Florida Attorney General subpoenas voting machine companies

[AmyStrange]

Florida Attorney General subpoenas voting machine companies

FROM: http://www.tampabays10.com/news/news.aspx?storyid=27945
TALLAHASSEE, Florida (AP) — The Florida Attorney General's Office has issued investigative subpoenas to the three companies certified to sell voting machines in Florida.

Attorney General Charlie Crist is reviewing a dispute between the firms and Leon County's elections supervisor.

Diebold Election Systems, Election Systems and Software and Sequoia Voting Systems have refused to sell equipment to let disabled voters cast ballots without help in Leon County. Elections supervisor Ion Sancho has been outspoken about his concern that the devices can be easily manipulated to change race outcomes.

The companies' refusal has left Leon County, the home of the state Capitol, in violation of the federal Help America Vote Act.

<SNIP>

TO READ THE REST: http://www.tampabays10.com/news/news.aspx?storyid=27945

(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

[kcass1954]

1. This is probably just for show. Crist is running for governor and needs to

appear as if he's looking out for FL voters.

[RazzleDazzle]

10. Yeah, my thought as well

and that was before I knew the guy was a candidate.

Sigh. This shit gets so old. And so fucking predictable.

[Roland99]

2. Ion Sancho and Bradblog deserve some major kudos!!

[NYC]

13. Agreed.

Ion Sancho was very outspoken, and had a lot of support.

[BradBlog]

3. BREAKING: FLORIDA ATTORNEY GENERAL SUBPOEANAS E-VOTING MACHINE COMPANIES!

AP: FLORIDA ATTORNEY GENERAL SUBPOEANAS ELECTRONIC VOTING MACHINE COMPANIES!
Investigation Into Refusal by Companies to do Business with Leon County, FL Election Supervisor Who Discovered Diebold E-Voting Security Flaw!

Just out from AP, the Florida state Attorney General has subpoenaed the three Electronic Voting Machine companies who have all now refused to do business with Leon County, FL Election Supervisor Ion Sancho since he discovered that Diebold's optical-scan voting system was vulnerable to hackers.

Sancho's discovery, revealed via a mock election test last December, showed in no uncertain terms that Diebold's systems could be hacked, the results of an election flipped, without a trace being left behind.

Since then, as The BRAD BLOG has previously reported, all three Voting Machine Vendors certified to do business in the state have all refused to sign contracts with the heroic elected official (even though sales reps from both ES&S and Sequoia had initially promised to do so)...

COMPLETE STORY:
http://www.bradblog.com/archives/00002620.htm

---
Brad Friedman
THE BRAD BLOG - The uprising continues...
http://www.BradBlog.com
VELVET REVOLUTION - The revolution begins...
http://www.VelvetRevolution.us

[Dunvegan]

4. Thanks for the heads-up.

I'll be (like many others, I'm sure) following this closely.

[katinmn]

5. K&N. Finally!

[lovuian]

6. How can state remove an elected official???

What did Sanchez do ??? why remove him... remove the Emachines...

[1monster]

7. In Florida, the Governor can suspend any elected official who is

legally charged with wrong doing, malfeasance, or imcompetence...

[lovuian]

8. All Sanchez did is find out the whole Florida election was a

FRAUD!!! how is that wrong??? :rofl:

[Imagevision]

14. Jeb will shut this down asap...

[Lochloosa]

17. I don't think he will. Crist is running for his job as a repug

If bush shuts it down or tries to remove Sancho the shit will hit the fan. IMO

[EFerrari]

9. Good going, Brad!

:applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause:

[greekspeak]

11. Come On Ion Sancho...run for bigger offices or get drafted to do it!

I love living in a county where our leaders will stand up and say "screw you" to election fraudsters. Go Ion!! You ROCK!!

[bleever]

12. Yes yes yes yes yes yes.

I mean it.

:)

[texpatriot2004]

15. Well, you've got my attention. Who is the AG in FL, is he/she a

Rethug?

[Orangepeel]

16. He is a republican, running for governor

Crist actually hasn't been a bad AG, despite the fact that he has backwards values on social issues and isn't very bright. (my husband attributes his non suckiness in the AG job to the fact that he kept most of Bob Butterworth's staff)

But, Crist is in a tough primary race for governor, so many he does want to make sure the machines are legit for that. :shrug:

[texpatriot2004]

19. Hmmm, interesting. He could be doing it as a smokescreen, but

maybe he does want to be sure his votes are counted? Time will tell eh.

[Wilms]

18. K&R n/t

[AmyStrange]

20. UPDATE: Ion Sancho supporters hold press conference

Ion Sancho supporters hold press conference

FROM: http://www.tallahassee.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060402/NEWS01/604020324/1010/NEWS01
INSIDE POLITICS Supporters of Supervisor of Elections Ion Sancho held a press conference Friday to show him some community encouragement.

Sancho came under fire earlier this year when he couldn't meet a Jan. 1 deadline to get election equipment for the disabled. But that was because none of the three vendors certified to sell the machines in Florida would do business with Sancho, who last year tested Diebold equipment and found security flaws.

"We need to give him some encouragement," former Leon County Commissioner Anita Davis said. "I know it's going to work out because he did the right thing. He opened up something that nobody had the nerve to do."

Sancho is hoping to buy equipment from a company called IVS, but he's also open to the possibility of buying Diebold equipment, provided the company addresses his concerns. Diebold, at the behest of Secretary of State Sue Cobb and county leaders, recently agreed to consider selling its touch screens to Sancho.

<SNIP>

TO READ THE REST: http://www.tallahassee.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060402/NEWS01/604020324/1010/NEWS01

[AmyStrange]

21. UPDATE: Hundreds of activists to demand paper trail... on voting devices

Hundreds of activists to demand paper trail and open tallies on voting devices
By Jessica Alaimo

FROM: http://www.thehill.com/thehill/export/TheHill/Business/040506_voting.html
Hundreds of activists will lobby Congress this week for legislation to make electronic voting more secure and accountable.

H.R. 550, sponsored by Rep. Rush Holt (D-N.J.), has 168 co-sponsors, and proponents are seeking more this week.

The measure would require a paper trail from all electronic voting machines and would take measures to prevent hackers from altering results.

Most of the bill’s backers are Democrats, but it has attracted GOP support from Reps. Mary Bono (Calif.), Tom Cole (Okla.), Tom Davis (Va.), Phil English (Pa.), Michael Fitzpatrick (Pa.), Darrell Issa (Calif.), Randy Kuhl (N.Y.), Tim Murphy (Pa.), Thomas Petri (Wis.), Greg Walden (Ore.) and Frank Wolf (Va.)

For Holt, the bill comes down to one thing: Is your vote counted?

<SNIP>

TO READ THE REST: http://www.thehill.com/thehill/export/TheHill/Business/040506_voting.html

[AmyStrange]

22. UPDATE: Elections chief motivated by a sense of purpose - FL

Elections chief motivated by a sense of purpose
Ion Sancho still has passion for job, despite recent headaches
By Jeff Burlew
DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER

FROM: http://www.tallahassee.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060410/NEWS01/604100324/1010
In 1986, Ion Sancho was a third-year law student at Florida State University, running for public office for the first time and hoping to land a seat on the County Commission.

He lost the election, but the Sept. 2 primary was a defining moment in his life - one that set him on a course to become a nationally-known figure in the fight for accurate elections.

The primary was a fiasco. Misaligned levers on machines kept some people from voting. Others were unsure whether they voted for the candidates of their choice. Some polling places didn't open until noon. A later survey indicated that as many as 5,000 people tried to vote but couldn't.

<SNIP>

The experience gave Sancho a passion that continues today. As Leon County's supervisor of elections, he has been at the forefront of an election-equipment debate, during which supporters have hailed him as heroic and critics as embarrassing. Sancho's backers are many and devout, but few people know the memories and experiences that motivate his work.

<SNIP>

TO READ THE REST: http://www.tallahassee.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060410/NEWS01/604100324/1010

Contact reporter Jeff Burlew at [phone] or [e-mail].

Originally published April 10, 2006

Copyright ©2006 Tallahassee Democrat.

[Supersedeas]

23. can you believe that this THIS would be happening in FL or all places

[AmyStrange]

24. UPDATE: Diebold says it will sell to Leon County

Diebold says it will sell to Leon County
Firm backtracks on prior refusal
By Jeff Burlew
DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER

FROM: http://www.tallahassee.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060414/NEWS01/604140333/-1/NEWS02
Diebold Election Systems finally has agreed to do business with Leon County.

The county missed a Jan. 1 deadline to provide voting equipment for people who are disabled after its deal with Diebold broke down. On Thursday, Diebold representatives agreed to sell new touch-screen voting devices to the county for $691,373. Supervisor of Elections Ion Sancho said the final amount might be less because he wants to use his technical staff. He called Diebold's decision "responsible."

"I believe that this is a positive development," Sancho said.

The company had refused to sell after Sancho conducted tests that showed Diebold memory cards had security flaws. When two other vendors certified in Florida declined to sell to Sancho, the county missed the deadline for the Help America Vote Act, which requires voting machines for the disabled in all voting locations. That resulted in the county losing more than $500,000 in grant money.

<SNIP>

TO READ THE REST: http://www.tallahassee.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060414/NEWS01/604140333/-1/NEWS02

[Imagevision]

31. Diebold says it will sell to Leon County > to avoid future flak

It was a Diebold stuck on stupid stance from the get go!

[AmyStrange]

25. UPDATE: Elections rally planned at Capitol - FL

Elections rally planned at Capitol

INSIDE POLITICS Leon County Supervisor of Elections Ion Sancho and others will gather at noon Tuesday at the Capitol to press legislators to pass laws ensuring fair elections. The event, called "Don't Gamble with Our Vote," is sponsored by Sancho, People for the American Way and Moving United Students in Communities

FROM: http://www.tallahassee.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060416/NEWS01/604160342/-1/NEWS02

[Toots]

26. in violation of the federal Help America Vote Act.

What exactly does this act say? Are cities and states required to use these machines? Why would they be in violation?

[AmyStrange]

27. It's mostly...

because of the part of the "ACT" that calls for having voting machines that are "disability" friendly, and for some reason it seems that only e-voting machines can be friendly to the disabled.

This is about all I know about this "ACT". Maybe someone else can help here with more info...

d

[Lostnote06]

28. Givem Hell Mr. Sancho.....Catharsis Moment?

[AmyStrange]

29. UPDATE: Protesters demand security in elections

Protesters demand security in elections
By Jeff Burlew
DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER

FROM: http://www.tallahassee.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060419/NEWS01/604190332/-1/NEWS02
Advocates for fair elections gathered Tuesday at the Capitol to press legislators to support bills that would require paper trails and election audits before voters go to the polls this year.

Frederick Simmons, a political science student at Florida A&M University, went to the rally after seeing a flier on campus. He said he's worried that his vote isn't protected.

"Voters should feel that their vote is going to be counted no matter what," he said.

Leon County Supervisor of Elections Ion Sancho participated in the event along with People for the American Way and the Florida Fair Elections Coalition. The rally attracted a few dozen people. Using the theme, "Don't Gamble with Our Vote," they said Nevada does a better job of protecting gamblers than Florida does protecting voters.

<SNIP>

TO READ THE REST: http://www.tallahassee.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060419/NEWS01/604190332/-1/NEWS02

[AmyStrange]

30. RELATED ARTICLE: Could a sharp eighth grader swing Florida election?

Could a sharp eighth grader swing Florida election?
Published April 25, 2006
Ralph De La Cruz

FROM: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/features/columnists/sfl-ralph25apr25,0,4443011.column?coll=sfla-features-col

<SNIP>

Here's the short version:

In December 2004, a company called Diebold reached a $2.6 million settlement with Alameda County and the state of California. The settlement came after the California attorney general charged Diebold had been untruthful about the security and reliability of its voting machines.

Leon County was using Diebold machines. So, as you might expect from your supervisor of elections, Sancho became suspicious.

"I don't trust anyone," he explained.

Excellent idea.

So, with help from a group called BlackBoxVoting.Org, he did his own testing last year.

<SNIP>

TO READ THE REST: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/features/columnists/sfl-ralph25apr25,0,4443011.column?coll=sfla-features-col

[AmyStrange]

32. UPDATE: Sancho soon to sign deal for voting machines

Sancho soon to sign deal for voting machines
By Jeff Burlew
DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER

FROM: http://www.tallahassee.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060425/NEWS01/604250320/-1/NEWS02
Supervisor of Elections Ion Sancho says he "reluctantly" will sign a new contract for voting equipment from Diebold Election Systems, a company he has been at odds with over security issues.

Today, Leon County commissioners are expected to consider the $691,373 contract with Diebold for touch-screen machines that can be used by blind voters and others. The machines are required by the federal Help America Vote Act and will be used alongside current paper ballots and optical scanners.

Sancho would prefer using a system made by IVS, but it hasn't been certified by the state. And commissioners have been eager to buy new machines since the county missed a Jan. 1 deadline to buy them.

"There are not enough votes on the Leon County Commission to pursue the IVS certification," Sancho said Monday.

<SNIP>

Contact reporter Jeff Burlew at [phone] or [e-mail].

Originally published April 25, 2006

Copyright ©2006 Tallahassee Democrat.
All rights reserved.

TO READ THE REST: http://www.tallahassee.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060425/NEWS01/604250320/-1/NEWS02

[Zorra]

33. How ironic. The only justifiable use for black boxes is in making

it easier for disabled folks to vote. They should not be used otherwise.

Voting Machine companies acting like spoiled children: "No fair!" You have to play by my rules, or I'm taking my ball and going home!"

This case clearly points out the need for total public control and oversight of every step of the voting process, including the manufacture of ballots. Private interests have no place whatsoever in any step of the operation of these democratic processes. The probability that these private entities will institutionalize fraudulent vote counting for their own self interest is too great.

We cannot allow ourselves, and our democratic process, to be terrorized and held hostage by private industries that are hostile to democracy.

Every Democratic legislator needs to stand up in unison with their colleagues in their respective legislative bodies and persistently and forcefully publicly demand that every step of our voting process be placed in public hands, and be micro-managed under transparent and stringent public guidelines and oversight. This farce in Florida is the ammunition we needed to make our case.

This particular case in Florida points out the naked truth. The distinct probability that private entities have compromised our democracy through their control of the voting process is a clear and present danger to our national security, and immediate effective action is the duty of Congress.

Come on, stand up and speak out, Democratic legislators, it is time to declare all out war on these terrorists that are attacking our democracy!