Fed Court Upholds Volusia County Decision NOT to Use Diebold Touchscreens

[Amaryllis]

Fed Court Upholds Volusia County Decision to NOT Use Diebold Touchscreen Voting Machines
Florida County at Center of Battle Between Several Disabled Rights Groups
Emergency Appeal Filed by Group Who Received $1 Million Donation from Diebold


The BRAD BLOG has learned, a Federal District Court has ruled against the National Federation for the Blind (NFB) who had filed suit against Volusia County, Florida earlier this month to force the county to use paperless Electronic Voting Machines in the upcoming fall elections there.

The NFB has decided late in the day to file an emergency appeal to that Federal District Court decision.

This debate, and the decision by the District Court in Orlando, could have far-reaching applications in the national debate concerning touchscreen voting machines for which the NFB has been an advocate nationwide.

The objectivity in regard to the NFB's national campaign for paperless touchscreen voting machines, or DRE's, has been questioned by several groups due to the NFB's receipt of a $1 Million contribution from America's largest voting machine company, Diebold, Inc...

Full Story, Complete Court Order and more on NFB's $1 Million Donation from Diebold:
http://www.bradblog.com/archives/00001616.htm

[bettyellen]

1. see where trying to bribe the blind gets you?

fucking diebold

[shance]

2. Does this just mean they will use ES&S or Sequoia machines?

Unfortunately it makes no difference unless all machine are deemed illegal to use.

[MelissaB]

3. I'm wondering what it means exactly, too.

[shance]

8. Well, I bet if it leaves us wondering, then it's a loophole for other

companies and the other Urovich brother to come to the rescue and allow his voting machines to be used.

They have to be outlawed period. There is no reason for private companies to own our voting data.

[MelissaB]

4. another snip

Dickson, who has also been alleged to have accepted money from Diebold, which he has denied, said the decision was "crap"...

"The Florida constitution says in it that there shall be a secret ballot," Dickson complained. "And a Federal court ruled that there's no right to a secret ballot. The court chose to say that it doesn't apply which is just appalling."

Dickson and the NFB both argue that Florida law requires all citizens must be able to cast their vote in secret. Without Diebold machines in Florida, which have audible ballots, they claim that help to verify their ballots would be required from elections officials in violation of their civil rights to vote in secret.

[kster]

5. When we e-mail

evidence of how the voting companies are stealing our votes to the supposed MSM and our elected officials, maybe we should include all the Judges nationwide in our e-mail lists. Maybe it would accomplish more?

[snot]

6. Can't recommend that, but---

First, I'm not sure whether it's worthwhile to go into the technicalities, but the basic rationale is that in any lawsuit, the judge is supposed to act ONLY based on information provided by named parties to that particular lawsuit. There are occasional exceptions, but invoking them successfully would not be a simple.

Of course we could write in hopes of exerting some sub rosa influence, but most judges already have way too much to read from the named parties in the lawsuits.

However, it IS the job of the named parties to the suits who are arguing for paper trails (or whatever) to put before the judge the arguments and evidence supporting their position.

It would be far better if we could find a way to make sure THOSE folks (and their attorneys) are thoroughly educated. Then, too, the evidence and arguments THEY introduce will be part of the official trial record--the judge HAS to take them into account to some degree.

[Kip Humphrey]

7. It was't low voter turnout in Franklin County, it was low availability to

vote. Record numbers of people voted with their feet. Only the lack of availability to vote produced low voting percentages in Democratic precincts. Look at the long lines and you will understand. Its called disenfranchisement: record turn out, long lines, and low voting percentages. http://www.votergate.org">Votergate shows how it worked quite well.