Al Ater Set To Begin Contract Negotiations w/ SEQUOIA VotingSystem

[jus_the_facts]

http://www.sec.state.la.us/elections/p103105.pdf

(10-27-05) - Secretary of State Al Ater announced today that he will begin contract negotiations with Sequoia Voting Systems, Inc. for Louisiana's statewide voting system.

"I have accepted the recommendation of Louisiana's Voting System Evaluation Committee," Ater said. "Sequoia Voting Systems, Inc. was recommended by the committee following an exhaustive evaluation of all the applicants. The bidders were reviewed based on qualifications that included, but were not limited to: experience, staffing, training, equipment accessibility, security, maintainability, dependability and customer service."

...read the press release here....

http://www.sec.state.la.us/admin/press/p102705.pdf

~~~~~~~~~~~RECENT HISTORY REGARDING SEQUOIA~~~~~~~~~

....guess we're next in line for problems like these if we end up with these machines?! :grr:


http://www.bradblog.com/archives/00001319.htm

Blogged by Brad on 4/13/2005 @ 3:46pm PT...

Lawsuit Filed Against Sequoia Voting Systems in Washington State!

Calls for Company to Open Their Software for Public Inspection!
Reuters reported yesterday that attorney, Paul Lehto has filed suite in Washington state against Electronic Voting Machine company, Sequoia Voting Systems Inc. An electronic voting machine maker is battling a...

Reuters reported yesterday that attorney, Paul Lehto has filed suite in Washington state against Electronic Voting Machine company, Sequoia Voting Systems Inc.

An electronic voting machine maker is battling a voter rights advocate in Washington state who wants to force the company to reveal the machines' software blueprint.

Paul Lehto, an Everett, Washington, lawyer has filed suit against Sequoia Voting Systems Inc., a privately held company based in Oakland, California, and Snohomish County, where his practice is located, arguing Sequoia's contract should be voided.

The lawsuit, filed last week in King County Superior Court, pits the right of a company to guard proprietary information against the public's need to know how elections are tabulated, Lehto said.

''These are entities that are providing the most central governmental function that we have, the counting of the vote,'' Lehto said Tuesday. ''If they are not only controlling that process but purporting to own it, then that is a serious problem.''

And for Sequoia's part:


Alfie Charles, a spokesman for Sequoia, said the underlying code, or software blueprint, for the company's voting machines was not disclosed because it is considered a trade secret and its release could compromise security.

[...of J.Temperance]

1. Why can't people just

Vote on a piece of paper with a pencil?...Oh it doesn't matter, I think I already know the answer.