ELection Reform News for Friday, 4-14-06. Ion Sancho Special Edition

[FogerRox]

Welcome to the "ERD"

Special "Ion Sancho" edition.

Or, look at diebold comning back to Leon County, with its tail between its legs.

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=203x397093

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.


If you want to know how post "News Banners" or other images, go here:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=203&topic_id=371233#371391

for MAC users-- IIRC its hold down control- and click on the image to view its source.

[FogerRox]

1. DUer Wilms:Prayers for Peace and Consciousness. Cindy at Camp Casey in TX

AS a rampaging Flame war has enveloped the ER forum at DU, calls for Peace and Consciousness are heard as the Clarion of Humanism.

DO me a favor, juct check wilms thread out, heres the link:


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x423120

[FogerRox]

5. Diebold crawls back with tail between legs to Ion Sancho, Leon Cnty FL

Diebold says it will sell to Leon County
Firm backtracks on prior refusal

By Jeff Burlew
DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER


Diebold Election Systems finally has agreed to do business with Leon County.

The county missed a Jan. 1 deadline to provide voting equipment for people who are disabled after its deal with Diebold broke down. On Thursday, Diebold representatives agreed to sell new touch-screen voting devices to the county for $691,373. Supervisor of Elections Ion Sancho said the final amount might be less because he wants to use his technical staff. He called Diebold's decision "responsible."

"I believe that this is a positive development," Sancho said.

The company had refused to sell after Sancho conducted tests that showed Diebold memory cards had security flaws. When two other vendors certified in Florida declined to sell to Sancho, the county missed the deadline for the Help America Vote Act, which requires voting machines for the disabled in all voting locations. That resulted in the county losing more than $500,000 in grant money.

Thursday's developments come after intervention by the Secretary of State's Office and the state attorney general. Sancho had been eyeing another vendor, IVS, for the machines. County Administrator Parwez Alam said he would recommend Diebold.

"This is the best option for us," he said.

Contact reporter Jeff Burlew at [phone] or [e-mail].



Discussion:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x423192

[FogerRox]

7. Diebold agrees to supply voting machines to Leon County.

Diebold agrees to supply voting machines to Leon County

Associated Press
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Diebold Election Systems said Friday it will sell voting machines to Leon County, enabling the county that includes the state capital to come into compliance with federal voting law.

The county missed a Jan. 1 deadline to meet federal requirements for having voting equipment that lets the disabled vote without help.

Leon County Elections Supervisor Ion Sancho had a deal for the equipment last year with Diebold. But the subsidiary of Diebold Inc. and the county disagreed over whether Diebold software could be used with other equipment, leading the deal to fall apart.

Sancho has also had problems finding companies willing to sell the county voting machines because of a test his office conducted last year. In it, elections office workers tried to corrupt a Diebold machine's results to show that it could be done. That was part of the problem with Diebold as well.

more-

http://www.bradenton.com/mld/bradenton/news/breaking_news/14343708.htm

[FogerRox]

8. Bank of New Zealand, Diebold ATMS to be replaced, due to hacking

No fraud has been detected to date on the accounts of customers who have used these three machines at Ponsonby, Queen & Victoria St and Manurewa. We have taken this precautionary step to minimise the risk to customers and at the same time provide as much flexibility and convenience as possible as the Easter weekend approaches,” says Shona Bishop, Bank of New Zealand General Manager, Marketing and Business Development.


The Bank has a further 15 Diebold (Model 1072) ATMs located outside of Auckland, and as a further precautionary measure aims to replace all Diebolds nationally by April 19.

Ms Bishop says that the evidence strongly suggests that the recent skimming incidents are an Auckland problem, but never-the-less, the Bank is maintaining vigilance across its ATM network and in particular on all Diebold machines.
“While the fraudsters have targeted this make and model of machine this time, international experience shows that all ATMs are at risk.”

FUll story:

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0604/S00225.htm

[FogerRox]

19. discussion thread in GDP:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2569416&mesg_id=2569416

[Stevepol]

2. New machines new problems in NC

VotersUnite



Thursday, April 13, 2006
New machines not ready for early vote
Forsyth to use optical scanners for voting up to primary on May 2


By James Romoser
JOURNAL REPORTER

>> a d v e r t i s e m e n t <<

>> w e b t o o l s <<
Print Story | Email Story | News Tip?

Early voting for the May 2 primary elections begins today, but not without a hitch caused by delays in the programming of new voting equipment.

Today marks the first day that counties across the state will be using the new equipment that was mandated by a 2005 state law.

The law was intended to improve voter confidence and establish a paper trail for every vote cast, but it was criticized by some local officials because of the short time frame that counties had to order new machines and get them ready for the primaries.

Link:

http://www.journalnow.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=WSJ%2FMGArticle%2FWSJ_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1137835343594&path=!localnews&s=1037645509099

[Stevepol]

3. Poll workers resign, cite difficulty of new electronic voting machines.

VotersUnite





Election officials hope to pull in help
Shortage linked to new machines. Some workers balked, registrar says.
Thursday, April 13, 206
By PETER HALL
The Express-Times
Unfamiliarity with a new voting system has prompted some poll workers to resign, leaving Northampton County facing a shortage for the upcoming primary election.

Chief Elections Registrar Deborah DePaul said a number of older poll workers have declined to participate in the May 16 primary election when new federally mandated electronic voting machines will be used for the first time.

snip

"They feel it might be a little difficult," DePaul said.

As a result, DePaul is looking for new poll workers to fill in the gaps in eight voting wards. Countywide, about 30 positions are vacant, DePaul said.

Link:

http://www.nj.com/news/expresstimes/pa/index.ssf?/base/news-5/1144901457286880.xml&coll=2

[Stevepol]

4. Elections workers quitting in PA too, cite new touchscreens as cause.

VotersUnite






Northampton County needs poll workers; classes scheduled on new machines: Some people have quit to avoid dealing with touch-screen equipment.

(Morning Call, The (Allentown, PA) (KRT) Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge) Apr. 13--Northampton County will start teaching election workers how to use new electronic voting machines next week, and is recruiting workers.

Workers must attend a two- to three-hour class on how to use WINvote touch-screen electronic machines, which officials hope will be delivered in time for the May 16 primary. If they aren't, the backup plan is to use the lever machines that have been used for decades, and which must be replaced under a federal voting law.

snip

Link:

http://www.tmcnet.com/usubmit/-northampton-county-needs-poll-workers-classes-scheduled-new-/2006/04/13/1569588.htm

[FogerRox]

6. Italian judges crush Berlusconi’s recount hopes

Italian judges crush Berlusconi’s recount hopes

By Tony Barber in Rome
Published: April 14 2006 15:57 | Last updated: April 14 2006 15:57

Silvio Berlusconi, Italy’s centre-right premier, faced defeat on Friday in his bid to overturn the election result that gave a slender victory to Romano Prodi and the centre-left opposition.

Interior ministry officials said judges were inspecting only 5,266 contested ballot papers in the elections for the two houses of parliament, rather than 82,850 as anticipated immediately after the April 9-10 vote.

Such a small-scale review all but ruled out the possibility that Mr Berlusconi’s government might be declared the winner instead of the opposition, whose margin of victory in the lower house was 25,000 votes.

>snip<


Mr Berlusconi’s responses to his election defeat have ranged from an angry allegation of fraud to an offer of a “grand coalition” with the centre-left, .... Roberto Maroni, labour minister and a senior figure in the populist Northern League, said: “We have told Berlusconi clearly – the left has won, s......Massimo D’Alema, a former centre-left premier, described Mr Berlusconi’s refusal to accept defeat as a “strategy of tension” –....... In spite of its narrow victory,. The centre-left wants both speakers to come from its ranks. Giuliano Amato, a former socialist premier, is widely tipped as the next head of state.

Full story:


http://news.ft.com/cms/s/29bb328e-cbc6-11da-a7bf-0000779e2340.html

[FogerRox]

9. Kentuckey/ ES&S under fire, State plans hearings on poor service

Voting-system company under fire

State plans hearings on poor service

By Lesley Stedman Weidenbener
[e-mail]
The Courier-Journal



INDIANAPOLIS — The state's election chief announced yesterday that he will investigate whether a voting-system company that contracts with 27 Hoosier counties should be fined for ballot problems and poor service in advance of the May 2 primary.

Secretary of State Todd Rokita said he has ordered his legal staff to set up public hearings and subpoena officials from the Nebraska-based Election Systems & Software as soon as possible.

Clark, Crawford, Floyd and Washington counties are among those that contract with the company for ballots and other services. Clerks in those counties said this week that ballots and other equipment had arrived late or that they were still waiting for them.

Harrison, Jackson and Jennings counties also have contracts with the company.

If Rokita determines that the company's service is so poor it affects counties' ability to accurately count votes, he said his office could order fines of up to $300,000 for each violation.


Full story:


http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060414/NEWS0203/60414001

[FogerRox]

10. Ind. Marion County won't use ES&S touch-screen voting machines,

Marion County won't use touch-screen voting machines

CHARLES WILSON
Associated Press
INDIANAPOLIS - Marion County election officials have decided not to use touch-screen machines intended to help blind people vote without help in the May 2 primary, saying the devices would not be ready in time.

The announcement Thursday came as the secretary of state said he will hold public hearings to determine whether the company that supplied the machines and other voting systems for Marion and 26 other counties should be fined for problems with ballots and software.

Election Systems & Software of Omaha, Neb., could face fines of up to $300,000 for each violation if Indiana Secretary of State Todd Rokita determines their performance threatens to disrupt the vote count......


......If the vendor's performance is bad enough to affect the counties' ability to accurately count ballots, state law gives the secretary of state power to issue fines........

......Stefanie Miller of the government watchdog group Common Cause Indiana said the probe was a good idea. "The companies that produce equipment for elections need to be held to very high standards of accountability and transparency," .....

....Marion County Clerk Doris Anne Sadler said Thursday that ES&S had not delivered all the necessary materials ......

......."This is not a willful announcement of breaking the law," she told The Indianapolis Star. "It's a report that we can't physically comply because the vendor hasn't provided what they are supposed to provide."

Whole story:


http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/newssentinel/14343250.htm

[FogerRox]

11. Indy: ES&S, Hearings to be held, fines could be issued

Indiana to probe voting system problems

By Lesley Stedman Weidenbener
[e-mail]
The Courier-Journal



INDIANAPOLIS — The state’s election chief announced Thursday that he will hold a public hearing to investigate whether a voting-system company that contracts with 27 Hoosier counties should be fined for ballot problems and poor service.

Secretary of State Todd Rokita said he has ordered his legal staff to set up hearings and subpoena officials from Nebraska-based Election Systems and Software.

>snip<

“To protect the voices of Hoosier voters, I intend to hold hearings on these matters to determine whether Indiana law has been violated, and if so, to hold the appropriate parties accountable,” Rokita said in a statement. “Hoosier taxpayers, voters and county officials deserve voting systems that comply with the high standards mandated by Indiana law.”

If Rokita determines that an election vendor’s services are so poor it affects counties’ ability to accurately count votes, he his office could order fines of up to $300,000 for each violation.

Reporter Lesley Stedman Weidenbener can be reached at [phone].


Full story:


http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060413/NEWS02/60413031

[FogerRox]

12. Brad BLog: "Indiana Sec. of State Announces . Possible Fines against ES&S

From "Da Man" Brad, comes this great summary:

Blogged by Brad on 4/13/2006 @ 4:08pm PT...

Indiana Sec. of State Announces Hearings, Subpeonas, Possible Fines against ES&S Voting Machine Company
Says Company Activity Could be in 'Significant Violation of State Election Law'
NOTE TO MSM: Nothing to read here. Move on.



Says Company Activity Could be in 'Significant Violation of State Election Law'
NOTE TO MSM: Nothing to read here. Move on.

The E-Voting Train Wreck continues... This from a statement released today by the Indiana Secretary of State (to get just a tiny idea of what this statement is in reference...

The E-Voting Train Wreck continues...

This from a statement released today by the Indiana Secretary of State (to get just a tiny idea of what this statement is in reference to see the "Train Wreck" article linked above...and just about every other damn thing we've been running here at BRAD BLOG for the last God-knows-how-many weeks/months/years)...

Today Secretary of State Todd Rokita announced his intention to bring an enforcement action against the Nebraska based voting system firm, Election Systems and Software. Secretary Rokita will personally conduct a public hearing to determine whether election law violations have occurred, and whether the company should be fined. County sequencing errors and paper ballot problems, noted by Rokita's office this week, have combined to quickly escalate already disturbingly poor service at the county level into what could be a significant violation of state election law. "I have ordered our legal staff to immediately set hearing dates and subpoena company officials," Rokita said.

More:

http://www.bradblog.com/archives/00002689.htm

[FogerRox]

13. IND. Election Board: Software glitches sideline some voting machines. ES&S

Election Board: Software glitches sideline some voting machines

David MacAnally/Eyewitness News

Indianapolis, April 13 - The Marion County Election Board has decided not to field 600 voting machines for the visually impaired in the May Primary.

Marion County Clerk Republican Doris Anne Sadler delivered the news.

"We cannot put out machines that we feel that we haven't had the time to properly prove, test, and get ready for the elections."

Marion County purchased the I-VO-TRONIX machines in 2003 but software problems kept them on the shelf. They have a feature that helps the hearing impaired vote. They can listen to an audio that guides them through the ballot. But Election Board chairman Frank Otte says voting system supplier ES&S hasn't delivered software needed for a critical test Monday.

"We want to make sure all votes are counted and don't know if these machines will be accurate or usable in the May Primary."



These machines for visually impaired voters won't be used.



The Election Board says it's still waiting for software for regular voting machines.

more-

http://www.wthr.com/Global/story.asp?S=4769605&nav=9Tai

[FogerRox]

16. ES&S doent mention problems on web site, Spokesman not available

And this from the

Rob Palmer, a spokesman for ES&S, did not immediately return a call Thursday seeking comment about the Secretary of State’s investigation.

from here-
http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060413/NEWS02/60413031

[FogerRox]

14. Ill & Missouri, Bistate officials form group to combat vote fraud

Bistate officials form group to combat vote fraud

BY MARIA BARAN
News-Democrat
Local county clerks and election board chiefs from both sides of the river have formed a task force in an effort to battle vote fraud.

They met Monday in St. Louis to discuss common problems.

"The actions that we want to take are there to make sure that the public has confidence in the election process," said Mark Von Nida, Madison County clerk.

The group decided to form the task force and meet quarterly.

A May 2004 audit report released by Missouri State Auditor Claire McCaskill indicated that 10 voters had cast votes in both Illinois and Missouri.

More-

http://www.belleville.com/mld/belleville/news/local/14340988.htm

[Patsy Stone]

15. Kicking for Ion

and my dear Florida. We need all the help we can get.

[Kurovski]

20. This is a great thread for our folks in Indiana, too.

:hi: Hi, Patsy! I love it when you stop by the Election Reform Forum, you're a positive force, AND you are...absolutely fabulous!

Please stop in more often! :hug:

[Patsy Stone]

22. I'm always here

and you're too kind. I just don't post in this forum as much as I should, but I read it all. I think it's time to quit my job and devote my days to DU.

Call my boss, wouldja? :hug:

[FogerRox]

24. Patsy thanks for reading and any time you get to post stories is much

appreciated.

[FogerRox]

17. Sheila Parks on Hand counted Paper ballots for 2008, good read here folks

Hand counted paper ballots in 2008

by Sheila Parks
April 14, 2006

The right to vote, as well as the principle of “one person, one vote,” are cornerstones of our democracy. The anti-slavery, women’s suffrage, and civil rights movements as well as the expansion of voting to young people are all part of the history of electoral reform in this country. Equally fundamental is the assurance that each voter knows that her or his vote counts and is counted as intended. At this time in our history, many have lost confidence in our voting system.

The presidential elections of 2000 and 2004, and at least six contests in the mid-term elections of 2002, raised many questions about fraud and electronic voting machines. The Help America Vote Act (HAVA) of 2002, the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) established by HAVA, and the Carter-Baker National Commission on Federal Election Reform were all created after the 2000 election to improve the electoral process. All of these efforts, however, have been detrimental to the prevention and detection of election fraud and error due to their advocacy of the use of electronic voting machines. One election reform advocate, Bev Harris of Black Box Voting, provides a particularly vivid glimpse into the scope of the problems associated with electronic voting machines. She notes that, at a special Texas meeting of the Carter-Baker Commission, “I asked a member of the Panel why they had not asked a single question about how hacks can be done. He said it is not necessary to understand how the system can be compromised in order to protect it.”

More-


http://www.freepress.org/departments/display/19/2006/1923

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

18. Ion Sancho issues statement supporting HR 550

Ion Sancho Issues Statement Supporting HR 550

The HR 550 Lobby Days brought to DC not only passionate citizens interested in e-voting reform but also election officials who have been forced into technology battles that they never wanted to fight. Participating in the Lobby Days events today is Ion Sancho, Supervisor of Elections of Leon County Florida. Sancho, as those who follow e-voting issues may recall, organized a series of tests of Diebold's touchscreen voting technology that (once again) exposed a series of serious vulnerabilities.

Sancho issued the follow statement in conjunction with a press conference that took place this morning:

"The independent authority of election officials to provide honest and impartial elections conducted in a fair and efficient manner is under attack today. Partisan politicians in conjunction with some voting machine vendors are taking away the right of American citizens to cast their votes and have them verified as accurate. Congressman Holt's bill is how we must begin to protect our votes and end the erosion of public trust in our elections."

http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/archives/cat_evoting_lobby_days.php

[BushSpeak]

21. Links to three audio conferences by Ion Sancho

at the Tallahassee Democrat

Ion Sancho press conference
This is a very good audio giving the background of the Leon County situation and a chronology of e-voting problems in the States. He comes across as an intelligent, well informed, articulate and consciencious person representing integrity in the election process. There is a lot of insider information here that I hadn't heard anywhere else.

Leon County Commission meeting video 2'49

Interview with Ion Sancho
Elections chief motivated by a sense of purpose

or direct download
Part1
Part2

[FogerRox]

23. kicked for the evening crowd

[bleever]

25. I don't believe

that I expected that there would be this much news, this steadily, at this point. It's relentless.

Recommended!

[FogerRox]

26. Always nice to have BLeever on board.