CO lost court fight on voting machines

[bobbolink]

:(

I was afraid of this. So, don't count on Colorado for Nov. Thanks again to all the Coloradans who have been fighting this fight since 2004!! :toast:

http://www.denverpost.com/search/ci_4381355
Judge approves voting machines
A judge said today he would not decertify electronic voting machines used across the state despite the failure by the secretary of state's office to comply with state law.

Denver District Judge Lawrence Manzanares said the four kinds of electronic voting machines used in Colorado will have to go through a new certification process after the November election.

Manzanares also ordered Secretary of State Gigi Dennis to make sure counties had adequate security measures in place.

"Essentially, (Manzanares) decertified these machines after this election," plaintiff's attorney Andrew Efaw said after the ruling.

Officials in Dennis' office were quick to reassure voters that the voting machines they will use in this election - which counties have spent millions buying - are secure and reliable. The judge reinforced that sentiment saying his decision did not mean the machines are "unreasonably unreliable."

[rockymountaindem]

1. I see this as a 50/50 thing

As Efaw said, the ruling is going to be a big problem for proponents of e-voting after the election. Unfortunately, that leaves us to deal with the machines this November. Despite that, I think things are going to be ok, because we have such a large lead in the Governor's race, and I think the number of tight races will be few (possibly for treasurer, and also in the 4th and 5th CDs). In the long term, though, this is a big setback for e-voting; and the long term is really what this is about in my opinion.

[bobbolink]

2. I"d like to see Hefley's seat go blue (ewww, mental image)

and I don't know how the machines are going to affect that. He doesn't have a big enough lead to make it theft-proof.

Any thoughts on that?

[rockymountaindem]

4. I don't know if we're even ahead to begin with

I'm from the Springs, and while there's nothing I'd like more than to see Fawcett ride over Lamborn like a freight train, I can't say I'm confident that will happen. While I think Jay has a good shot, probably the best we'll have in the 5th for a long time, there are so many Dobson acolytes etc. it's going to be an uphill climb regardless.

As for voting, when I voted in the primary I used an optical scan ballot, so at least in El Paso county there is a paper trail in case anyone wants to challenge. That's comforting.

[meldroc]

3. We're stuck with the machines for this election, but not afterwards.

The judge did everything but decertify the machines for this election - he blasted their security, and pretty much ordered that unless all the problems with the machines were fixed, they would be decertified after the election's over.

[catmandu57]

5. Vote absentee

There is still time.

[davidwparker]

7. I'm planning on voting in the registar's office

[bobbolink]

10. Don't assume that I'm not. I'm still bummed about the decision.

[SoCalDem]

6. Amazing how it's always "after the election"

:puke:

[bobbolink]

11. You like how that works? GAK is right!

What the hell, it's only an election, right?

As long as those companies make their profits.....

:nuke:

[Hubert Flottz]

8. If you'll just let the GOP steal one more election they promise to

do better next time!

[bobbolink]

12. How come I could never get that idea to work for me when I was a kid?

:evilgrin:

[kerry-is-my-prez]

9. Lou Dobbs will be covering this "threat to democracy" coming up....

n/t