CA: (ES&S) Voting machines safe for now (or so they want us to believe)

[Wilms]

Voting machines safe for now

December 28, 2005

By GREG MOBERLY, Times-Herald staff writer and JULIET WILLIAMS, Associated Press Writer

Solano County leaders could breathe a sigh of relief Tuesday when the state announced it would not decertify voting machines used here.

If the state had gone forward with its threat to decertify the Election Systems and Software used in Solano and in 10 other California counties, it likely would have meant Solano would have to replace its voting machines for the second time in nearly two years.

But after threatening potential decertification of the ES&S voting machine company, a Secretary of State's office spokeswoman said Tuesday the state was satisfied the company would make necessary improvements.

Specifically, in a letter obtained by The Associated Press, Assistant Secretary of State for Elections Bradley J. Clark warned he'd start the process of decertifying ES&S machines for use in California if senior officials didn't address concerns with vote counts and verification, problems that surfaced during the state's Nov. 8 special election. The concerns needed to be dealt with immediately, the letter said.

snip

http://timesheraldonline.com/ci_3349909

[shance]

1. It's a lie. None of the machines are "safe" because they violate

the necessary transparency to implement a fair election.

They are all hackable and the tabulation takes seconds to change and no one will ever know.

[Kurovski]

2. K&R

nothing less than full accountability, complete transparency, and a trail will do.

The Pacific Ocean would be a fine place for ES&S equipment.

(note to environmentalist/literalists: I'm joking.)

[kster]

3. kick.nt