Could the Next Election Could Be Stolen at the Ballot Box?

[QuietStorm]

DEMOCRACY NOW
A Look at the Electronic Voting Machine Controversy

" Many people believe that the last presidential election was stolen by the Supreme Court. Voting rights activists think the next election could be stolen at the ballot box. Millions of voters will be using electronic voting machines for the first time in upcoming elections and questions about their security are rife.

Hundreds of computer scientists say electronic touchscreen voting machines could allow for massive election fraud. Already, malfunctioning software has caused confusion or possibly faulty vote tallies in races across the country. And a recent study out from Johns Hopkins researchers says that AccuVote machines are vulnerable to hackers, multiple votes and vote-switching.

The machines are built by Diebold Voting Systems of McKinney, Texas and used in a third of the precincts where electronic voting is already in place. Diebold also has extensive ties to the Republican Party. Company officials say they do not know whether the code examined by the Johns Hopkins researchers was used in actual elections.

In response to the Johns Hopkins report, Maryland Governor Robert Ehrlich postponed a nearly 56 million dollar contract with Diebold for 11,000 voting machines. A private consultant is now reviewing the technology behind Dieboldís touchscreen machines. END QUOTE

http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=03/08/13/1535236

[arcane1]

1. you learn fast!

:-)

[QuietStorm]

3. Helps to already have a frame of reference

I haven't been paying enough attention to this election. Only now. I have been searching in other areas and familiarizing myself with the history I was missing or needed a refresher on.

I said this just the other day to a friend that I felt one way or another next election would be stolen. This sets things up nicely.

Why am I not surprised?

[LibDemAlways]

2. The media whores, however, are working overtime

to make people think that the punch card ballots voters have been using in LA for decades are sure to lead to Florida-type chaos in the recall and that we really NEED the electronic systems due next March - in time for the primary (and an inexplicable Lieberman win perhaps?) MSNBC was making a big point of this today - probably just following Rove's orders.

The potential for black box fraud isn't and won't be discussed.

Welcome to DU, QuietStorm. You'll like it here.

[QuietStorm]

4. Thanks

please be warned I am naturally sarcastic. Has nothing to do with anyone. Just a coping mechanism.

[arcane1]

5. indeed, in the few counties that remain without Diebold...

there will be serious pressure to get them, due to this apparrntly insane primitive cave-man means of voting....

I'm HAMMERING my reps!!!

[QuietStorm]

6. I can not resist.

How do you like that they have a tie in to Bush and Cheney. Diebold has unusual pattern of contributions to choice republican candidates.

Goodman asks should we remain with paper ballots. Wallach says computer not a bad thing, but without verifiable printed backup, it can be problematic. Yeah no shit!

This system does not have proper auditability. Well I guess I am up to speed on this issue. They really do feel the people are stupid, don't they?

[arcane1]

7. have you been to Bev's site?

http://www.blackboxvoting.com/

[QuietStorm]

8. Man

Will you look at this shit! It just gets worse and worse. Thanks for that link.

[phoebe]

9. I also suggest blackboxvoting.org

Look in the library at some of the articles.

The library has just begun..

[scarletwoman]

10. Another good link:

http://www.verifiedvoting.org/

AlterNet has some great articles, as well:

The Theft of Your Vote Is Just a Chip Away
http://www.alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=16474

The Voting Rights Struggle of Our Time
http://www.alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=16476

Electronic Voting: Is It Safe Yet?
http://www.alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=16464

A Voting and Democracy Primer
http://www.alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=16472

TECHSPLOITATION: Remote Control
http://www.alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=16594

I'd like to remind everybody to keep up the pressure on your House reps to sign onto HR 2239: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c108:H.R.2239:

sw