John Gideon, who blogs about the election reform stories around the country for BradBlog, in his daily mailing describes the situation this way:
Sequoia Voting seems to be very concerned that scientists in New Jersey
might actually discover the truth about Sequoia’s implausible
explanations for the recently discovered problems with their Advantage
voting machines. Of course Sequoia has blamed poll workers in a scenario
that makes no sense at all. Unless the state Attorney General, Ann
Milgram, demands that an independent investigation take place, it won’t
happen. Why? Sequoia seems to have sent threatening letters to concerned
New Jersey counties and to the Princeton computer scientists who were to
inspect the machines. Sequoia claims to have hired local counsel and
threatens legal action if any inspection, or even report of the behavior
of their software, takes place. Unfortunately the counties have decided
to back down for the time being. Phone calls and/or email to the
Attorney General may help to convince her that action must be taken:
http://www.nj.gov/lps/contactus.htmThis sounds like something the ERD forum could lend a hand with by sending along some emails to the above address. Why would the government back down when they (supposedly) set the rules and make the laws governing the elections in the first place? Yet they seem to be backing down on their intention to investigate the claims that Sequoia has made about their machines. This is an issue that is very very important it seems to me.
Here's the BradBlog article:
http://www.bradblog.com/?p=5814