Powerful Arguments Presented to Void Florida Congressional Dist 13 Election

[philb]

Core Arguments Presented in the Jennings Challenge

The Jennings case as presented relies on four key arguments.



(1) The evidence available from voting in the 13th district and other parts of the state plus the known security vulnerabilities of the ES&S iVotronic touch screen voting machine show that there is no possibility that 14.9% of the voters in Sarasota County intentionally withheld votes. (higher in ES&S voting- excluding paper absentees)

(2) The evidence gathered by extensive voter testimonials demonstrates that there were significant numbers of voters who wished to vote for candidate Jennings but encountered problems with the iVotronic touch screen voting machine.
(3) There is a strong correlation between the date iVotronic touch screens were prepared for voting and incidents of undervoting.
(4) Statistical analysis shows that incremental reductions of in undervotes would result in a Jennings victory beginning with just 2000 fewer undervotes
There are supporting points as well, including a discussion of the Jennings case in Florida Court to open up ES&S computer source code for examination :
Sarasota County undervotes were six times higher than those in other counties in the 13th Congressional district. Sarasota County was Democrat Jennings’ strongest base of support.

The conclusion drawn from the evidence is simple: the election should be held null and void, there should be a new election, and no one should be sworn in or seated in Congress until after the new election


see details: http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0701/S00059.htm
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0701/S00059.htm

[valerief]

1. Fingers crossed. Maybe we can null and void 2004, too. nt

[autorank]

5. My fondest political dream! n/t

[BeFree]

9. Wouldn't that be something?

And why shouldn't our dreams come true? To fix the predicament we are in requires we go back and fix the root cause. Al Gore would be president, we wouldn't be in Iraq and the problem of global warming would have had solutions already in play.

It is because the crooks stole the elections that we are where we are. Who but a freeper would disagree?

Of course it would be a revolutionary change: to remove a sitting president because he stole the seat. But a revolution in voting tech is what gave them power, so a revolution back would just complete the circle. No big deal. It just requires all of us hanging tough and keeping at it.

The Jennings vote may be the bu-cannon shot heard 'round the world. The first big shot for our return to real democracy.

[truedelphi]

24. Al Gore in charge - Saturday Night Live had a great

and hilarious speech given by a Gore look a like

Very funny. (And SNL often isn't)

I think it was supposed to be the State of The Union 2008 - And Gore is talking about how he was almost defeated by the problems of his Presidency - A surplus so big no one knew what to do with it; pollution defeated to the point that Big Pharma companies had no one to peddle their asthma drugs to; And on and on with one absurd and wonderful scenario after another

As funny as it was, it was also SAD.

[coznfx]

2. If Jennings is successful in getting the source code

it would be the first time (I think - anyone know for sure?) that any of the big 3 e-voting machine makers were court-ordered to show their source code to anyone outside their own companies. I believe that such an outcome might well be THE real beginning-of-the-end of Repug election stealing in America, particularly if Jennings finds some 'cooked' code in there! Happy to rec this one!!

Oh please, please, please ....

[autorank]

4. From the article...

The Case So Far

The suit to examine software in Florida court. Jennings strong case took a hit when Florida state court denied her request to examine critical iVotronic software and methods (claimed as trade secrets by ES&S). Or did it? This Florida court decision simply signals that ES&S has something to hide as does the state which also opposes open review? Is there any sensible reason why the secrecy of voting machine source code used for this public election, purchased with public funds, would prevail over the interests of the public to determine if a serious error was made in that election as a result of that software and its method of operation? As a matter of fact, there is: if you have something to hide, either an error or a malicious act, then you have every reason to avoid a full examination of the voting machines
--------------------------

This will be appealed but the 1st round goes to the anti-intellectuals. We'll see of Congress asks for it. We'll both have our fingers crossed!

[eomer]

7. Apparently there is a team looking at the ES&S source code now.

I'm not sure whether it was by court order or by authority that the Florida Department of State had on its own (they were holding the source code in escrow) but, aside from that nit, there is a team of computer scientists looking at the source code now.

Here are the principal investigators on the team:

Alec Yasinsac, Associate Professor, Computer Science Department, Florida State University
Mike Burmester, Professor, Computer Science Department, Florida State University
Breno de Medeiros, Assistant Professor, Computer Science Department, Florida State University
Ed Felten, Professor, Computer Science Department, Princeton University
Michael Shamos, Professor Computer Science Department, Carnegie-Mellon University
David Wagner, Associate Professor, Computer Science Division, University of California-Berkley
Matt Bishop, Associate Professor, Department of Computer Science, University of California-Davis

And here's a description of the work they are doing:
http://election.dos.state.fl.us/pdf/FSUstatementWork.pdf

I've expressed some optimism about this effort since at least three on that team are known advocates of election reform. Others around here seem to be pretty skeptical, primarily on the grounds that the state is in control of this investigation and will likely tie the hands of the investigators. I'm afraid I may be the one who is wrong in this case but I still hold out hope that these guys will expose major flaws in the software.

[autorank]

10. All it takes is one honest comoputer scientist. But Jennings team shojuld get it too.

The court was being idiotic.

You have to balance the needs of the parties here:

1) the need of the public to seat the right representative and be sure every vote is counted

versus

2) proprietary rights to compouter code that nobody in their right mind would steal anyway since
its burdened by huge liability.

I think that the judge in Florida has a place in legal history and not one he would want. The
parallel effort you remind us of, and thank you, is all the justification that's needed.

How can they get a look but the people of the 13th don't?

[eomer]

12. Agreed.

Jennings should get access too.

The state has already shown that their primary interest is in defending a system that they brought us. Statements to the press by Drury et al at the DOS make this both obvious and admitted.

The interests of Jennings cannot be represented by the state when the state is on the other side of the dispute.

[dlaliberte]

13. Hoping to look at the source

That is a nice description of what the group hopes to do, but they are not doing it yet, from what I understand. It was the court that decided it was more important to protect the privacy of the source code than the integrity of the election.

By the way, even if they do get to look at the software, if they find nothing wrong with it, that doesn't mean the code was not tampered with since it is possible to leave no traces. If they do find something wrong with the code, then great.

[eomer]

14. No, they are looking at the source (not just hoping to)

There's been nothing much in the news about it but yesterday there was finally an article in the Bradenton Herald:

Computer experts take crack at D-13 vote code

DUANE MARSTELLER
Herald Staff Writer

MANATEE - While Christine Jennings wages a public court fight for access to software code used in Sarasota County's electronic voting machines, a team of prominent computer scientists has been quietly examining it.

The computer experts from four states began studying the code in late December, when the Florida Secretary of State's office executed a $45,000 work order. The team met most recently Saturday in Florida and has until June 30 to submit a final report.

"This source code is under intense scrutiny by some of the best guys in the country," the team's leader, Florida State University computer-science professor Alec Yasinsac, said Thursday. "These guys are wizards."

-snip-

http://www.bradenton.com/mld/bradenton/news/local/16440725.htm

And I agree with your last graf: if they find something wrong, great; if they don't then that just means that the cause has not been found yet because it is clear that the machines malfunctioned. Voters saw it with their own eyes.

_{Edit: oops, I originally said the article was in the Sarasota Herald-Tribune but have now corrected to say Bradenton Herald.}

[OnTheOtherHand]

15. so, the state team is looking; the Jennings team can't

Don't take that "state team" the wrong way -- eomer vouches that there are some good folks on it. I'm just trying to clarify how his point fits together with yours.

[eomer]

16. Yes, there are some good folks ON the team,

but some bad folks ultimately IN CHARGE of it (IMO).

I've no doubt that the good folks are highly qualified and sincerely on the side of fair and transparent elections and will make every effort.

I'm also fairly sure that the bad folks will try to obfuscate and coverup since that's what they and all their counterparts around the country have been doing for years.

How will the tension between these two sides play out and what will be the final result? I don't really know.

[BeFree]

17. Gawd

What are you, eomer, some kind of conspiracy nut? <grin>

Happy New Year!

[truedelphi]

25. If you can, please keep us posted

The chickens are honest and plucky - but with the foxes in the hen house -

Well, I'd say we need a petty CLUCKIN' good strategy

[eomer]

27. I don't have any direct access but will certainly pass along any news I can find.

I'm just watching various new sites, official sites, and googling but will definitely post anything I find.

[bearfan454]

19. It's in the memory cards

Just one memory card can upload a virus to change the results or anything else it is programmed to do. It is so simple to do also. The tech puts in the memory card after the source code is declared legitimate and no one will ever know how it happened. Every memory card has got to be checked also or looking at the source code is worthless. This was shown in the HBO documentary "Hacking Democracy" that was on a little while back. I'm telling you it is in the memory cards.

[eomer]

22. You may be on to something.

I've been wondering how this fact figures in:

Jennings' camp says that at least some of the fault lies with the voting machines, pointing to reports of possible touch-screen calibration glitches in early voting. Kochman said that an initial analysis shows that there is correlation between when a machine was set up for the election and whether it had problems.

"The closer to the election and the more machines that were being set up that day is correlated with higher undervote rates," he says. "That could mean the machines weren't properly calibrated or there was a problem when they were loading the software. That's why it's important to get inside and look at the whole system."

http://www.wired.com/news/technology/0,72452-0.html?tw=wn_index_1

Why would the time that a machine was set up affect its accuracy? Maybe there was an opportunity to insert a virus at some point and all machines set up from then on were infected? Or else there was a worker who was able to install a virus individually on many machines but was only able to do so when things got busy. Or some other variation on a theme.

At any rate, your theory seems very plausible to me.

[bearfan454]

23. It would only take one worker putting in one infected memory card

to change the entire election results. Once that memory card is in and has uploaded a virus that changes election results, no one would ever know. Even if the machine goes through all of the checks to make sure it's working correctly, nobody is checking the memory cards. That memory card uploads a virus that changes election results. After all, nobody checks the memory cards.

[eomer]

26. The hack you're describing is the one discovered by Ed Felten of Princeton.

I haven't watched Hacking Democracy so I'm not sure but I think the hack you reference is not from Hacking Democracy - it's the hack found by Ed Felten. Here's a website describing it.

Interestingly, Felten is on the team that is currently investigating Sarasota. I'm pretty sure he will consider the possibility of a memory card virus (as well as a virus that is delivered by any other medium). The question is, of course, whether he can do enough of an investigation if he is given just the source code and nothing else.

_{Edit: minor wording}

[autorank]

3. I'm compelled to overcome my normal modesty and reticence and K&R:)

The brief on Jennings case is a kicker. Kendall Coffey out did himself, didn't he.

I love a well crafted case and this is truly outstanding.

I maintain that this case plus NC 8th, neglected because the candidate got VERY F'ING BAD ADVICE and conceded before the recount was over. Where is our party? Why did this happen. I've reviewed the undervotes form the 8th, 9th, and 12th, all Mecklenburg, all iVotronic. The rates are outrageous, period. I'll have a thing or two to say about that shortly.

Why are our candidates stuck with such poor advice. Francine Busby conceded election night on advice from a DNC staffer (according to her statement on the matter). Lawyer Lehto and BradBlog Brad provided data that 10s of thousands of votes cast had not been counted, I can't recall the figure but maybe 40k election night. Did the DNCer know that? As some one who gives to candidates, I'd like the money spent wisely. Lets get some Election Reform Forum advisers for the candidates and maybe DNC. We were right about 2004 being stolen and all the other turkeys since 2000.

Election fraud has been the costliest flaw in our political system. My proof for that claim - simply look at a replay of that speech from last night. We're on goofy street with the head goofball leading the pack...all due to election fraud...the FIRST CAUSE.

Thanks philb.

[rumpel]

18. Yes, thanks, Philb

I'll have a thing or two to say about that shortly

oooo, somethin's brewing, right, auto?

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

21. the accurate facts support new FL 13 election, misleading info hurts us

I am all for Sarasota having a new and fair election.

Basing an argument for that on the NC 08 will only make
election integrity organizations look silly when the
facts are examined.

Its better to argue the facts of FL 13, which strongly
indicate that the machines switched votes, didn't allow
certain votes, and votes disappeared.

The NC 08 did not have those problems, and they didn't have
the undervote that Michael Collins reports in his Scoop article.

Using incorrect information discredits the argument for new election
in FL 13

Better to use correct facts and figures and testimony of voters -these
and opinions by computer scientists all support the call for
a new election.

Deliberately misleading people only hurts the cause and casts
doubts on those using legitimate and correct information.

Facts about the Kissell/Hayes recount in NC 08

Kissell had machine recounts, then manual recounts.
Candidates lawyers, observers, NAACP and reporters were on site.

Kissell gained 10 votes from the machine recount in Cabarrus, Hoke, Montgomery, Richmond and Union counties

The Sun News | 11/22/2006 | 8th District race closer in recount
In Hoke, Hayes gained a single vote, while in Union County Kissell lost two ...
in those precincts are discovered, a full manual recount would be conducted. ...
www.myrtlebeachonline.com/mld/myrtlebeachonline/news/local/16074785.htm

Kissell gained 2 votes in the manual recount of 5 counties, then conceded.

RDU News 14 | 11/29/2006 | Kissell Concedes Defeat
Kissell conceded even though only five of the ten counties in the district had completed the hand recount
requested by the Democrat. The rest were to conduct the hand recounts on Thursday.

Kissell trailed Hayes by just 329 votes out of 121,523 cast following a machine recount last week.
He gained only two votes Wednesday during the first phase of the hand recount,
during which election officials manually recount votes in a sample of precincts covering 3 percent of the votes cast in the race.

http://rdu.news14.com/content/headlines/?ArID=95335&SecID=2

[bearfan454]

20. "We were right about 2004 being stolen and all the other turkeys since 2000."

I agree totally. There is so much proof about electronic vote stealing that sometimes I really wonder if some of the Dems aren't in on it too. I really do.

[Ellipsis]

6. kickin' for one more. n/t

[Melissa G]

8. Kickin' and RRRin'! n/t

[bleever]

11. K&R.

:kick: