BBV: Uh oh. Internet security not the only problem in GA

Eloriel

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Thu Sep-25-03 11:13 AM
Original message

BBV: Uh oh. Internet security not the only problem in GA

Edited on Thu Sep-25-03 11:42 AM by Eloriel

And we thought we couldn't get our hands on one of those voting machines in Georgia. Boy, were WE wrong. We just didn't know where to look:

Volume III, Issue 18
(Current Issue -- to find this you have to click on Current Issue, then choose it from Contents on the right.)

Mr. Randy Evans was nice enough to forward the following letter to us. Given concerns about the hack-ability of these machines, making them readily available to potential hackers doesn't seem wise at all. Our hats off to the originators of this letter for addressing one of the many problems with the new equipment: it is clear the implementation plan made by the Secretary of State was not well thought out.

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September 18, 2003

Cathy Cox, Secretary of State
State of Georgia
214 State Capitol
Atlanta, Georgia 30334

Dear Secretary Cox:

Thank you for September 16, 2003 correspondence regarding the Diebold Voting Equipment (DRE). As discussed at the State Board of Elections meeting, there appears to be consensus that the security of the DRE's is critical to the overall integrity of the system. A missing DRE for the State Board of Elections is tantamount to a missing ATM for a bank. The impact of this possibility is magnified by the absence of any independently verifiable audit trail as would exist with a bank (and in fact does exist for absentee ballots cast with DRE's). For that reason, it was reported the intergovernment agency agreement, as well as other provisions from the Secretary of State's office, require that the DRE's are secured.

Unfortunately, as discussed at the State Board of Elections meeting, it does not appear that the machines are being kept in secure storage as required by the Secretary of State's office. Indeed, as the discussion made clear, there are reports that the DRE's are sometimes kept in hallways, stairwells, courthouse rooms, and in offices. One report indicated that the local election official had the machines delivered to a county commissioner's office because the county commission either would not or did not provide space for storage. Needless to say, these reports are disconcerting, and raise serious questions regarding the integrity of any system based upon the secure storage of the DRE.

In the course of my visit to the Registrar's meetings in Savannah, several officials reported that which had apparently already been communicated to the Secretary of State's office - namely, that DRE's were not being kept in secure storage. Among others, the officials from Heard County reported this in the meeting. Following their statements, many others in the discussion reported that the DRE's in their counties similarly were not maintained in secure storage with further reports of storage in stairwells, hallways, and trunks of cars. I did not note their counties as this occurred during a group discussion period. In response to these reports, I requested at the Board meeting, and the Board agreed, to a survey to determine the location of each DRE by identification number, where the machine was stored, and the identification of all persons with access to the machines. This survey should confirm the scope of the problem and indicate whether it is widespread.

To assist with this effort, I have spoken with Cliff Tatum. In addition, please consider conferring with members of your staff in attendance at the meeting as the reports of unsecured storage of the DRE's was widespread, and the subject of some humor at the meeting.

Undoubtedly, as evidenced by the seriousness to which your office has treated the issue of DRE storage security in the intergovernment agreement, this is a matter of great significance. Hopefully, we will be able to discover the scope and extent of the problem. Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

ARNALL GOLDEN GREGORY LLP

J. Randolph Evans
Member, State Board of Elections