Yahoo/AP picks up computer "glitch" story in Indiana (Accuvote system)

[OnceAndFutureTruth]

<snip>
Computer Glitch Changes Election Result

Fri Nov 12,12:08 PM ET

BROOKVILLE, Ind. - A hand recount of ballots cast using optical scanning technology gave a Democrat enough extra votes to bump a Republican from victory in a county commissioner's race. The erroneous tally was caused when the Fidlar Election Co. scanning system recorded straight-Democratic Party votes as votes for Libertarians in southeastern Indiana's Franklin County.

Fidlar workers said no programming problems were found in the Accuvote 2000 ES system, but said the Rock Island, Ill.-based company is going over its programming elsewhere in the state and in Wisconsin and Michigan, which, like Indiana, have straight-party voting.

Fidlar national sales manager Bill Barrett on Friday called the glitch an "isolated incident" and said no other election results were in question. A spokeswoman for the Indiana secretary of state's office said state officials were waiting to learn more from the company and Franklin County. Pre-election tests had found no problems, Kate Shepherd said, and the state was unaware of other similar troubles.

Note that bit about the pre-election tests in the previous paragraph. And how do they KNOW that this is an isolated incident? Good that people were on top of this. And its GREAT that these sorts of stories are increasingly being picked up by media.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=616&e=6&u=/ap/20041112/ap_on_el_st_lo/election_glitch

[peacetalksforall]

1. This article makes me realize that I never considered how it must be

for Republicans running for lesser office such as this one to learn that higher up Republican operatives fixed the election for them to ensure that their right wing grass root establishment is in place. If the person running isn't privvy to the thefts...it must be super disappointing.

Yes, I'm accusing Republicans of theft. Not guilty until proven guilty? They don't wait to accuse others - well, maybe it's time to take advantage of their methods - accuse everyone else - from picking on someone that they want to prove guilty and shoving it down our throats on their republican owned tv networks or accusing Dems of being deficient in moral values.

[bloom]

2. It didn't mention that the incident inspired Baron Hill to want a recount

"INDIANAPOLIS -- The Indiana Democratic Party requested a recount in the 9th District U.S. House race lost by Rep. Baron Hill by fewer than 1,400 votes amid questions over whether optical-scan voting systems used by some counties -- including Franklin County which resulted in the outcome of one race already being reversed -- recorded straight-party votes erroneously. <snip>

"I think legitimate questions have been raised," said Hill spokesman Stefan Bailey, referring to the Franklin County problems. "We need to make sure the voters know the final and legitimate outcome of this election."

http://www.pal-item.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20041113/NEWS01/411130329/1008

[Metatron]

4. Here's the article about Hill's recount request

http://www.indystar.com/articles/3/194400-2273-098.html
Democrats are seeking a recount of the 9th Congressional District race in which Republican Mike Sodrel apparently defeated incumbent Baron Hill.

Hill, a three-term Democratic member of Congress, conceded defeat to Sodrel the day after the Nov. 2 general election. The latest results show Sodrel winning by 1,485 votes.
. . .
Given the glitch in Franklin County, Democrats decided to file a petition for both a recount and contest in the 9th District race on Friday, only minutes before the noon deadline.

In a recount, the ballots cast on Election Day are manually tallied. In a contest, a candidate is alleging problems that can't be resolved by a recount. One remedy is to order a new election.

The Indiana Recount Commission, composed of two Republicans and one Democrat, held an emergency meeting late Friday to discuss the Democrats' request.

The commission ordered the Indiana State Police to impound the ballots and voting equipment.

[wlubin]

3. What is the official number of isolated glitches that must occur until a

society must call it systemic? hahahaha

[OnceAndFutureTruth]

6. AND what if they didn't have a paper trail to do the recount with...

that's another issue. And as far as the official number of glitches: Many small glitches= ONE BIG PROBLEM. imho.

[Starlight]

5. give it a 5 n/t

[Nordic]

7. done

[idiosyncratic]

8. I rated it . . .

You have given the news article Computer Glitch Changes Election Result a rating of 5.

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