"Deep-rooted Voting Irregularities Persist, Watchdogs Say", a good read

[FogerRox]

Deep-rooted Voting Irregularities Persist, Watchdogs Say
by Catherine Komp
Citing a recent government appraisal of the nation’s election systems and evidence of continued abuse and potential fraud, groups championing free and fair elections say the US still has a long way to go.


Nov 10 - Although this was an "off-term" election year, voting-rights advocates, computer scientists, and politicians watched the process closely as more districts used electronic voting machines, which many blame for irregularities during the 2004 presidential election.

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Federal Investigation Confirms E-voting Problems
A recent General Accountability Office investigation confirms that security, design, and reliability flaws do exist with current electronic voting machines and systems. The 95-page report concluded that with certain electronic voting machines, ballots and audit logs could be modified without detection, computer passwords were easily guessed, and system locks were easily picked.

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Coney added that the HAVA funding for new voting systems was a "one-shot deal," leaving states and counties with the bill for replacing faulty equipment and providing upkeep for software and computer systems.

E-System Transparency and Certification

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Dr. Aviel Rubin, professor of computer science at Johns Hopkins University, is concerned with this lack of transparency. "For starters, the manufacturers are not allowing public review of their systems and software," Rubin told The NewStandard. "Furthermore, I can think of nothing less transparent than a computer without a paper record. Can you look at a computer and tell me what's going on inside it? I cannot, and I have a Ph.D. in computer science."

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Verified Voting and Optical Scans
While the GAO report may convince lawmakers and elections officials of the serious problems with new electronic systems, some voting technology experts say it fails to recommend one of the most crucial safeguards: voter-verified paper ballots that create a hard copy record of each vote.

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Beyond New Technology
While much attention is focused on technological problems with electronic voting machines, rights activists are also addressing the historic problems that keep people from ever reaching the voting booth. Over the last five years, numerous cases of suppression and intimidation have been reported across the country including: flyers and signs giving false information about voter eligibility,

more--
http://newstandardnews.net/content/?action=show_item&itemid=2585


Please Recommend the -Election Reform news for Saturday, 11-12-05

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=203&topic_id=401072&mesg_id=401072

[femrap]

1. I went to a 'Strickland for Governor of Ohio' meeting this morning

and asked him if he planned on making VOTING FRAUD an issue of his campaign.....after all he will be running against Blackwell, the ultimate in corrupt and rigged elections. Blackwell will still be Sec'y of State and able to play with those Diebold Touchscreens...

He didn't seem to be too concerned....I told him I was sick and tired of working my ass off for a candidate who has his head in the sand over stolen elections.

[kster]

2. kick-n-recommend.nt