Mississippi is getting Diebold......A sickening article

[Joanne98]

I thought we were going to fight a 50 state strategy. The Mississippi Dems aren't even fighting this.

Clark hustling to ease concerns over voting machines


Saturday, August 6, 2005 5:28 PM CDT



JACKSON (AP) - The secretary of state's office says 20 counties have signed up to obtain the new touch-screen voting machine system.

No counties had opted out of the statewide program by Friday, said David Blount, spokesman for the secretary of state's office.

Counties have until Aug. 19 to notify the secretary of state's office of whether they will be part of state's purchase of about 5,000 voting machines from Diebold Election Systems.

As of Friday, the counties that have joined in the program were Alcorn, Amite, Attala, Choctaw, Clay, Covington, Itawamba, Kemper, Leake, Lincoln, Newton, Quitman, Smith, Sunflower, Tallahatchie, Tishomingo, Wayne, Webster, Winston and Yazoo.


Secretary of State Eric Clark has been hustling since June to sell the program, ease concerns some have about the company he selected and counter a public relations effort by rivals to sell their systems to the counties.

"Once they learn about the machines and what's fiscally responsible for the counties, they're choosing to be a part of the state procurement," Blount said about the counties.

Blount said many concerns are being alleviated as questions get answered.

Critics complain the Diebold devices don't provide a paper record for voters to verify how their ballots are cast.

"I know that considerable pressure, and in my opinion rightfully so, is being applied to have a machine that can provide a paper trail," said Albert Gore, chairman of the Oktibbeha County Democratic Executive Committee.

http://www.picayuneitem.com/articles/2005/08/06/news/10machines.txt

[merh]

1. SOS Clark is strong arming the counties.

If they don't sign on with Diebold, they don't get their share of the federal funds to be HAVA compliant. They also have to pay more to register with his online, statewide voter registration service.

The poor counties have little choice. :argh:

Folks are still fighting it, I assure you. :mad:

[Joanne98]

3. I hope so.

[merh]

8. Diebold lies and gets away with it.

When asked about California's rejection of their machines, the rep said that was an exaggeration and different machines.

I hate the SOBs but I hate the cowardly fools that won't call them on their lies. :argh:

[southlandshari]

5. Mississippi Dems

are some of the strongest members of our party nationwide. I have no doubt they are fighting this and other challenges day in and day out, just as we are in Alabama. I applaud Mississippi liberals for fighting the arrival of Diebold - it happened to us last month, and surprise of all surprises - Diebold has been in several blue states before its arrival in our neck of the woods!

:hug:

[Joanne98]

7. I just wish the state partys were getting some help from the DNC.

They should be the ones fighting this.

[southlandshari]

10. Agree with you 100%. n/t

[merh]

9. Hi southlandshari!

:hi: It's a struggle, but I'll be damned if I'll give in to these liars and thieves. :mad:

So good to see you! :hug:

[southlandshari]

18. Likewise!

:hug: for us freedom fighters in the Deep South!

[Erika]

2. The owner of Diebold said he would do every thing possible

to get W elected. The dems should insist a paper trail is kept. If the paper trail is not kept, call their bluff and say no dem will vote until paper trails are kept. This will rock the nation and might be what is needed.

[Joanne98]

4. That's a good idea! I don't know what their problem is with this.

What part of RIGGED don't they understand?

[Gyre]

12. Boycotting dems would be fine with them.

Do ya really think that would keep them from sleeping well at night?

PS. I think the Sunnis tried that in Iraq about a year ago and it bit them on the ass.

Gyre

[Erika]

15. If the dems were to say they wouldn't vote without a paper trail

It would rock the nation. We aren't Iraqis. The South should go for it and Dean should lead the charge.

[zulchzulu]

6. It looks like votes are getting close in Mississippi

Nip that in the bud with a guaranteed Repug victory via the crooked voting machines.

Go back to sleep, America. We have all that democratic mumbo jumbo under control.

[Sgent]

11. FYI

The legislature in MS is strongly controlled by Democrats (although sometimes you wouldn't know it).

SOS Eric Clark, a DEMOCRAT, is essentially forcing the counties to do this.

In my county (one of the larger ones), we replaced the entire system about 10 years ago with connect the arrow scanners. IMHO, this is the best system I've seen -- it allows for computer tallying with a paper trail if questions arise.

We have been told we are non-compliant, and we either take the Diebold machines from the SOS office, or have to foot the entire bill for new machines.

This is bullshit. I don't buy into the broad we must have paper and paper only (remember IBM got its start in the 1800's building voting machines), but this is a waste of time and money -- on top of us transitioning to a closed, paperless system :(.

[Gyre]

13. Somebody signed a contract with them. Hunt them down!

I suggest you might find that person on their new plantation, beach house etc., on weekends, in some nice spot off the mainland. Please make it hurt.

Gyre

[wli]

14. who's fighting it and how?

[Spock_is_Skeptical]

16. Oh, please no... I hope this doesn't happen

[Wabbajack]

17. Albert Gore, chairman of the Oktibbeha County Democratic Executive

What a great name he has for a Dem leader!