League of Women Voters Drops Support of Paperless Voting Machines

[CShine]

The League of Women Voters rescinded its support of paperless voting machines on Monday after hundreds of angry members voiced concern that paper ballots were the only way to safeguard elections from fraud, hackers or computer malfunctions. About 800 delegates who attended the nonpartisan league's biennial convention in Washington voted overwhelmingly in favor of a resolution that supports "voting systems and procedures that are secure, accurate, recountable and accessible."

That relatively neutral stance was a sharp change from last year, when league leaders endorsed paperless terminals as reliable alternatives to antiquated punch card and lever systems. About 30 percent of the electorate will use touchscreen voting machines in the November election, and hardly any of the machines provide paper records that could be used in case of a contested election.

But the endorsement infuriated members from chapters around the country - particularly in Silicon Valley and other technology-savvy enclaves, where computer scientists say the systems jeopardize elections. Legitimate recounts are impossible without paper records of every vote cast, they say. E-voting critics who attended the five-day convention, which ends Tuesday, said the league's revision was welcome - if not overdue.

"My initial reaction is incredible joy and relief," said computer scientist Barbara Simons, 63, past president of the Association for Computing Machinery and a league member from a chapter in Palo Alto, Calif. "This issue was threatening to split the league apart. ... The league now has a position that I feel very comfortable supporting."

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGBSD8QFHVD.html

[leesa]

1. This is good news. The BBV tide appears to be turning

[mike1963]

4. Yes! A kick for this, LWV is a VERY influential group.

:kick:

[Merlin]

19. Maybe. But we still have a HUGE problem this Nov.

Paper trails will not be used anywhere this Nov. So 30% of all Americans will vote on a computer without a paper trail. We all know what kind of chicanery that invites.

I am energized as hell about this! Here we have done the near impossible, and are beating Bush in public opinion. Yet he may beat us by stealing it again.

We must develop a plan to mobilize a citizens' effort to man the polls on election day.

Love to hear ideas on this.

[GregD]

2. No one has worked harder on the LWV than Barbara

Everyone in DU know's how hard Bev Harris and many others who post here in DU have worked on the BBV issue for the past year plus. To name them all would be difficult, as there are so very many.

In the community of computer scientists and academics, no one has worked harder than Dr. Barbara Simons to demand an adjusted position within the LWVUS. She has stridently defended the assertions concerning security and auditability since early last year, and was subjected to the most astonishing challenges of her character and credentials by those who opposed her point of view.

While there are many Leaguers nationwide who stood strongly against the unilateral and indefensible postion of the LWVUS, we should all salute Barbara today, because today's win was the result of a huge battle to which she has contributed greatly in so many ways, and in such a dedicated manner.

Dr. Simons was also a member of the team that published the http://www.servesecurityreport.org which ultimately spelled the demise of the military's SERVE Internet voting program. He e-mail address is on that page in case anyone wishes to send her a smile.

[Zan_of_Texas]

9. Hi Greg!

Nice to see you! :hi:

Kudos to Simons and all the League members who figured out what the real deal was and agitated. And, hey, to all of us non-League members who created an environment where the League members could get the info and the import of this.

Wow. It still feels like we're pushing on a mountain, but sometimes you can feel it move a bit, or hear a creaking noise!

11. Yes, I answered some questions with Barbara

I'm so happy for her, and everyone. This is a milestone from my perspective.

I spoke with Barbara when she came to Seattle, about my concerns.

I also answered a few questions on the technology. There's a tape somewhere, Bev, Barbara, me, others.

Dan S.
"The light inside the Black Box"

[Pachamama]

3. Good news...I still couldn't believe that they had taken that original...

...stance in the first place...this is a good sign for the e-voting issue and that people like Barbara Simons, Bev Harris and many others working hard to get the word out are being heard...

[sonias]

5. A good group can admit their mistake and correct course

They listened to their membership, they reviewed the reports and admitted they were wrong and did the right thing. This is the American way. Way to go LWV!!

Sonia

[stickdog]

6. Their leaders only did this because they would have been tossed out on

their ears otherwise.

Great work, BBV activists!

[Robbien]

7. Now? Now they do it?

They have caused so much damage by their support and they finally withdraw the support when it is almost too late to undo the damage they did.

It is a toss-up on who has made me angrier, Diebold or the LWV.

[GregD]

10. I could not agree more

The damage they caused was really unforgivable.

[Merlin]

23. Amen to that. n/t

.

[mbperrin]

8. Well,

YAY!

[Hekate]

12. YE-E-E-SSSSSS!!!

NICE GOING, LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS!
:-)

Hekate

[Merlin]

13. NYT also played a big role in this -- a very good sign.

The two (count 'em, two!) editorials run by the NYT over the past weekend on this subject were supremely important.

In particular, the one which "outed" the illicit relationship between Diebold, Inc. and disability groups. Diebold donated $1 Million to a Blind group which, since, has been sending demonstrators to events like the LWV convention.

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/13/opinion/13SUN1.html?ei=5062&en=92ca0a2303aef842&ex=1087704000&partner=GOOGLE&pagewanted=print&position=

Bev Harris did great work feeding the NYT editor with info to set this up.

Now we must quickly shift focus to what we can do THIS NOVEMBER. Verified Paper Ballots will NOT be in place. But we can't just hope they won't steal this out from under our noses. We all know they will if they can.

We must mobilize a citizens' action for election day. Stay tuned...

[Zorra]

14. Geez, it took them long enough.

:argh:

Paper and pen.

[truthisfreedom]

15. excellent!

good news.

[leftchick]

16. This is such good news!!

Woo Hoo!! :)

[dusty64]

17. Great, there is hope

after all.

[qb]

18. I'm glad they finally realized they're accountable to their members

after all. I hope they take this as a lesson to look beyond some slick ad campaign before making policy statements.

I'm assuming their former position was encouraged by Diebold & others' glowing endorsements of paperless voting for the disabled.

[Eurobabe]

20. Good, now get them to take back control of the

Presidential Debates!

www.opendebates.org

[loudsue]

21. This is GREAT news! Now....will they DO something about it???

Either the leadership needs to start turning this big ship around, and SOON, and come out strongly and publicly against BBVoting machines, or the LWV infiltrators at the top of their food chain is still on "the dark side".

What's that biblical quote: "You will know them by their fruits". The LWV leadership that came out in favor of the black boxes still needs to be put out....they knew damn good and well what they were doing.

:bounce::toast::hi: BIG BIG THANKS to Bev, Dan Spillane, GregD, RedEagle, Andy Stephenson, and ALL the many activists on this issue!
GOOD JOB!!!! :beer::party::bounce:


Just getting the "official" league position on the right side of this issue was a big step. Individually, in our counties and States, we still have a lot of foot-work to do before November. Our HEROS are fighting the big battles, but without us, the foot soldiers, they're fighting with one hand tied behind their backs.

Come on DUers! Get your talking points from the web sites www.blackboxvoting.org and www.verifiedvoting.org and www.countthevote.org .....and go get 'em!!! Donate some funds to these organizations as well, if you can. These battles aren't cheap!

:kick::kick::kick::kick:

[Mithras61]

22. Where's DubyaSux???

I'm sure he could explain to all these experts in Silicon Valley just how misinformed they are! </sarcasm>

I'm pleased to hear it. It's beginning to look like the controls we want are actually going to be implemented, even if it isn't until after the next selection...