HUGE SECURITY HOLE IN VOTING MACHINES
Ohio-based Diebold Election Systems, which has been criticized for faulty electronic voting machines, faces new accusations by computer security experts that the integrity of the machines could be easily compromised. From Ohio, Quinn Bowman has more.
The electronic voting machine manufacturer whose former chief executive promised an electoral victory for President Bush is again facing serious criticism. Several computer science experts who have studied Diebold Election System's voting machines warn that the electronic systems are wide open to tampering attempts. Finnish computer expert, Harri Hursti recently discovered a new security problem with Diebold's system while working for Black Box Voting, a non-profit company that works to ensure fair elections. Diebold says the security hole was left intentionally by programmers so that the system's software could be easily updated. Experts who have studied the flaw say that anyone with simple computer components and access to the machines could tamper with the systems without leaving a trace. Bragblog.com, a website that reports on electronic voting issues, reports that the flawed touch screen machines were used just 2 weeks ago in Ohio's primary election. Several states, including Ohio, Pennsylvania, California and Iowa use the Canton, Ohio-based company's machines. For Free Speech Radio News, this is Quinn Bowman in Athens, Ohio.
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