reports," the GAO states, "election officials, computer security experts, citizen advocacy groups, and others have raised significant concerns about the security and reliability of electronic voting systems, citing instances of weak security controls, system design flaws, inadequate system version control, inadequate security testing, incorrect system configuration, poor security management, and vague or incomplete standards, among other issues."

That is why so many voters are insisting upon "paper trails" -- proof of votes that can be accurately recounted. The County Council should make a decision that supports the integrity of elections. Spending more money initially would assure voters of reliability in the long run.

[autorank]

6. Crisis Papers: Dear Howard Dean: Why bother?

Damn it Howard! You were my favorite wise guy (not Soprano style;) Pop off, tell the truth, pile one. Everyone will love you!!!


http://www.crisispapers.org/

Dear Howard Dean: Why Bother?

Ernest Partridge, Co-Editor
The Crisis Papers

December 13, 2005


Dr. Howard Dean, Chair
Democratic National Committee

Dear Dr. Dean,

Every week I get dozens of solicitations from the Democratic National Committee, from the Democratic Senate and Congressional Campaign Committees, or from various Democratic candidates and office-holders, each of them asking for contributions. “You can help us achieve victory next November,” I am told.

If by “victory” is meant a majority vote cast at the polls, then the Democrats achieved “victory” in 2000, 2002 and 2004. And yet, the Republicans remain in control of the Congress and the White House.

Small wonder! Republicans build the voting machines, Republicans write the secret software, Republicans count and compile the totals. The Republican machines allow no auditing of the vote totals they report. So Republicans have the ability to “win” elections, regardless of the will of the voters. There is compelling evidence that they have done just that.

[Wilms]

9. Discussion

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x404813

[Algorem]

7. Ohio Senate Requires ID For Voters

http://www.wtov9.com/news/5530885/detail.html

Local Democrat Senator Votes Against Change

POSTED: 12:08 a.m. EST December 14, 2005

COLUMBUS, OH -- A local lawmaker says it's easier to vote in Iraq than it is in Ohio now that

the state Senate has passed sweeping elections changes...

The state House is expected to approve the Senate version of the bill Wednesday

Governor Bob Taft has said he would sign it.



OH Senate Passes Bill Making Sweeping Elections Changes

http://www.wcpo.com/news/2005/local/12/13/oh_elections.html

First Posted: 12/13/2005 10:05:12 PM

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- Senate Republicans passed a bill on Tuesday that makes sweeping election changes after inserting slight concessions to opponents who consider the legislation an attack on voters' rights.

The concessions got little notice from the opponents.

The 21-11 vote was along party lines, with Republican Tim Grendell joining Democrats against the bill.

Backers say the changes will curtail election fraud, but opponents say the moves are too drastic for what little fraud has occurred...



Changes the Senate made in elections bill

http://www.cleveland.com/newsflash/cleveland/index.ssf?/base/news-21/1134520750113970.xml&storylist=cleveland

12/13/2005, 7:33 p.m. ET
The Associated Press

(AP) — ...

_Require the secretary of state to educate voters about new requirements to bring a photo identification, utility bill or other form of approved ID to the polls to be able to vote.

• Allow voters' current driver's licenses to be allowed as identification even if a person's address was different than the one on the license.

• Eliminate a requirement that voters must cast provisional ballots if they moved within the same precinct before Election Day but the board of elections wasn't aware of the change.

_Clarify that voters who forget to bring ID can still receive provisional ballots if they supply the last four digits of their Social Security numbers. The ballots will be counted if the numbers check out....

Republican protester slams election changes passed by Senate

http://www.cleveland.com/newsflash/cleveland/index.ssf?/base/news-21/1134520453106650.xml&storylist=cleveland

12/14/2005, 12:45 a.m. ET
By JOHN McCARTHY
The Associated Press

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Fewer than a dozen protesters braved the cold outside the Statehouse to criticize election changes that Senate Republicans were pushing through the chamber inside.

Andrew Stephenson stood out. He's a theology student — and a Republican.

"A lot of the people who are going to be affected by this are the homeless and the poor," the 23-year-old student at Methodist Theological School in Delaware said. "As a Republican, I can see the injustice here."

The Senate Republicans made slight concessions to opponents who consider the legislation an attack on voters' rights. The concessions got little notice from the opponents. The 21-11 vote Tuesday was along party lines, with Republican Tim Grendell joining Democrats against the bill. Backers say the changes will curtail election fraud, but opponents say the moves are too drastic for what little fraud has occurred...

[Wilms]

10. Discussion

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1985564#top

[autorank]

8. FL: Florida, "thanks" for everything. Love that sun, though.

Here is , the author of our misery, the Tilden-Hayes Compromise. The Democrats sacrificed candidate Tilden in order to get loser Hayes to end Reconstruction. That ended any hope for racial integration and parity, any hope for avoiding our grand experiment in flawed democracy…and Florida was there! We do love that sun, Boca, Broward, Dade are three of the best places in America. How about a Republic of South Florida and the Keys. I want to be a naturalized citizen. Find me a bride!

http://www.historyhouse.com/uts/tilden_hayes/

Volusian Confusion: Tilden-Hayes

1876 Tilden-Hayes presidential election smacks of 2000 Gore-Bush contest, even down to Florida.

As a presidential election comes down to the wire, it becomes quite clear that securing Florida's electoral votes is the key to winning the office. The initial count shows the virtually negligible margin of 931 votes between the candidates. A major New York newspaper trumpets the headline, "The Result - What Is It? Something that no fellow can understand. Impossible to name our next President. The returns too meager." The New York Times dubs it "A Doubtful Election". Oregon's margin is similarly slim (500 votes); Democrats claim to take Louisiana by 20,000 votes while Republicans announce their own victory by 4,000.

Everyone freaks out. Both parties send old-school dignitaries (dubbed "visiting statesmen" by the press), grand old political men of esteem and pasts of loyal service, to oversee the recounts in Florida and elsewhere. With trepidation, these supposed sages await reports of fraud and undue influence from the other side, and, with forced calm, tell their colleagues that the election is most decidedly going in their favor.

The proceedings have the potential to last months. The words "constitutional crisis" are bandied about.

[Wilms]

20. FL: Broward voters won't be able to double-check ballot with printout

Broward voters won't be able to double-check ballot with printout

By Buddy Nevins
Political Writer

December 13 2005

A printer that can be attached to Broward County voting machines and provide a "paper trail" has been invented and built and is ready to be installed, but it will be months, possibly years, before the state allows voters to use it.

Called the Real Time Audit Log, the printers attach to Broward's 6,800 ¡Votronic touch screen machines and would create a written record of the votes cast on each machine.

snip

The certification process of the Sequoia device has been under way most of this year. If there are no problems, the Sequoia printer could be certified next year.

Corwin said it would take a rewrite of state law for the printer to be allowed in election recounts. Broward and Snipes are requesting that the 2006 Legislature make that change.

snip

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-cvoting13dec13,0,4653410.story?coll=sfla-home-headlines

[Wilms]

11. While you blinked... (Diebold's Troubles)

December 13, 2005

While you blinked...

Walden O'Dell, paragon of non-partisan virtue ("I am committed to helping Ohio deliver its electoral votes to the president"), has resigned as CEO of election machine manufacturer Diebold.

BradBlog.com was quick to post that story yesterday, along with an accurate prediction of its scoop today: shareholders have brought a securities fraud class action suit against Diebold. Here is a press release from the legal team representing the class. Reuters also published this brief.

Late Tuesday afternoon, BlackBoxVoting.org announced even more bad news for Diebold:

Due to security design issues and contractual non-performance, Leon County (Florida) supervisor of elections Ion Sancho told Black Box Voting that he will never use Diebold in an election again. He has requested funds to replace the Diebold system from the county. He will issue a formal announcement to this effect shortly.

snip

http://guvwurld.blogspot.com/2005/12/while-you-blinked.html

Discussion

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x5594856

[Wilms]

17. PA: Senate Committee To Hold Hearing on Vote Verification Bill

Pennsylvania: Senate Committee To Hold Hearing on Vote Verification Bill

By Joseph Conti, Pennsylvania State Senator

December 13, 2005

HARRISBURG -- The Senate State Government Committee will hold a hearing in January on Senate Bill 977, which amends Pennsylvania's Election Code to require paper verification of an elector's vote in districts where electronic voting systems are used. The promise to hold a hearing arose out of an intense hour-long Committee discussion today that debated the merits of Conti’s voter-verification bill.

“Our goal is to make the voting process as transparent as possible,” Conti said. “Paper verification of individual votes would help to ensure the accuracy and safeguard the integrity of elections.”

In an effort to correct the problems encountered in Florida during the November 2000 elections, Congress passed the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) in October 2002. Among other things, it creates standards for all voting systems to be used by the states. Pennsylvania’s County Election Boards are in the process of selecting HAVA-compliant election machines to use in the upcoming 2006 primary.

Senate Bill 977 would require electronic voting systems to produce an individual voter-verified paper record of the elector’s vote. Acceptable systems would include paper ballots read by an optical scan machine or the use of a direct recording electronic (DRE) voting machine that would allow a person to see their ballot and correct any errors before their vote is officially recorded.

“In light of all the problems that were experienced with the touch-screen, or software-based, election systems during the 2004 election, it only makes sense to have a paper record, in-hand, for the purposes of verifying that your vote counts,” Conti said.

snip

http://www.votetrustusa.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=497&Itemid=113

[Wilms]

18. EAC Adopts 2005 Voluntary Voting System Guidelines

EAC Adopts 2005 Voluntary Voting System Guidelines

By EAC Media Release

December 13, 2005

Increase security requirements, expand access for all voters

WASHINGTON –

snip

The U.S Election Assistance Commission (EAC) unanimously adopted the voting system guidelines, which significantly increase security requirements for voting systems and expand access, including opportunities to vote privately and independently, for individuals with disabilities.

snip

The guidelines will take effect in December 2007 (24 months), at which time voting systems will no longer be tested against the 2002 Voting System Standards (VSS) developed by the Federal Election Commission (FEC). However, states may decide to adopt these guidelines before the effective date.

snip

These guidelines are voluntary. States may adopt them entirely, in part or not at all. States may also choose to enact stricter performance requirements for voting systems. Currently, at least 39 states require voting systems to be certified at the national level.

An initial set of guidelines were developed by the HAVA-designated Technical Guidelines Development Committee (TGDC), and then delivered to the EAC for consideration. EAC made initial changes and posted the proposed guidelines for a 90-day comment period, which resulted in more than 5,600 comments. During the public comment period, EAC held public meetings in New York City, Pasadena and Denver to solicit additional input from representatives of the disability community, advocacy groups, the general public and technology and voting system experts.

All comments will be available at www.eac.gov.

snip

http://www.eac.gov/news_121305.asp

Discussion:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x404937

[Wilms]

19. E-Voting Deadline Looms

December 13, 2005

E-Voting Deadline Looms

Election officials must decide by January 1 which electronic voting system is least likely to cause problems next November.

By Lamont Wood

snip

It sounds like an obvious way to improve the democratic process. Yet the ascendance of direct-recording voting machines hasn't brought accolades from everyone. “They’re not auditable,” says Rebecca Mercuri, a software consultant in Mercer County, NJ, whose PhD dissertation at the University of Pennsylvania was on electronic vote tabulation systems. She argues that there's no way for voters to know whether the machines have faithfully recorded their votes. And if election monitors don’t trust the tally that the machine prints out at the end of the day, they can't do a manual recount -- just print it out again. “That’s a reprint, not a recount,” Mercuri points out.

snip

Mercuri and others also worry that direct-recording machines are vulnerable to human error. For example, the order of names on ballots is commonly rotated from ward to ward so that no candidate always has the coveted top slot. If a local programmer gets the names out of synch, though, suggests Mercuri, there might be no way to tell which votes were really cast for whom.

Mercuri would rather see jurisdictions use old-fashioned optical scanners instead of moving to direct-recording machines. In optical scanner systems, voters mark paper ballots with ink, then feed them into scanners. The paper ballots are collected in a bin inside the scanner, and can be hand-counted for an audit. In fact, optical scanner balloting is the most popular election technology in the United States, accounting for over 30 percent of the votes cast in 2004 (see table).

snip

Others claim that these concerns about e-voting machines are blown out of proportion. According to Michael Kerr, director of the Election Technology Council in Arlington, VA, every maker of direct-recording machines provides some way to audit the functioning of its machines, such as an audit log that can be checked against the contents of working memory. “The 2004 elections were for the most part problem-free, except for some isolated instances of technology process training glitches,” he says. The council represents makers of direct-recording machines such as Advanced Voting Solutions, Diebold Election Systems, and Election Systems & Software.

snip

http://www.technologyreview.com/InfoTech/wtr_15998,294,p1.html

[Wilms]

21. AZ: Senators Call on County Attorney to Approve Release of Ballots

http://www.votetrustusa.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=459&Itemid=113

Arizona: Senators Call on County Attorney Andy Thomas to Approve Release of Ballots

By Jack Harper, Arizona State Senator
December 08, 2005

“It’s Time to Restore Integrity and Confidence to Election Process”

Arizona State Senator Jack Harper, a Republican, has issued subpoenas for access to ballots and tabulation equipment used in the 2004 LD20 Republican primary election, in which a machine recount in Maricopa County resulted in nearly 500 more votes counted on the same ballots. The data shows pretty conclusively that either the optical scanners failed (ES&S Optech IV-C) or there was tampering or at least mishandling of the ballots. The Maricopa County election officials have not been forthcoming as to the cause of the discrepancy. Harper has been talking with Doug Jones about conducting tests here later this month. The state senators supporting Harper are all Republicans, which is great, as this makes this a bipartisan concern here. Unfortunately, Harper is getting a lot of pressure from the Senate leadership to drop this investigation. Nevertheless, he just released the following message:

snip

Last week, Senate Government Accountability and Reform committee chairman Jack W. Harper issued subpoenas to both the Maricopa County Recorders office and the Maricopa County Treasurer’s office directing them to provide information and ballots from the District 20 Republican primary race for a review by the committee and its staff. As of today, County Treasurer David Schweikert has indicated that his office may not comply with the valid legislative subpoena and release the ballots. Schweikert has turned over the subpoena to the Maricopa County Attorney’s office for review and has redirected all inquiries from the Committee.

snip

The Senate Government Accountability and Reform Committee has retained University of Iowa professor Douglas Jones, a nationally recognized expert on voting machines and a member of the State of Iowa’s Board of Examiners for Voting Machines, to conduct an independent audit of the ballots, voting machines, the programs.

snip

Senator Harper concluded, “The circumstances surrounding the District 20 Republican Primary election last year are very troubling. The explanations provided so far by officials from the county election department are not consistent with the available evidence. As long as there remain real questions to be answered about the outcome of this race then I believe we must continue to investigate and find the truth. There is nothing more important to our system of democracy than maintaining the integrity of our elections. I am confident that Andy Thomas shares my views and that he will not allow his office to stand in the way of our attempts to find out exactly what happened last year.”
snip

http://www.votetrustusa.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=459&Itemid=113

[Wilms]

24. Discussion

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x404944

[Wilms]

22. SC: Lawmakers to consider voting bills

Tue, Dec. 13, 2005

Lawmakers to consider voting bills

By JOHN O’CONNOR
Staff Writer

Lawmakers next month will consider making it easier to register to vote — even allowing registration on Election Day.

If approved, several election-related bills filed early for the 2006 session of the General Assembly also would:

• Allow voting before Election Day

• Help convicted criminals restore voting privileges once they have finished their prison terms

• Count provisional ballots no matter where they were cast in

the state

• Let teens work in polling places

• Create a statewide committee to study further election changes

Rep. David Mack, D-Charleston and chairman of the Legislative Black Caucus, is the sponsor of the bills. The League of Women Voters and the state NAACP also support them.

snip

http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/news/local/13394285.htm

[Wilms]

23. CA: Presentation materials available from "Voting System Testing Summit"

Secretary of State Bruce McPherson hosted a Voting Systems Testing Summit on November 28 and 29 to bring together experts from state and federal elections administration to discuss testing as it applies to state certification processes for voting equipment. Several panels of nationally recognized experts will share their expertise, from which we hope to develop a best practices model that all states can use in their examination of voting equipment.

Please see the agenda and remarks linked to this page for additional information.

Caren Daniels-Meade, Chief of Elections, State of California

Materials and Presentations

Session 1 - The Federal Role - Where Things Stand Today and Where They're Headed, HAVA and Voting Systems, Accessibility

- Donetta Davidson, Commissioner, Election Assistance Commission
- Paud DeGregorio (Vice Chair), Election Assistance Commission
- Brian Hancock, Election Assistance Commission*
- Sandy Steinbach, Chair, NASED Voting Systems Board and Director of Elections, Iowa Secretary of State

Session 2 - Demystifying the ITA's

- Brian Phillips, President Systest

Session 2.5 - A Vision for Testing Election Systems

- Eric Lazarus, President, DecisionSmith

Session 3 - National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)

- Barbara Guttman, Manager, Interoperability Group, NIST Information Technology Lab
- Barbara Guttman, Manager, Interoperability Group, NIST Information Technology Lab - Additional Material
- Roy Saltman, Consultant and Author, formerly of NIST

Session 4 - State Panel on What Happens Now

- Paul Craft, Florida Secretary of State's Office*
- Nick Handy, Washington Secretary of State's Office*
- Connie Schmidt, Former Election Commissioner, Johnson County, Kansas and Past Member, NASED Voting Systems Standard Board
- Dr. Brit Williams, NASED Board Member and Chair, NASED Voting System Board Technical Committee (Georgia)

Session 5 - Designing the Best Tests

- Stephen Berger, IEEE Representative to US EAC Technical Guidelines Committee
- Steven V. Freeman, Member, NASED Technical Committee
- Jocelyn Whitney, R & G Consultants

Keynote Speaker - Evaluating the Usability of Six Voting Systems and Voters' Abilities to Cast Their Ballots As Intended

- Paul S. Herrnson, Director, Center for American Politics and Citizenship;Professor, Government and Politics, University of Maryland

Session 6 - Security/Paper Trails/Accountability

- Kim Alexander, President and Founder, California Voter Foundation
- Michael Alvarez, CalTech/MIT Voting Technology Project
- Dr. Henry Brady, Director, Survey Research Center, University of California, Berkeley
- Professor David L. Dill, Professor of Computer Science, Stanford University*
- Dr. Aviel (Avi) D. Rubin, Professor of Computer Science and Technical Director of Information Security Institute, Johns Hopkins University*
- Dr. Michael Shamos, Co-Director, Institute for eCommerce and Director, Center for Privacy Technology, Carnegie Mellon University (PA)

Session 7 - Vendors

- Diebold - Ian Piper*
- ES & S - Ken Carbullido, Senior VP of Product Development
- Hart Intercivic - David Hart*
- Sequoia Voting Systems - Howard Cramer*

Session 8 - Best State Practices

- David Chapin, Director, electionline.org *
- Jim Dolbear, Director of the Voting Systems Institute
- Dr. David Jefferson, California Voting Systems Technical Assessment and Advisory Board Chair*
- Tom Wilkey, Executive Director, Election Assistance Commission *

snip/links

http://www.ss.ca.gov/elections/elections_vst_summit.htm

Discussion:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x404945

[Wilms]

25. Denial of the 2004 Election Theft – An Astonishing Example

Denial of the 2004 Election Theft – An Astonishing Example

by Time for change

Many of us DUers are very upset about what we see as widespread denial of theft of the 2004 Presidential election, even by most Democrats. We are upset about this because we believe that this denial represents a great barrier to meaningful election reform, and therefore a great threat to our democracy. And consequently, we feel that it is important to understand the reasons behind this denial.

I believe that there are two main explanations for it: One reason is simply widespread lack of awareness of the facts surrounding the 2004 election, largely due to a virtual news media blackout on the subject. The other explanation is more psychological – that many people just do not want to believe that such a thing could happen in our country – which we have all learned since we were old enough to speak is the ultimate shining example of democracy in the world.

In this post I present an astonishing example of that phenomenon. I consider this example to be astonishing because the author I will discuss – Andrew Gumbel, who wrote “Steal this Vote” – spends well over 50 pages making an excellent case for why we should be very concerned about the results of the 2004 election, and then he turns right around and refers to those of us who believe the election to have been stolen as “conspiracy theorists”. The reasons he gives for this point of view are so unreasoned and illogical, and they present such a stark contrast to the preceding portions of his book that it appears as if the different portions of the book were written by different persons.

Anyhow, that’s how it appears to me. I hope that most of you agree with me on that score after reading this post.

snip/more

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x5595253#top

[Wilms]

27. Henry Kirksey, civil rights activitist, dies at age 90

Henry Kirksey, civil rights activitist, dies at age 90

Staff and wire reports

12/12/2005

JACKSON - Henry J. Kirksey, an outspoken civil rights activist and one of the first blacks elected to the Mississippi Senate after Reconstruction, has died at age 90.

snip

Kirksey's family has said the election of 600 blacks to public office in the state can be credited in large part to Kirksey's service as a plaintiff, expert witness and community organizer.

To bring about change, the Tupelo native filed several lawsuits against the city of Jackson and the state.

In 1965, the planning consultant challenged the countywide election of state legislators. His lawsuit lead to the adoption of single-member legislative districts in 1979.

"All of us who are elected owe that election more so to Henry Kirksey than anyone else," U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., said Sunday. "So, if you are a supervisor, a judge, an alderman, or U.S. congressman, it's because Henry Kirksey helped Mississippi do what was in the interest of all its citizens."

snip

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=15738929&BRD=1838&PAG=461&dept_id=104621&rfi=6

[Algorem]

28. Diebold stock lifts after CEO quits...shareholders suing Diebold

Market appears to endorse O'Dell's departure

http://www.cleveland.com/business/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/business/1134553100299310.xml&coll=2

Wednesday, December 14, 2005
Alison Grant
Plain Dealer Reporter

...

"They were called on to create a system that would revolutionize the voting system and they went nowhere with that," Feinseth said...

Voting machine controversy continues to dog Diebold. A law firm said it filed a federal lawsuit in Cleveland Tuesday on behalf of shareholders that says the company tried to disguise well-known and ongoing problems with its voting machines and software.

The suit, which names O'Dell, Swidarski and six other current and former executives, alleges the company "artificially inflated" stock prices through misleading public information designed to conceal the scope of internal problems. It also claims insider trading with proceeds of $2.7 million.

Jacobsen said that he had not seen the suit and that Diebold has a policy of not commenting on pending litigation...

[Algorem]

29. OH-"Cuyahoga County's election board received the first shipment of e-

lectronic voting machines Tuesday.They will replace the current punch-card ballot system in next May's primary.The board,which ordered 5,400 machines from Diebold Election Systems,expects to receive about 400 machines a day through the end of the month.Company technicians will test each machine's basic functions before state officials conduct more comprehensive accuracy and security tests."
-caption to news photo in Cleveland Pain Dealer today of workers unpacking rows of machines,no article with it,don't know where cheap Pain Deler hides it's photos


Thursday, December 08, 2005

Touch-screen voting machines on order as debate continues

http://www.cleveland.com/search/index.ssf?/base/opinion/113403431550230.xml?ocnay&coll=2

Mark Naymik
Plain Dealer Columnist

...

Not only are some election activists still complaining that the electronic devices have security and accuracy problems, elections officials also want taxpayers to buy even more machines.

The state, which controls the federal election reform money, will pay for only one machine for every 175 registered voters in the county, which works out to about 5,400 machines.

But board officials say they need an additional 900 to ensure that high-volume elections run smoothly. They are asking the county commissioners to shell out $4.3 million for the extra machines and ancillary items such as storage and transportation carts that the federal government won't pay for.

The commissioners, lobbied by activists and U.S. Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones to hold off, are balking at the request...

[Algorem]

30. OH- Voting? I need to see some ID, bill expected to get Taft's OK

http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/news/1134552938299310.xml&coll=2

Bill aimed at fraud expected to get Taft's OK

Wednesday, December 14, 2005
Julie Carr Smyth
Plain Dealer Bureau
Columbus

-- Bring your ID to the polls next Election Day.

A sharply divided Ohio Senate voted 21-11 Tuesday on a voluminous election reform bill that includes a requirement that voters show identification rather than simply sign a poll book.

The House plans to take a final vote on the proposal today, and Gov. Bob Taft is expected to sign it.

Sen. Kevin Coughlin, a Cuyahoga Falls Republican and the bill's Senate sponsor, said the new ID requirement is a less restrictive mandate than some states have imposed but still helps assure that only legitimate votes are cast...


Changing the way we vote

http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/news/1134553040299310.xml&coll=2

Wednesday, December 14, 2005

State House Bill 3 makes these changes:

Requires all voters to present identification when voting. Eligible IDs include a driver's license, state ID card, utility bill, bank statement or government check.

Prohibits electronic voting machines from connecting to the Internet.

Removes the requirement for random sample recounts in counties using electronic machines...

[Wilms]

31. Diebold And The Not-So Beautiful

December 14, 2005

Diebold And The Not-So Beautiful

It's slipped off the Beltway radar screen, but election reform is alive and kicking, especially in the states. Advocates for more efficient, effective and accurate voting systems have reason to cheer.

Consider:

--two years ago, election officials were skeptical of voter-verified paper trails (VVPaT) for electronic machines. Today, according to the invaluable Electionline.org, 25 of them have written a VVPAT requirement into law. (And the big debate now is whether to count paper prints as official ballots during recounts.)
In '04, paper trails were not required in Ohio, in '05, 41 counties required it.

--four Midwestern states agreed to cooperate to improve election administration and registration

--MD's state board of elections is working with the University of Baltimore to research voter verification technology

--states are more proactive about testing machines; with heavy public scrutiny, CA election officials are weighing whether to recertify Diebold machines

--And the Diebold company -- a liberal activist bugbear -- seems to be crumbling. Its infamous CEO, Wally O'Dell, resigned. Shareholders filed suit for allegedly deceptive practices. One FL county decided to forever ban Diebold machines after a hacker demonstrated to officials how he could switch election results.

snip

http://hotlineblog.nationaljournal.com/archives/2005/12/diebold_and_the.html

Thanks to kpete for the Discussion:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x5598450

[Algorem]

32. OH-Outside group critical of voter-registration restriction

http://www.cleveland.com/newsflash/cleveland/index.ssf?/base/news-21/113459364431970.xml&storylist=cleveland

12/14/2005, 3:47 p.m. ET
The Associated Press

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A group that registers voters says it would be more difficult to sign people up if Ohio approves a plan to require hired canvassers to register with county election officials.

Republican lawmakers backing the change want to discourage out-of-state groups from registering voters. They criticize the groups for turning in registration cards for voters who didn't exist or with made-up addresses in the 2004 presidential election.

The Ohio House on Wednesday delayed its expected approval of changes the Senate made to a bill that would alter election law, including requiring voters show identification at the polls. Majority Republicans were meeting privately to discuss the bill.

Project Vote, a nonprofit group that registers low-income and minority voters, said the registration requirement for canvassers would hinder its efforts to sign up as many new voters as possible. The group registered about 1.1 million new voters nationwide for the 2004 election, including 180,000 in Ohio...

http://www.projectvote.org

[Algorem]

33. Analysts happy with Diebold moves

http://www.cleveland.com/newsflash/cleveland/index.ssf?/base/business-5/113459455056000.xml&storylist=cleveland

12/14/2005, 4:04 p.m. ET
The Associated Press

NORTH CANTON, Ohio (AP) — ...

Walden W. O'Dell, 60, quit the company for unspecified personal reasons. The resignation came after several years of controversy surrounding the security and reliability of Diebold's touch-screen voting machines and O'Dell's ties to President Bush...

"The board is finally motivated to finding someone, either internally or externally, to better utilize the great assets that Diebold has. It's a great brand name," said Daan Coster, an analyst at Rochdale Securities in New York...

Diebold, whose main business is making ATMs and security systems, ventured into e-voting after the Florida punch-card debacle of 2000.

But the company's e-voting business has been bumpy...

http://www.diebold.com

[Algorem]

35. Ohio House rejects changes in election bill (stalls it until '06)

http://www.cleveland.com/newsflash/cleveland/index.ssf?/base/news-21/113459364431970.xml&storylist=cleveland

12/14/2005, 6:34 p.m. ET
By JOHN McCARTHY
The Associated Press

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The House on Wednesday rejected Senate amendments to a bill that would make major changes to Ohio election law after concerns were raised about the effect on local elections and other issues.

The unanimous vote means differences between the House and Senate will be negotiated early next year.

Republican leaders said the primary sticking point is a provision that limits contributions from employees of local elected officials to their political campaigns.

The Republicans privately discussed the issue for about three hours before deciding to stall it for now...


http://www.projectvote.org