Election Reform, Fraud, & Related News 03/07/2006 SolarBus.Org Day

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It’s SolarBus.Org Election Justice Center & DUer garybeck Day

SOLAR BUS ELECTION JUSTICE CENTER
Free Election Videos & Print Materials

DU’s garybeck is responsible for the cengter and the larger SolarBus project. High quality, unselfish service to the election integrity movement. Thank you garybeck

“Welcome! Hop on the Solar Bus and come for a ride! Once you climb on board there's no turning back. At the Solar Bus, you can learn about solar energy, get involved in peace & justice, or just kick back and look at some nice photos of where we've been.”

SolarBus.Org: Election Integrity News—Go to their site and sign up, it’s great.
garybeck’s SolarBus.Org has been their from the start advocating for pure election integrity. The newsletter is excellent and so is the project.

Election Reform, Fraud, & Related News March 7,2006

All members welcome and encouraged to participate.

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=203x371233
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"

for the Greatest Page (it's the link just below).

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1. SolarBus.Org: Election Integrity News, March 6, 2006 (sign up)

Election Integrity News - March 6, 2006

This Week's Quote: "In each election there are incidents of voting machines that fail to perform properly causing confusion in the polling places and concerns over the potential loss of votes…these incidents have raised concerns about the reliability of the testing process, the credibility of the standards against which the machines are tested, and the laboratories that carry out the tests.” Congressman Vernon Ehlers (R-MI), June 24, 2004

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Actions to Take Now

Lobby Your Representative In Support of HR 550

National: Pass HR 550 As Written!
National: Say No to Prohibited Software in Voting Machines!

Iowa - Support SF 351

Maryland: Support HB 244 and SB 713

Pennsylvania: Support HB 2000 and S 977



In this issue ...

National Stories

Election 2006: Do You Know How Your Vote Will Be Counted?

Three More Republican Representatives Co-Sponsor HR 550

News From Around the States

California: State Senator Calls On Secretary of State To Reverse Re-Certification of Diebold

California: Critics Say State Rush On Touch Screens Risks Secure Voting

Colorado: Say NO To Email And Fax Voting

Florida Issues 'Technical Advisory' for 'Security Enhancements' on 'All Voting Systems' in State

Iowa: Will Vilsack Follow Richardson’s Lead?

Louisiana: Protecting New Orleans' Elections

Maryland House Committee Votes 20-3 to Scrap Diebold Touch-Screens in State

Maryland: State Board of Elections Admits That Diebold Touchscreens Are Hackable

New Mexico: Governor's Letter to All State Election Directors

New York: Department of Justice Sues New York State Over Voting Rights

New York Voters and Civic Groups Intervene in DOJ Lawsuit

Ohio: Voting Machine Support Costly

Pennsylvania: Touchscreens Are The Problems Looking For a Solution

Pennsylvania: Dark Day For Democracy

___________________________
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The Top Five Stories from the Past Week's Daily Voting News by John Gideon, VotersUnite.org and VoteTrustUSA.

#5 - The Maryland State Board of Elections has decided that it is time to admit that there are security issues with Diebold voting machines. In an article printed at VoteTrustUSA TrueVoteMD says,

"In a letter dated February 28, 2006 (page 3), the Maryland's State Board of Elections has now admitted to Governor Ehrlich and other state leadership that the hackable code is on the TS machines: "The code and the touchscreen and optical scan memory cards on which it resides are the same as those used in Maryland's current Diebold systems." The fact that Maryland's voting systems can be hacked is itself a violation of state election law."
Meanwhile in a report from the Baltimore Sun Maryland's Governor is questioning why none of the questions about the Diebold voting machines have been answered by the board of elections.

#4 - The Secretary of State of Florida seems to have taken a page from her counter-part in California when it comes to late Friday afternoon announcements. In her directive, as posted at The Brad Blog, she instructs the counties in new security safeguards. Though the directive never mentions Leon County or Diebold there is no doubt that this directive stems from that incident as well as from the recent revelations about Diebold that have come from California. In an article in the Miami Herald the Leon County election director, Ion Sancho, says, ''The basis on which they are issuing is Leon County's test, yet not one word of congratulations. How petty.''

#3 - Prior to signing a bill requiring a paper ballot in future elections in New Mexico, Governor Bill Richardson sent a letter to elections officials in all 50 states to let them know why he was signing the bill and what it means for his state. The next day the governor held a press conference as he signed the bill, SB-295, into law thus adding New Mexico to a growing list of states that require a paper ballot.

#2 - Meanwhile in Pennsylvania voting activists spent time defending themselves from false accusations that they were at fault for stopping the counties from purchasing new voting machines. Later in the week the state Supreme Court found in favor of the counties and the state. This ruling did not happen without interference from the Governor's office who praised the justices for their decision.

#1 - The week began with the news from New York discussing stopgap measures to solve the states HAVA compliance problems. Mid-week the US Department of Justice announced that they were filing suit against the state for non-compliance. By the end of the week, and in a counter move, a group of voters and civic groups announced that they were intervening in that lawsuit.

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2. Free Election Fraud/Integrity CD Rom Videos from SolarBus.Org. OUTSTANDIN

Free Election Fraud/Integrity CD Rom Videos from SolarBus.Org. OUTSTANDING
This is the best. Download it from this site or contat SolarBus.Org. Agree to distribute it to at least three people, and it’s yours! What a deal.

2004 Election Truth CD-ROM (2005). SolarBus.Org
http://www.archive.org/details/election2004-video-CD
or here
http://www.solarbus.org/election/cd/

Video and comprehensive print materials.
Videos:
Votergate, the movie (30 minutes)
Mark Crispin Miller interview on CSPAN 11/05
Congressman P. King admitting they would steal the election (1 minute)
Howard Dean and Bev Harris demonstrating an election theft (10 minutes)
Invisible Ballots, the movie (5 minute trailer)
Illegitimate Election (20 minutes)
Electile Dysfunction, the movie (3 minute trailer)
Lectures/Teach-ins:
Bev Harris, electronic voting expert
Bob Fitrakis, Ohio lawyer
Wayne Madsen, investigative reporter
Rep. Cynthia McKinney
2 videos of Election Day in Ohio
Vote Fraud for Democracy (25 minutes)
Jon Stewart segment on electronic voting
Voting Machine - the Music Video
Liar, Liar - Flash movie on stolen election

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3. Great Britain: Tough new laws to tackle election fraud.

Great Britain: Tough new laws to tackle election fraud.
This provides a nice, detailed summary of about 30 steps the British are taking to discourage election fraud in mail in ballots. I’m sure that our elections officials could benefit from this. You think they’ll read it? Nah;)

Tough new laws to tackle election fraud

http://www.egovmonitor.com/node/4815

Source: Department for Constitutional Affairs
Published Monday, 27 February, 2006 - 07:08

The Government will this week introduce into the House of Commons new laws to prevent postal vote fraud.

The new laws will be part of a package of 14 tough new measures to tackle electoral fraud that will be announced today by the Elections Minister Harriet Harman. Ms Harman will make the announcement at the national launch of the Association of Chief Police Officers' new guidance on election fraud prevention and detection in advance of the forthcoming local elections.

Ms Harman will set out the Government's determination to ensure that
• No-one fiddles the vote,
• Everyone who is entitled to vote is on the electoral register, and
• Everyone turns out to vote.

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4. Phillipines: Dictatorial powers by Arroyo, “I’m a believer in…denocracy"

Right, she’s taken away democracy because she loves it so much. What a stunning statement. She must be watching Bush. She’s really got that 1984 lingo down pat.



Philippines leader defends use of emergency powers

http://www.mb.com.ph/MAIN2006030758015.html


MANILA (AFP) - Philippines President Gloria Arroyo on Tuesday defended her use of emergency powers to foil an alleged coup plot, as authorities detained another suspect in a widening crackdown.

In her first live interview since the crisis erupted nearly two weeks ago, Arroyo said government moves to head off the supposed plot by "military adventurists" and communist rebels had saved the economy and averted violence.

She also dismissed opposition allegations that the state of emergency that was imposed for a week from February 24 had infringed on civil liberties enshrined in the country's constitution.

"Our swift action headed off potential violence," she told GMA network. "I am

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5. IL: Springfield, state capitol, uses paper ballots for city election!!!

Because their optical scan machines are not ready yet. What the heck, small victories! Somebody in IL should call up and find out how long it took to count them.

Paper ballots to be used in recall voting

http://www.springfieldnewssun.com/news/content/news/stories/2006/03/07/sns0307urbanarecallupdate.html


URBANA — Urbana residents will use paper and pen to answer a two-part question for the mayor’s recall election, the date of which will be set today at a 5 p.m. city council meeting.

The new optical scan voting machines won’t be ready in time, and the board of elections no longer has the former punch-card machines, Robin Burden, board director, said.

Voters will cast ballots on whether Mayor Roberta “Bobbi” Moore should be recalled, and if so, who should replace her.

Dale Miller, Urbana finance director, said the election will be “expensive,” costing the city up to $10,000.

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6. GA: GA’s Scty of State Cox, D, Runs for Gov & Gets Paper Ballots for her

Diebolds!
She’s the Secretary of State who let a Diebold contractor in to “patch” about 30% of the machines right before Barnes and Cleland were wiped out in 2002.

Senate OKs paper trail for voting machines

03/07/2006
http://www.gwinnettdailypost.com/index.php?s=&url_channel_id=32&url_article_id=12538&url_subchannel_id=&change_well_id=2
By Dave Williams
Staff Writer

ATLANTA — Voters in three Georgia counties would be able to see their ballot choices on paper this November under legislation approved by the Senate Monday.
The bill, which passed unanimously and now goes to the House, calls for a limited experiment with a new generation of electronic voting machines equipped with paper backups.

Voters in three precincts — one each in Cobb, Bibb and Camden counties — would be able to view a paper copy of their ballot at the voting booth and verify whether it is correct. He or she could then make corrections before the vote is processed.

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7. GA: Cathy Cox Runs for Governor…bet they’re no Diebold patches

Hasn’t it occurred to anybody in their right minds that Secretaries of State can’t hold that office when they’re running in an election that they supervise. TOTAL INSANITY. Cathy is the lovely Democrat who administered the 2002 GA election where Cleland and Gov Barnes were wiped out after leading by big margins in the polls right before election day. Seems Diebold did a “patch” right before the election on Secretary Cox’s lovely “uniform” state voting system. NICE WORK.
http://www.sos.state.ga.us/misc/cathybio.htm

“My hope is this will take us one more step toward having the most trustworthy, secure voting system in the country,’’ said Sen. Bill Stephens, R-Canton, the bill’s sponsor and a candidate for Georgia secretary of state.

Current Secretary of State Cathy Cox, a Democrat now running for governor, brought electronic voting to Georgia after uncertainties over ballot counting in Florida threw the 2000 presidential election into the court system for six weeks before the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Republican George W. Bush the winner.

Thanks for the Diebolds!
Cathy Cox is serving her second term as Georgia’s Secretary of State, having first been elected in 1998. In 2002 she earned re-election with over 61 percent of the vote, winning 146 out of 159 counties. Cathy Cox is the first woman to serve as Georgia’s Secretary of State.
Because of Cathy Cox’s efforts Georgia has become a national leader in election reform. Her initiative made Georgia the first state in America to deploy a modern, uniform electronic voting system in every county. The new touch screen system has won acclaim :rofl: (ask Cleland and Barnes) throughout the state and across the nation, and has made Georgia elections more accurate and more accessible to the disabled and visually impaired.

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8. GA: Lt. Governor Mark Taylor Runs for Democratic Gov. Nomination!!!!

autorank endorses Mark Taylor in the 2006 Georgia Democratic Primary. Calls for Cox to step down as Secretary of State due to conflict of interest SINCE SHE’S A CANDIDATE IN THE RACE IN WHICH SHE’S COUNTING THE VOTES.


http://www.marktaylor.com/


Lt. Gov. Mark Taylor, Endorsed by Andy Young &
Hank Aaron
Tuesday March 7, 2006
Dear Friends:

I am excited to begin my campaign for Georgia.

I am running for Governor because I want to ensure that Georgia is a state of opportunity. To me, opportunity is many things: a good education, access to good-paying jobs, the opportunity for your family to live in safe neighborhoods and even the opportunity to receive quality, affordable health care.(More)

IN THE NEWS...
AMBASSADOR ANDREW YOUNG, HANK AARON JOIN METRO CIVIC LEADERS, HOPE SCHOLARS TO ENDORSE MARK TAYLOR FOR GOVERNOR

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9. FL: Broward County Supervisor of Elections and her Royal Van (very funny)

What next? Supervisors of Elections drive around in their vans and tabulate as voters shout out their choices. Supervisors of Elections have black Chevy SUV caravans, unmarked of course. Just pathetic.


March 6, 2006

Thoughts on Supervisors Of Elections, Republican strategies and stolen elections

http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_teresa_s_060306_thoughts_on_supervis.htm

by Teresa Simon-Noble
http://www.opednews.com
Do Supervisors of Elections travel in vans with their names in big, red, block letters painted on the sides of their vans?

By Teresa Simón-Noble

Yesterday as we were headed to the store, my husband and I, a white van pulled up on the lane next to ours. Written on the side of the van, in big, red, block letters was, “DR. BRENDA SNIPES” and, then, under it, in smaller blue letters, ‘BROWARD COUNTY SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS.”

Do Supervisor of Elections travel in vans with their names painted in big red, block letters on the sides of the vans?

It was the sort of spectacular public display which reminds one of a Pope mobile, or of an Emperor’s Chariot with its celebrated Procurator—its trusted emperor’s official, if you will, traveling in it.

<snip>

Brenda Snipes is a faithful servant of the Bushes, and of their blueprint No. 2 for stealing elections. Voting machines with an uncanny taste for vanquishing and altering many of The People’s votes and their voices as reflected in those votes... Blueprint No. 1 was the Florida Hanging Chads of the 2000 election from hell, along with Florida voter intimidation, precinct reorganization without prior notice, polling places moved to different addresses without prior notification.

[Kurovski]

10. SolarBus, bringing election fraud to light!

K&R

[Wilms]

11. NY: Local commissioner joins voting suit - Supports state against feds

Local commissioner joins voting-reform suit

Supports state against feds

By Tom Grace
Cooperstown News Bureau

03/07/06

Hank Nicols wants to be sued by the federal government, which is suing New York state over its slow implementation of voting regulations and installation of equipment.

On Wednesday, the federal Justice Department sued the state in the U.S. District Court of the Northern District, prodding the state to move more quickly.

On Friday, Nicols, Otsego County’s Democratic elections commissioner, joined the League of Women Voters of New York State; New Yorkers for Verified Voting; Stephen DeWitt, Democratic elections commissioner of Tompkins County; and others in filing a memorandum with the court, asking to be included as defendants in the case.

Nicols said Monday that he is trying to intervene in this case because he is not confident that state officials will do what is best for the voters of the state.

"I think the pressure is on the state to act quickly, and I think that acting quickly now could be disastrous," he said.

Nicols, who has been an elections commissioner for 21 years, said he and DeWitt are attempting to intervene in this case as voters rather than as commissioners. He added that he discussed his decision with Otsego County’s Republican elections commissioner, Charlotte Koniuto.

snip

http://www.thedailystar.com/news/stories/2006/03/07/lawsuit1.html


Discussion

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x415982

[texpatriot2004]

12. K & R nm

[paineinthearse]

13. David Dill: Making Democracy Transparent

http://www.tompaine.com/articles/2006/03/07/making_democracy_transparent.php

Making Democracy Transparent
David Dill
March 07, 2006

David Dill is a professor of computer science at Stanford University and founder and board director of the Verified Voting Foundation. In 2004 he recieved the Electronic Frontier Foundation's "Pioneer Award" for "spearheading and nurturing the popular movement for integrity and transparency in modern elections."

Public trust in our elections is eroding. While the general public still seems to accept election results, there is an undercurrent of bitterness that has grown tremendously over the last few years. There is a rapidly expanding body of literature on the Internet about the "stolen election of 2004," and several books on election fraud have recently been written. More are in the works.

Theories of widespread election fraud are highly debatable, to say the least. Some people enjoy that debate. I do not. It encourages a sense of hopelessness and consumes energy that could instead be focused on long-term changes that could give us elections we can trust.

The election fraud debate frames the problem incorrectly. The question should not be whether there is widespread election fraud. It should be: "Why should we trust the results of elections?" It's not good enough that election results be accurate. We have to know they are accurate—and we don't.

In a word, elections must be transparent. People must be able to assure themselves that the results are accurate through direct observation during the election and examination of evidence afterwards.

more....