Vote-Flipping Diebold Machine Removed, Quarantined in CO

[Ichingcarpenter]

A county clerk in Colorado has finally done the right thing for the voters by removing a touch-screen voting machine from service, and quarantining it, after it was discovered to be flipping votes from one candidate to another. The failed machine in this case was a Diebold Accu-Vote, a frequent flipper.

As reported by the Colorado Independent (Hat-tip VoterAction.org)...

An electronic voting machine in Adams County repeatedly failed to accept a vote for a Democratic state Senate candidate — instead registering the vote for her Republican opponent — at an early voting site last week and has been removed from service, the Aurora Sentinel reports Wednesday. Adams County Clerk and Recorder Karen Long told the newspaper the error doesn’t reflect wider problems in the county’s voting systems, but the candidate said the incident could lead to a lawsuit.
“I always just trusted the machines, and it opened my eyes,” said state Rep. Mary Hodge. “The way it works now, I’m told … is that those votes throw it to Mr. Hadfield that we’ll probably have a lawsuit and a court decision. We’ll have to wait and see.”

Hodge, the Democratic nominee, faces Republican Robert John Hadfield in the race to represent state Senate District 25.
...
“I have quarantined the machine,” Long told the newspaper. “It’s removed and it’s sealed up and it’s in a bag.” She said she is awaiting instructions from the secretary of state’s office......>>>>>snip


http://www.bradblog.com/?p=6592

[justiceischeap]

1. All other election officials could learn a thing or two from this one.

Every machine that flips votes continually, particularly after a re-calibration, should be given the same treatment. Then independent software developers/debuggers, not Die-bold techs, should be let loose on them. I think we'd learn some interesting things about these "malfunctioning" machines.

[El Supremo]

2. Link:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/

[Overseas]

3. K&R for the electronic election fraud file. Glad it was quarantined.

We want it locked up until it can be examined by a bipartisan group on film.

[kenny blankenship]

4. I'm no touchscreen programmer but it just seems implausible to me that this is just an accident

so many vote flipping machines, in different states and from different manufacturers.
Here's my question: Does anyone have contact with touchscreen embedded PC hardware devices in their non-political life that act this way-for instance, activating "OK" when you actually pressed "CANCEL"?
How fucking hard is it for embedded systems/touchscreen programmers to get it right???

I've bought tons of groceries and home supplies on touchscreen embedded systems. I've used bank ATMs since forever. I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS. ONLY IN ELECTIONS.

ONLY IN ELECTIONS. Only when the embedded system is connected to our corrupt and decrepit political-electoral machinery do I hear about touchscreens routinely fucking up - and fucking up AFTER they're supposed to be certified "ready to go". And it's not like these systems are in year round use either. They are set up for use every 2 years for a brief period only, and that's it. Most of the hardware for e-balloting is relatively new as well, compared to the touchscreen ATM machines that I see in use year in year out, everyday, and outdoors no less.

Somebody needs to take a giant hammer to these machines.