LA's New Voting System Is Still Uncertified. Why Election Security Experts Are Worried
by Libby Denkmann in News on January 16, 2020 1:00 PM
https://laist.com/2020/01/16/los-angeles-county-voting-system-uncertified.php
Certification testing has uncovered:
Dozens of critical user interface and security problems, according to recent published reports and conversations with experts.
The Secretary of State found vulnerabilities that left the door open to bad actors changing voting data and, ultimately, the outcome of an election.
Testers could also access and alter electronic records and get into physical ballot boxes — all without detection.
Some candidates for local offices are so disturbed by how ballots appear on the machines that cities like Beverly Hills are exploring lawsuits.
But Dean Logan, the Los Angeles County Registrar Recorder, says his office has worked hard to address and mitigate all concerns.
The issues with the actual voting system come at the same time L.A. County is fundamentally changing not just how but where people vote. Many observers are concerned that shift in voting location alone will lead to widespread confusion.
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THE PROBLEMS
Here are some of the issues that technical experts and voting rights advocates flagged for LAist after reviewing published independent testing documents. They include possible violations of California Voting System Standards, which govern state certification.
Paper jams that required long reboots to fix bogged down the flow of voting at mock elections and during the November municipal election pilot program, where voters had the choice to use pen and paper or the new ballot marking devices. These problems were described in a Dec. 19th report to the L.A. County Board of Supervisors.
This is a potentially major snag because unlike the relatively small-scale municipal election, the upcoming primary will involve over 30,000 voting machines in use at 1,000 vote centers. Paper misfeeds could mean delays and frustrating lines, and restarting a system in the middle of voting might leave voters questioning the privacy and security of their vote. According to a testing report submitted December 24, the misfeeds were happening at a rate nearly five times what California standards allow.
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more problems listed in article
= new reply since forum marked as read
was manufactured by republican owned ES&S. The previous registrar, Connie McCormack was featured in an infamous Diebold ad:
When she retired, she hand-picked the current registrar who has a shady history.
The new allegedly "open source" touchscreen system is non-transparent, and the documents and finances behind its development and purchase are spotty. The registrar has not been forthcoming with information.
Election integrity is a non-partisan issue, however, republicans long ago figured out the vulnerabilities in our elections departments at the local, county, and state levels and, with high pressure corporate backing, have tilted the balance in their favor in key positions.
