BBV- About 2002 Standards and Illinois- Heads up in Illinois

[RedEagle]

I've heard although cannot confirm that Diebold is telling counties in Illinois that Diebold's optical system is 2002 certified.

No one has machines 2002 certified yet.

Apparently, counties don't know that 2002 certification is a requirement for HAVA money, according to some interpretations. I'll have to look that up but I do know that HAVA requires 2002 certification by 2006, so if that ties into the money,it makes sense. Meeting 2002 requirements is not grandfathered, so counties would have to upgrade by 2006.

I've tried to keep this up front all along, and it gets buried. Machines will HAVE to meet those 2002 standards by 2006. If counties and states buy systems that are not 2002 certified, they are going to have another, probably very lucrative, bill to pay to get that done.

[punpirate]

1. Can't get onto bbv.com to post this...

... but here's another wrinkle from Illinois:

We've all become accustomed, unfortunately, to public schools with money troubles having to
turn to contracts with junk food manufacturers. Those contracts, meant to enhance brand name
recognition and brand loyalty in exchange for educational essentials, have been the bane of
many parents for some years now. (That corporations aren't paying their fair share of taxes,
thus putting those schools in dire financial straits, is a story for another time.)


In Decatur, IL, Macon County Clerk Steve Bean thinks the concept would work to solve his
problem, too. Bean is currently floating the idea of sponsorship of voting machines,
because his budget and projected HAVA funds are not substantial enough to buy all the
machines required for every precinct in the county.


The other curious aspect of such sponsorship, in which Bean would like to encourage local
corporations, is that the remaining large corporation in the Decatur area is none other than
Archer-Daniels-Midland, known better around the Midwest as that corporation funding the PBS
Nightly News Hour--and as "price-fixer to the world." Indeed, ADM paid record fines for
price-fixing in the `90s, and several of its top executives have gone to prison for crimes
related to that price-fixing and for embezzlement.


It's the free market at work, folks. (Voice-over) "It's 'Let's Make a Vote,' brought to you
by...?"


Cheers.

[lovedems]

6. I grew up in Decatur

There are alot of blue collar factory jobs. ADM, Staley's, Cat. and Firestone just shut down. With all of those union jobs, there are alot of dems. in Decatur. However, now that you know who would be sponsoring the voting machines, that would be trouble. Decatur seriously is the pit of the prairie (when you drive into town, it says pride of the prairie). I moved, but not to far!

[alfredo]

2. KICK

BTW, BBV.org is back up!

:kick:

[IkeWarnedUs]

3. Voting machine expo tomorrow and Friday 10/23 & 24

An expo of voting machines will be held this week
at McCormick place.

According to Rick Fulle of the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners, 312/814-6440, expo hours are--
* Thursday, October 23, 10 am to 5 pm
* Friday October 24, 9 am to 4 pm.

The location is the Grand Ballroom of McCormick Place South,
2301 S. Martin Luther King Drive.

The city and county have invited all election jurisdictions throughout Illinois to attend the two-day exposition to view and test the updated voting systems. The expo is free and open to the public.

[RedEagle]

4. If Diebold is There...

...ask them to show you their 2002 certification documents for their optical scan system.

If they don't have the documents, as them for their NASED certifcation number.

But ask them for proof of 2002 certification.

[in_cog_ni_to]

5. Ok, who do I notify of this? n/t

[RedEagle]

7. Ask..

...your county auditors and Secretary of State to furnish a copy of the Diebold 2002 certification.

Ask them why they would consider buying a system they will have to pour money into later.

But first, if they cannot verify the 2002 certification, ask they why they would continue to do business with a company that misinformed? (polite way of saying it)

If they can produce the documentation, ask them why the ITA would leap frog everyone else on the list and certify the Diebold optical scan ahead of those on the list first or already in the process?

I'd say we need to talk to the ITA's and The Election Center, but we know what that will get us. And I'll be members of the NASED voting systems board would just tell you to talk to the first two.

[davsand]

8. Sounds like Illinois better get organized.

Do we have a list of Dem County Clerks here in Illinois? I'm in Champaign County and we have a rat bastard GOP County Clerk that we KNOW is dirty. He's already in court with the State Board of Elections--they are attempting to force him to comply with state election codes. I shudder to think what he'll try with this voting technology issue.

I know Illinois had applied for an extension on the Federal program, but I have to admit I am not up to speed on the BBV stuff except for the bare bones of it all. Sounds like I better get a crash course and soon.

Thanks for the heads up, and any further info would be a big help.

Laura

[RedEagle]

9. HAVA Requirements for 2002 Certification

HAVA rule that says, yep, your systems have to meet 2002 standards by 2006. I think states are being forced to acquire machines that cannot meet those standards and will have to be upgraded at public expense. At this point, if absolutlely necessary, states should only purchase systems that meet those standards or, get the government to cease and desist with the silly time lines in this act.


(e) SPECIAL RULE FOR INITIAL SET OF GUIDELINES.—Notwithstanding
any other provision of this part, the most recent set
of voting system standards adopted by the Federal Election Commission
prior to the date of the enactment of this Act shall be deemed
to have been adopted by the Commission as of the date of the
enactment of this Act as the first set of voluntary voting system
guidelines adopted under this part.

(current Voting System Standards are what is adopted. The 2002 standards were out a few months PRIOR to HAVA.)


(3) DEADLINE.—
(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subparagraph
(B), a State receiving a payment under the program under
this section shall ensure that all of the punch card voting
systems or lever voting systems in the qualifying precincts
within that State have been replaced in time for the regularly
scheduled general election for Federal office to be
held in November 2004.

(B) WAIVER.—If a State certifies to the Administrator
not later than January 1, 2004, that the State will not
meet the deadline described in subparagraph (A) for good
cause and includes in the certification the reasons for the
failure to meet such deadline, the State shall ensure that
all of the punch card voting systems or lever voting systems
in the qualifying precincts within that State will be
replaced in time for the first election for Federal office
held after January 1, 2006.


Above is the 2006 deadline for replacing punch cards.


(I don't believe state HAVE to replace punch cards, either. Here are the relevant paragraphs from Title III-)


(B) A State or jurisdiction that uses a paper
ballot voting system, a punch card voting system, or
a central count voting system (including mail-in
absentee ballots and mail-in ballots), may meet the
requirements of
subparagraph (A)(iii) by--

<[Page 116 STAT. 1705>]

(i) establishing a voter education program
specific to that voting system that notifies
each voter of the effect of casting multiple
votes for an office; and
(ii) providing the voter with instructions
on how to correct the ballot before it is cast
and counted (including instructions on how to
correct the error through the issuance of a
replacement ballot if the voter was otherwise
unable to change the ballot or correct any
error).


(I think states and counties should question if they really have to replace punch cards, or just educate and make sure machines that count them work properly- just like ANY voting machine.

Next, I wonder if states that have already purchased systems, that can only be 1990 certified, are really eligable to receive HAVA "refunds" for those machines? It would seem to me, no. Is Georgia attempting a refund? Doesn't seem to me they qualify. What about the Diebold machines Maryland already had, and recently purchased?