If the Repugs cry election fraud over Sequoia/Chavez connections

[magellan]

It was suggested to me that this deserved its own thread.

The Repugs are agitating over the alleged connections between Venezuela and election machine firm Sequoia. What should we do if they claim election fraud next week over Sequoia's machines?

Here's my suggestion: LET THEM.

They'll have to prove it in court.

If they do, they open the door for us to make the same case against Diebold and ES&S -- and seeing as Diebold and ES&S count 80% of the votes in the US, that tactic becomes a lose-lose for the Repubs.

We might even wind up with the election reforms this country so badly needs.

I say let them try it. :evilgrin:

[Judi Lynn]

1. Here's a good link posted earlier by a DU'er in LBN:

SEQUOIA VOTING SYSTEMS RESPONDS TO VENEZUELA-RELATED RUMORS AND MISINFORMATION

OAKLAND, CA - May 11, 2006 - Sequoia Voting Systems today responded to Venezuela-related rumors and misinformation about the company's ownership, operating structure and past performance.

"Contrary to current misguided conspiracy theories, Sequoia Voting Systems is a U.S. company dedicated to providing Americans accurate, reliable and fair voting systems as we have been for more than 100 years. All of Sequoia's software has been tested by federal Independent Testing Authorities, qualified by federal authorities and certified by individual states," said Jack Blaine, president Sequoia Voting Systems.

~snip~
Sequoia Ownership - Sequoia Voting Systems is a subsidiary of Smartmatic, a private company incorporated in Delaware with principal offices in Boca Raton, Florida. While a private firm, Smartmatic is and has always been open about its owners. A controlling interest is held by its founder and CEO Antonio Mugica, a dual Spanish and Venezuelan citizen.

There is absolutely no ownership of Sequoia Voting Systems or its parent Smartmatic by the Venezuelan government or any other government - foreign or domestic.

Sequoia Leadership - Jack A. Blaine currently serves as President of Sequoia Voting Systems and its parent company Smartmatic Corporation. Prior to his tenure at Smartmatic, he served as Executive Vice President of Unisys Corporation and President of Worldwide Sales and Services. Earlier, Mr. Blaine served in management roles for the Ford Motor Company and as a U.S. Naval officer.

Smartmatic Operating Structure - Smartmatic's operating structure is comparable to other multinational corporations. Specifically, Smartmatic Corporation is a unit of Smartmatic International Holding, B.V., a Netherlands-based business. Smartmatic International Holding is a unit of Smartmatic International Group, N.V., Curacao. The structure is designed to allow Smartmatic to function efficiently and effectively in vastly different markets and regions around the world.

"To set the record straight, both Sequoia and its parent company Smartmatic are privately-held, independent business. No foreign government has ever held any ownership stake or exercised any management control over either company," said Blaine.

Sequoia Voting Systems also addressed recent questions about its acquisition by Smartmatic in March 2005 and the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS).
(snip/...)

http://www.sequoiavote.com/article.php?id=74

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Sorry, I can't recall which DU'er it was who shared this, but it's surely worthwhile.

[magellan]

3. Doesn't get clearer than that

"All of Sequoia's software has been tested by federal Independent Testing Authorities, qualified by federal authorities and certified by individual states"

Thanks for sharing this article, Judi Lynn.

[GreenTea]

2. Right, getting rid of easily hackable computer machines and move FOWARD -

back to paper ballots - counted by hand...The most reliable way to count votes since time began...and to recount if necessary. Paper ballots!

Dump every one of those fucking machine... because the software can be changed & is easily hackable, into the bottom of the sea, forever.

All electronic voting machines need to depend on the software that is programed and designed by corporations with ulterior motives, that will ALWAYS be the case.

We need to move forward BACK to paper ballots, in our hands, that can't change to another party after we vote, right in front of our eyes, while other machines break down...and someone will always find a way to hack and reprogram them. And paper ballots are much cheaper!!

No corporation should be able to own our, the peoples voting machines, that our taxes bought and paid for.

[magellan]

4. Hand-counted paper ballots is my choice too

Well said, GreenTea. And another of the things we should work on is legislation making voting a Constitutional right. Without that protection, we're all at the mercy of state whims.