Reply #4: MD: Republican Gov. Erlich Gets Way – Diebold Machines and “Maintenance” [View All]

[autorank]

Yeah, "maintain" Erlich in power! MD goes Diebold. Republican Governor Erlich gets his way .which is amazing since both houses of the MD legislature are heavily Democrat. Recall that on election day of the Governor’s race, thousands of notices were distributed in the Baltimore black community announcing falsely that election day was delayed. Voter suppression anyone. Let’s see, who was more likely to do that, Republicans or Democrats? Watch for a Republican comeback in Maryland, unless activists put heavy pressure on.

Md. To Spend More Than $10 Million for Voting Machines

http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/0805/256426.html

Annapolis, Md. (AP) - The Maryland Board of Public Works agreed Wednesday to buy more of the electronic voting machines that have been the subject of intense scrutiny and debate since they were first used in four counties in 2002.

The state will spend $7.9 million to buy machines from Diebold Election Systems for use in Baltimore, which had purchased a different touch screen system and was allowed to use its machines until the 2006 election. The board also agreed to spend $2. 3 million to buy more machines for Prince George's, Montgomery and Baltimore counties because of big increases in voter registration.

Also approved was a $6.1 million dollar contract for maintenance and management services for the system.

Critics of the Diebold machines say they are unreliable and subject to fraud, allegations that have been vigorously denied by Diebold and Maryland election officials.

Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press.

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