Why isn't there shouting about Diebold ATMS being secure and including paper for years?

[cyberpj]

Doesn't it stand to reason that if they could make ATMS secure and proveable they could have made their election machines secure and verifiable?

Every time someone mentions them on TV I want them to connect those dots!

[robinlynne]

1. damn straight. n/t

[SharonAnn]

2. Some of us have been fighting that battle, bringing awareness for years.

In my case, it's since early 2001. Several of the first years were really difficult, because nobody wanted to believe it, 9-11 had happened, it was just Democrats complaining, etc.

I've even had quite a few heated discussions on this issue with my good friend who is the county's Election Administrator. She does a good job, meticulous and rigorously follows the law. Makes sure everything is fair, done by the book, and transparent. It's made some big changes in the way the old-timers run the polling precincts here. However, she has no technical background, no technical training, no audit background, and no business process background.

One day while trying to convince her of why she should be concerned, she responded with some of the vendors' sales points and finally, I just yelled at her. I have more than 40 years experience programming computers and managing data files for banking, auditing, and record keeping. I can program a computer to display one thing, print a second thing, create an audit trail of a third thing, and total a fourth thing. And you will never know which, if any, are true and correct. Never!! If I can do it, so can anybody who knows this stuff. She yelled back, it can't be done! And I yelled back, why would you argue with me on this? Would you argue with a neurosurgeon who explained to you how the tumor in your brain was structured and what he recommended be done about it? Would you argue with your car mechanic who explained to you about something that was wrong and how serious it was? Would you even argue with a carpet cleaner about the best way to remove stains? She backed down but she was angry for a long time. Now, a year later, she tells me about her concerns about the machines and how they could be compromised. I don't think she even remembers the argument from a year ago.

Oh well, bit by bit we convey the information, repetition causes it to sink in, and finally the tipping point is reached.

The tipping point is here.

[DeSwiss]

6. SharonAnn, couldn't help but notice yer flag.....

I'm in the middle -- here in good ol' Davidson County. We use the http://essvote.com/HTML/products/ivotronic.html">ES&S-iVotronic system now. First time I've used it when I early voted two weeks ago. And I have to say that the connection between ATM receipts and electronic voting machines is an excellent point that should be raised -- constantly. After hearing and reading all the votong horror stories, I wanted some way to verify my vote after I finished. Its a point I'll raise with my councilperson.

~DeSwiss

[cyberpj]

7. On a personal note

I have a tech background as well, mine in networking. And I used to drive myself crazy when people wouldn't remember I told them something years ago that they just now read in a newspaper or saw on a newsshow and have accepted on their authority. It is infuriating but we have to let that go and be glad that our noise is what finally brought the issue TO that newspaper or newsshow (I guess).

Just wanted to sympathize.

[DeSwiss]

3. Excellent point!!!

:yourock:

[cyberpj]

8. Thanks. And ANOTHER ONE - Somehow there's not much trouble with validating TAXES.

If all our income and expense information can be tracked and validated and collected in an organized and timely manner -- what possible excuse (other than desired fraud) is there for not being able to do a national election with integrity?

Sigh.....

[QuestionAll...]

4. vee obviously have dee technology. heheheheh.

yes, this has been brought up many times over the years.

people tend to watch their numbers in their accounts pretty closely, the banks even more closely.

this is the tell.

[low_phreaq]

5. Because most people are more concerned about the security of their money than their votes. n/t