DU Researchers: a call to action (if you want)

[George_S]

We know the votes look fishy in 8 states that don't have a paper trail. All the states that did have a paper trail are in line with the usually reliable exit polls.

One thing I haven't seen in detail is HOW these important states came to have non-paper trail machines, and why in states that would be so close?

WI Wisconsin
PA Pennsylvania
OH Ohio
FL Florida
MN Minnesota
NH New Hampshire
NC North Carolina
CO Colorado

Let's assume Rove had is October surprise planned since 2000 when Bush almost lost Florida. Rove isn't the type that likes close calls like that.

Some questions:

1) There are lists of which state machines are in, but how did that come about? For example, Florida is divided by machine type. Why? Who decided that?

2) Who pushed it through the various state legislators and who financed that? What are the connections between the states?

3) Who did any PR work though ads or public perception?

4) Who pushed the federal law though and left out a paper trail requirement? Who backs that person? Is there a connection to the other states as well?

5) Who wanted paper trails but was beaten down?

6) What lawyers represented the companies and/or any other firms and how are they connected to the R party?

Suggestion, start here and work down to each state:

http://www.commondreams.org/views04/0225-05.htm

And then work back up and back and forth between the states.

Bet they are all connected in more ways than we know. We are looking for news releases, articles, legislative votes, debates, laws, lobbyists, tech news and anything else that will connect the dots.

[glitch]

1. Hey George_S, been posting that article link all day. It's a must read

And here's another place to focus: see who backed the Secretaries of State in each state, when they came into power and when the changes in voting technology occurred. Check out the resumes of the secretaries.
They are instrumental in the vote process and can be a linchpin in the network.

[sybylla]

2. WIsconsin's SOS does not permit paperless voting

The majority of the state has optical scan which has been allowed for years before anyone discovered there was any potential for problems. Some of the state have the old lever machines. Regardless, there is always something to audit. Our SOS is a Dem who is very familiar with the DRE problems and as long as he's in office, they will not come to Wisconsin.

[sybylla]

3. BTW, you'll find answers to a lot of your questions at

http://www.blackboxvoting.org and http://www.blackboxvoting.com

DUers have been helping Bev Harris research all this information for almost two years.

[George_S]

4. Is it all done? Is this a waste of time?

Reinventing the wheel?

[crispini]

8. Yeah, there's a lot of this stuff out there already.

Check the two websites.

[George_S]

9. Okay, just saw the post from Bev Harris anyway.

She has it covered.

Thanks.

[George_S]

5. FL (Wexler, D-Delray Beach)

The lawsuit by Wexler, D-Delray Beach, focused only on Florida, where 15 counties use touch screens and 52 others use paper ballots read by optical scanners. Because touch-screen ballots cannot be manually recounted in the same manner as paper ballots, Wexler claimed the paperless systems violated the equal-protection rights of touch-screen voters.

Cohn disagreed. He said a new state rule calling for post-election printouts of touch-screen ballots after close elections created a "uniform, non-differential standard" for recounts that complies with equal-protection guarantees.

A spokeswoman for Florida Secretary of State Glenda Hood, one of the defendants in Wexler's suit, said the ruling should give voters reason to "remain very confident in the voting systems in Florida."

....
LePore attorney Ron Labasky said a paper trail may eventually become a reality, but it should not be imposed by courts.

"If (a paper trail) continues to be a hot concern, a hot issue, then I guess the legislature can make that decision," Labasky said.

He said he hopes the issue cools down next week.

http://www.constitutioncenter.org/education/TeachingwithCurrentEvents/ConstitutionNewswire/12744.shtml

[George_S]

6. "Ron Labasky" in TALLAHASSEE

Who is this guy? Seems he came on the scene from nowhere but he must have an inside history for them to trust him so much with the Florida elections.

[crispini]

7. Here's at least one answer:

1) There are lists of which machines are in which state, but how did that come about? For example, Florida is divided by machine type. Why? Who decided that?

Every state is divided by machine type. The local county board of elections buy machines at the county level, not the sec'y of state.

[Crassus]

10. Why not ?

Shouldn't we all be wondering why we don't have established standards for voting equipment in the United States ?

Why have HAVA and SAVE done so poorly ?