Daily Election News Thread...Wednesday March 1

[stillcool]

All members welcome and encouraged to participate.

http://homepage.mac.com/rcareaga/diebold/adworks.htm
Please post Election Reform, Fraud, & Related News on this thread.

1. Post stories and announcements you find on the web.
2. Post stories using the "Election Fraud and Reform News Sources" listed here:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x407240
3. Re-post stories and announcements you find on DU, providing a link to the original thread with thanks to the Original Poster, too.
4. Start a discussion thread by re-posting a story you see on this thread.

Please
"Recommend"

[stillcool]

1. Florida: Wexler Urges Secretary of State To Implement Paper Trail

By Warren Stewart
March 01, 2006

Rep. Robert Wexler D-FL sent the following letter to Florida's Secretary of State Sue Cobb urging her to move expeditiously on implementing a paper trail. On Friday, February 17, Secretary Cobb spoke in support of a uniform standard for paper ballots, but said the power to require a paper trail rests in the hands of the legislature. While Wexler applauds Secretary Cobb's supportive comments, he does not agree with her assessment on how to proceed. The Florida legislature has spoken on this issue, requiring a manual recount in the event of a close election.

Over the past 3 years, Wexler has been fighting for a paper trail in Florida. On December 7, Wexler appeared before the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, arguing that Florida is currently not in compliance with the Bush v. Gore standard and the equal protection clause of the U.S. Constitution. The Appeals Court has not yet issued an opinion on Wexler's lawsuit

Sue Cobb Secretary of State Florida Department of State R. A. Gray Building
500 S. Bronough Tallahassee, FL 32399-0250

Dear Secretary Cobb:

I would like to applaud you for your recent statements in support of a uniform paper trail for voters throughout the state. I sincerely appreciate your constructive approach in addressing this vital issue. Particularly in light of last week's report compiled by the voter advocacy group Black Box Voting that approximately 100,000 errors were recorded in the paperless DRE machine in Palm Beach County for the November 2004 elections, I am sure we can agree that the need for a uniform voting system in Florida is of the utmost urgency. Without some form of independent verification of voter intent, it is impossible to determine whether those machine errors had an effect on the recorded vote in any given race.

While I applaud your responsiveness to the growing concerns about the paperless voting systems, I disagree with your assessment that the power to require a paper trail rests in the hands of the legislature. The legislature has already spoken on this issue, requiring a manual recount in the event of a close election. Florida's election law is clear on this issue; the onus is now on your administration to work with the 67 counties to ensure compliance.

If you believe that clarifying language would assist you in this process, I stand ready to work with your office and the Florida legislature. I do not believe, however, that these changes should be used to delay the important work that needs to be done to bring a paper ballot to the 15 counties without the ability to conduct a true manual recount. As you know, the Divisions of Elections in your office is in the process of certifying a printer attachment for some of the DRE machines already in use in many Florida counties. I hope your office will move expeditiously forward with this process.

Thank you again for your supportive comments endorsing a paper trail for all Florida's voters.

With warm regards,

Robert Wexler

http://www.votetrustusa.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=982&Itemid=113

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2. Pennsylvania: Citizens Respond To Allegations That Lawsuit Delayed Voting

By VotePA
February 28, 2006

As lead plaintiff in the suit, Mary Beth Kuznik expressed dismay that an honest effort made by citizens to preserve the rights of all Pennsylvanians under the state Constitution was being blamed for a delay in buying voting machines and a potential loss of Help America Vote Act funding.

“Nothing could be further from the truth,” said Kuznik, who is also founder of the election integrity alliance VotePA. “Regardless of whether or not our suit was filed, Pennsylvania has been way behind in getting voting systems certified. Counties could have held the referendum required by our state Constitution and still have met the HAVA deadline, but many held off on their decision because they were waiting until well into the new year for more machines to come out.”

Kuznik said that her group and others are calling upon Secretary Cortés and Governor Rendell take the next step to make sure that votes are protected by pushing for hearings and ultimate passage of SB 977 / HB 2000.
SB 977 and its identical House version HB 2000 would provide that all voting systems in the state produce a paper record or ballot allowing voters to verify that their choices are being recorded as cast, with an audit of 5% of the precincts chosen at random in each election. The bills, proposed by Senator Joe Conti (R-Bucks) and Representative Dan Frankel (D-Allegheny) have co-sponsorship of over one-fourth of their respective houses, but are delayed in the State Government committees and have been unable to move to either the public hearings called for by the Governor’s Task Force on Election Reform, or to a floor vote in the General Assembly.

http://www.votetrustusa.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=981&Itemid=113

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3. New York...N.Y. won't get new election machines this year

By YANCEY ROY
ALBANY BUREAU
(Original publication: February 28, 2006)

ALBANY — It's virtually impossible to have new, electronic voting machines ready for the fall elections, meaning most voters will still be using old, lever-style machines, state officials said yesterday.

New machines can't be tested and certified any earlier than June, leaving too little time for counties to purchase the machines and train workers, said commissioners of the state Board of Elections. Commissioners said they would rather not rush the process at this point — even at the risk of a federal lawsuit — for fear of creating an election debacle


"The (U.S.) Department of Justice has been telling us every day for the last three weeks they were going to sue us if we don't agree," Kellner said. But he said the board didn't want an "Ohio or Florida where hundreds of thousands of voters lose their right to vote" because of a fouled-up system.

Activists agreed.

"It's simply too late to overhaul the system at this point. It would be a train wreck," said Bo Lipari of New Yorkers for Verified Voting, a group that supports the use of a paper ballot that would be electronically scanned much like a standardized school test.

[Name removed]

4. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[MelissaB]

16. A deleted message in the daily thread?

:rofl:

[Kurovski]

17. I know!

Will wonders never cease? :-)

Maybe Bob Boudelang had finally had enough.

[stillcool]

18. I posted something from a 'bad-place'...

bella something or other....live an learn...

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5. Alaskans need answer/Opinion piece

State cites security of elections; court may need to decide this one
Published: March 1, 2006
Last Modified: March 1, 2006 at 06:27 AM
http://www.adn.com/opinion/story/7490886p-7400996c.html

The state Division of Elections has again refused the Alaska Democratic Party's request for database files of the 2004 general election results. Division director Whitney Brewster last week cited security concerns and her obligation to protect the election process as reasons for the refusal, even though the maker of the state's electronic voting system, Diebold Elections Systems, waived any proprietary claims and said the state was free to do what it needed to do to answer the Democrats' requests.

Ms. Brewster, however, determined the state would not release the database files because the state security office advised her "the release of the database, the database backup file, and the audit files … present a significant security risk to the confidentiality, integrity and availability of the Election System and information."

Essentially, the Division of Elections is saying "trust us." Alaskans do. But the Democrats have raised enough questions and Diebold has made enough headlines to evoke that old Ronald Reagan rule — "Trust, but verify."

BOTTOM LINE: The Division of Elections should grant the request for 2004 database files.

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6. Florida....cracks me up....

DePuy: Sancho should face jury
By Jeff Burlew
DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER

Leon County Commissioner Ed DePuy suggested Tuesday that a grand jury should investigate why the Supervisor of Elections Office was unable to get voting equipment for the disabled by a January deadline.
"I want people under oath to go in and testify as to why we can't get our act together in Leon County," DePuy said before withdrawing his motion.
Commissioner Cliff Thaell said asking for a grand jury would be "a very dangerous step." Commissioner Bob Rackleff called the idea "shameful and grotesque."

"All of the major voting machine companies in the U.S. have problems," he said. "Everyone one of them."

Contact reporter Jeff Burlew at [phone] or [e-mail].
http://www.tallahassee.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060301/NEWS01/603010328/1010

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7. Go Nigeria!!!!

http://allafrica.com/stories/200603010288.html

2007: E-Voting Or E-Rigging?
February 28, 2006
Posted to the web March 1, 2006
Lagos.....Against the backdrop that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) could not even keep an up-to-date website, its insitence on going ahead with the e-voting system in 2007 general elections has increased the peoples apprehension on the motive. Sheriff Balogun reports...

However, when the Senate arrived at the sections, the Senate Committee on Special Duties chairman, Senator Sule Yari Gandi (ANPP, Sokoto) observed that the Senate had set aside the provisions because "they are delicate, dangerous and portending the capacity to disenfranchise many Nigerians."
According to him, the complexities of e-voting cannot be entertained in the electoral system before the next general elections, adding that the system is also fraught with rigging procedures. He argued that: "In the open ballot election, you will require the cooperation of at least 30 persons to rig election but in the e-voting system, you don't need more than one person to rig elections".

"Why then should we embark on electronic voting in the nation without sitting down to recall what it takes to operate voting through electronic voting system? We are in a democratic society, where free and fair election should be the endless song of the nation. There is no assurance of accurate recording of the votes through the electronic voting machine. Why should we be deceiving ourselves in the name of electronic voting? The machine does not work".

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8. Florida ...still cracks me up.....

Tampa Bay Viewpoints....

Tom Germond
Shame on who?
By TOM GERMOND

I hate when the newspaper becomes news.
Such was the case Friday when I received an e-mail from Ernie Bach, a candidate for Largo City Commission, who suggested that we doctored a photo of his opponent, Rodney Woods, who is black.

Here’s what Bach wrote: “You’ve got to be kidding! I got home last night and had four messages on my phone machine asking me what (many comments and an expletive) the Leader was trying to accomplish by enhancing Mr. Woods picture and making him so light that his front-page picture is almost unrecognizable.

Tom Germond is executive editor of Tampa Bay Newspapers.
http://www.tbnweekly.com/editorial/viewpoints/content_articles/030106_vpt-03.txt

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9. PA...Middletown Township Wants Your Vote to Count

Middletown Township Wants Your Vote to Count
There’s good news on the voter-verified paper ballot front.

Last night Middletown Township joined the honor roll of municipalities supporting the immediate passage of SB-977 and HB-2000, the two voter-verified paper ballot bills currently stalled in the PA General Assembly. Have you called your state legislatures to ask why those bills aren’t moving? Get contact information here.

Middletown, my new favorite township, even went one step further on the road to a secure election process and also adopted a resolution supporting the immediate passage of Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick’s HR 4666, which would extend the HAVA compliance deadline past the 2006 primary season. That bill is dying a horrible death in the House as I type. You can call Congressman Fitzpatrick to ask why that is.

More good news, this from the Inquirer:

In Bucks County, officials said they are holding off making a decision about replacing their lever machines until after the Supreme Court decision. Meanwhile, the Coalition for Voting Integrity, a group of voting rights activists, has been demonstrating this week outside the courthouse demanding that the commissioners choose a system with a voter-verified paper trail.
Don’t forget to stop by the People’s Filibuster happening outside the Doylestown Courthouse. It will be going on every weekday for the next two weeks from noon to 1pm. Come talk to members of the Coalition for Voting Integrity (members like me!) about electronic voting in Bucks County. You can help the County Commissioners decide to join twenty six states around the country in putting the voter back in the elections process by purchasing a voting system with a voter-verified paper ballot.

http://blogs.phillyburbs.com/blog.php?p=4459&cat=8
Posted by eRobin at 10:56 am |



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10. Cook County Illinois looking for election judges!!!!

Clerk seeking election judges

Cook County Clerk David Orr is looking to recruit hundreds of new election judges needed to work during the March 21 primary election.

"This year, judges will play a vital role in an historic election," Orr said. "It is critical that we have a full complement of judges to make sure that the election is carried out fairly, honestly and accurately. Having enough judges also helps Election Day run more smoothly."

Beginning with the primary election, Cook County will use a dual voting system. Voters will have a choice of voting either on an optical scan paper ballot, similar to a standardized test, or on an electronic touch-screen machine, which is similar to an ATM.

More than 12,000 Democratic and Republican election judges are needed to fully staff the 2,386 precincts in suburban Cook County every election. Ideally, five judges work in each precinct.

http://www.pioneerlocal.com/cgi-bin/ppo-story/localnews/current/fp/03-01-06-829305.html

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11. Alabama...Voting system given tryout

by Sebastian Kitchen
Montgomery Advertiser

Nathaniel Roper only remembers voting one way before Tuesday

Roper said he has been keeping up with the machines through the media and said he is more confident in the new system because there is a paper trail.

A paper trail is one of the requirements in the federal act, which went into effect Jan. 1. The trail is mandated in the event a recount is needed. The previous machines in Montgomery County did not have a paper trail.

The new system uses paper ballots, which can be used in the event of a recount. People mark the ballots and insert them into a counter

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12. California Supervisors OK buying new voting machines

Supervisors OK buying new voting machines
By ROGER H. AYLWORTH/MediaNews Group
ROVILLE -- In a decision that didn't win universal approval, the Butte County Board of Supervisors voted to purchase of touch-screen voting machines in time of the June primary.
With Chico Supervisor Mary Anne Houx the lone dissenter, the other four supervisors voted to spend $3.2 million to purchase 600 Diebold voting machines.
But Grubbs told the board a monitoring program conducted during last November's special election in six counties using Diebold and other systems found them "100 percent" accurate.

The machines the county are buying, according to Grubbs, produce a paper report on the voting, and allow the voter to check and correct his or her vote before finishing the balloting process.
Grubbs also stressed the machines will be programmed by the existing county elections staff, the same ones who have been doing the job in previous elections.

She said there is no way to tamper with the system.
http://www.chicoer.com/newshome/ci_3556730

http://www.chicoer.com/newshome/ci_3556730

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13. California Electronic voting critics protest!!

By Kevin Yamamura -- Bee Capitol Bureau
Published 12:18 pm PST Wednesday, March 1, 2006

Angered by Secretary of State Bruce McPherson's decision last month to certify Diebold voting machines for the June primary election, electronic voting critics rallied Wednesday at his downtown headquarters to denounce the move and testify against three other computer-based systems under review.
Dozens of activists charged that electronic voting machines are prone to hacks and emphasized that a recent state review found 16 bugs in Diebold's operating system. Many testified that they would prefer paper ballots because they do not trust computer-based voting technology.
Some activists held signs declaring "Live Free or Diebold" and "Flip-Flop McPherson," a criticism of the secretary of state's Feb. 17 Diebold certification. As many as 21 counties, including El Dorado, plan to use Diebold equipment this year.

http://www.sacbee.com/content/politics/story/14224281p-15048977c.html

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14. Election Reform Illinois Conference

Progressive Democrats of Illinois (PDI) is organizing a conference on election reform for our state.


Saturday, March 4th, 2006
12:00 noon to 4:00 pm

Batavia Public Library
10 South Batavia Avenue
Batavia, IL 60510

It is our belief that there can be no effective democracy without fair, transparent, accurate, and accessible procedures for voting. We firmly advocate that voting is a right of all citizens of Illinois and the United States of America. Illinois and the United States have a world-class history as a leader in democracy; it is long past time we developed standards for voting that will make this state the best in the world in electoral processes and procedures.

In that spirit, we are inviting representatives from all political parties, activist organizations, labor organizations, civil rights groups, and elected officials to attend a conference on the electoral process in Illinois.

Please e-mail [e-mail] if your organization wishes to join in sponsorship of this effort.
http://www.illinoisprogressives.org/pdi/eric.html

[Algorem]

15. "New Diebold CEO Swidarski getting ready for challenges ahead"

http://www.cleveland.com/newsflash/cleveland/index.ssf?/base/business-6/1141243762118660.xml&storylist=cleveland

3/1/2006, 2:57 p.m. ET
By M.R. KROPKO
The Associated Press

NORTH CANTON, Ohio (AP) — The man who ran Diebold Inc.'s much-criticized electronic voting business now faces bigger challenges as the company's chief executive.

Thomas Swidarski is looking to restore the image of the 147-year-old company, fortify its bottom line and reshape how it does business with a determination to go global.

He's got his work cut out for him.

The North Canton-based company that makes automated teller machines and business security systems faces several problems, most high profile among them frequent criticism about its smallest business segment — electronic voting. For years, Diebold has been scrutinized because of questions about the security of its e-voting software and whether results could be manipulated in e-voting, considered the country's fastest growing voting method...


Facts about Diebold Inc.

http://www.cleveland.com/newsflash/cleveland/index.ssf?/base/business-6/1141243756118660.xml&storylist=cleveland

3/1/2006, 3:01 p.m. ET
The Associated Press

(AP) — A look at Diebold Inc.:

E-VOTING:

2000 — Diebold's Procomp subsidiary contracts for voting terminals in Brazil.

2002 — Diebold enters the U.S. elections industry through the acquisition of Global Election Systems, of McKinney, Texas, a developer of touch-screen voting technology, and forms Diebold Election Systems...

Source: http://www.diebold.com




Facts about Diebold's new CEO

http://www.cleveland.com/newsflash/cleveland/index.ssf?/base/business-6/1141243757118660.xml&storylist=cleveland

3/1/2006, 2:59 p.m. ET
The Associated Press

(AP) — NAME — Thomas W. Swidarski.

AGE-BIRTH DATE — 47; Nov. 14, 1958, in Pittsburgh.

EDUCATION — BA in marketing, University of Dayton, 1980; MBA in business management, Cleveland State University, 1983.

EXPERIENCE — Retail analyst for Ameritrust in Cleveland, 1980-85; vice president and director of consumer marketing for PNC bank in Pittsburgh, 1985-96; Diebold Inc. director financial industry marketing, 1999-2001; vice president strategic development and global marketing, 2001-2005; president of Diebold Election Systems subsidiary in 2004; Diebold president and chief operating officer, October to December 2005; and Diebold president and chief executive officer since December 2005...

[Wilms]

19. Nice thread! n/t

[Wilms]

20. .

[stillcool]

22. thanks Wilms.....

:hi:

[Wilms]

21. .