Election Reform, Fraud & Related News for Saturday, December 3, 2005

[FogerRox]

All members welcome and encouraged to participate.

Please post Election Reform, Fraud, & Related News on this thread.

Could you,

will you, please:

1. Post stories and announcements you find on the web.

2. Post stories using the "Election Fraud and Reform News Sources" listed here:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x397093

3. Re-post stories and announcements you find on DU, providing a link to the original thread with thanks to the Original Poster, too.

4. Start a discussion thread by re-posting a story you see on this thread.


If you want to know how post "News Banners" or other images, go here:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=203&topic_id=371233#371391

for MAC users-- IIRC its hold down control- and click on the image to view its source.

If you think this thread is worthy, please



this thread for the greatest page

[FogerRox]

1. Dairy of criminal purchase of Diebold TSX in North Carolina,

-thanks to DUer "WillYourVoteBCounted" for this great summary.
There is a pattern -- Election officials will seem to bend, seem to listen, seem to agree with you, but when push comes to shove they select the voting machine that was pre-ordained. Did someone get paid off? How much Lobby money came into the jurisdiction? Who got gifts, vacations, spa treatments, trips to Vegas, Atlanitc City?

anyway, here is a link to a great thread, I suggest you read it.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x403754

[FogerRox]

2. United Spinal Association: Oppose The Purchase Of ES&S Automark

Your Right To Vote Is Still In Danger…Oppose The Purchase Of ES&S Automark Voting System

BACKGROUND:

The right to vote is one of the most basic and fundamental rights that we share as American citizens. For individuals with disabilities the act of voting can be both difficult and discouraging. Because of this, Congress passed the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA) the purpose of which is to make the voting process as inclusive as possible, particularly for individuals with disabilities. Through HAVA, states are being provided federal monies to, amongst other things, purchase accessible voting machines and remove the systemic and physical barriers that have denied people with disabilities their constitutional right to vote. At least one accessible voting machine, which must be fully accessible for people with visual impairments as well, is required in each polling place by January 1, 2006.

Another major requirement is that each voter be able to verify their vote, meaning that prior to a vote being cast and counted, a voter is given the chance to change his or her ballot choice. However, in order to achieve this "voter verification" many states are considering purchasing the ES&S Automark voting system which is a new optical scan voting system. This system is accessible to some, but not to all.

The Automark requires the individual user to place their paper ballot into the machine, select their choices on the touch screen, and then take the ejected paper ballot to the in-precinct tabulator. However, if an individual cannot handle paper (or cannot handle paper with wrinkling, creasing, or crumpling it) they must allow someone else to insert their marked ballot into the tabulator, allowing another person to view their vote choices.

ACTION NEEDED:

United Spinal opposes the purchase of these ES&S Automark optical scan voting machines, first, because they are not certified by the federal government, and secondly, because they are inaccessible to people who cannot handle paper. Particular states of concern at this time are Minnesota, Michigan, Ohio, Arizona, Rhode Island, and California, however, this is an incomplete list and more states are sure to follow if opposition is not voiced.

Take action now!

Call and/or write your Secretary of State or Governor and tell them that you oppose the ES&S Automark voting system and you will not tolerate the use of Help America Vote Act money to purchase a system that is not universally accessible.

Promote only systems that are federally certified and can be used by all Americans.

http://www.unitedspinal.org/pages.php?catid=231&pageid=808

[FogerRox]

3. news from Voters Unite

Board to upgrade voting machines (Mahoning Co., OH)
DAVID SKOLNICK Youngstown Vindicator 02 December 2005
YOUNGSTOWN — The Mahoning County Board of Elections approved spending $864,063 to upgrade its electronic voting machines, primarily to add a paper trail that board members don't believe is necessary.

more-

http://www.vindy.com/content/local_regional/297200025713129.php


Vote board nervous over deadline (Guilford Co., NC)
Mark Binker Greensboro News-Record 02 December 2005
RALEIGH — State election officials are racing against what some call “impossible” deadlines to prepare for the May primary and warned Thursday that voters should be prepared for problems next spring.

more-
http://www.news-record.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051202/NEWSREC0101/512020308/1010/NEWSREC020107


Costly election (San Bernardino Co., CA)
CASSIE MACDUFF The Press-Enterprise 02 December 2005
San Bernardino city officials are staggered by the projected cost of the Feb. 7 mayoral runoff: $230,000 to $290,000.

more-
http://www.pe.com/sharedcontent/registration/register.jsp?fw=http://www.pe.com/columns/cassiemacduff/stories/PE_News_Local_B_bcass02.18d51946.html


City to begin voting machine talks (Peoria, IL) Story Here Archive
Molly Parker Peoria Journal-Star 02 December 2005
PEORIA - Both the city and county will have the same voting machines after all.

more-
http://www.pjstar.com/stories/120205/TRI_B89RH4FB.007.shtml




http://www.votersunite.org/news.asp

[FogerRox]

4. GOP Considers Permanently Replacing DeLay Over Widening Corruption Scandal

Muted Support for GOP Change Grows
Amid Scandals, Some Republicans Push to Permanently Replace DeLay as Leader

By Jonathan Weisman
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, December 3, 2005; Page A02

Widening corruption scandals in Washington are heightening Republican sentiments for a GOP leadership shake-up early next year that would permanently replace former majority leader Tom DeLay (R-Tex.), according to House members and GOP leadership sources.

Many Republicans say they are troubled that DeLay's political money-laundering trial in Texas could drag on for months, leaving the question of leadership in limbo. And they are increasingly anxious that DeLay may be implicated in the bribery and corruption investigations of Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff and former representative Randy "Duke" Cunningham (R-Calif.). But with few members willing to publicly challenge DeLay's return, leadership aides still give the lawmaker a strong shot at a comeback, provided a Texas court exonerates him of charges that he illegally funneled corporate campaign contributions to state legislative candidates. Much will depend on whether DeLay can get the case thrown out or win acquittal by the time Congress convenes Jan. 30 for President Bush's State of the Union address, some GOP lawmakers and aides say



Tom Delay and wife leave an Austin courthouse last week after an appearance on campaign finance charges.

"No question, there's considerable discontent in the conference about DeLay's return, but nobody's talking on the record," said a House Republican political strategist who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of crossing DeLay, should he return. "If he beats this rap in Austin, he will be back as majority leader, because nobody's going to tell him no."


DeLay was forced to step down as majority leader in September immediately after his indictment. House Majority Whip Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) assumed the majority leader's post on a temporary basis. It is a measure of DeLay's lingering power on Capitol Hill that a dozen interviews on DeLay's future elicited almost no named responses -- either from DeLay allies or from lawmakers and congressional aides ready to see him replaced.

"There is a lot of sentiment out there about DeLay's radioactivity," said a leadership source close to DeLay and House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.).

More-
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/02/AR2005120201945.html?referrer=email

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2005/12/03/gop-considers-permanently_n_11617.html

[FogerRox]

5. BRaD blOG: Sign petition for Cali diebold hack test

Demand California HACK TEST Diebold's Voting Machines Before Certifying Them!
Sign Senator Debra Bowen's Petition...


Debra Bowen, author of the "Bowen Amendment" (SB 370) which mandated "paper trails" for all votes in California, is now running for Secretary of State out here. She blogs about the now-nearly-infamous "Hack Test" that may soon occur on Diebold machines here in California.

more--
http://www.bradblog.com/

[FogerRox]

6. TALK LEFT: Pirro Rejects Pullout in Senate Race Against Hillary

Pirro Rejects Pullout in Senate Race Against Hillary
Jeanine Pirro has met with Gov. Pataki and decided to stay in the New York Senate race.

Earlier this week, New York Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno urged Pirro to switch her candidacy from the Senate race to the Attorney General's race. Crooks and Liars reported, via today's New York Post, that Jeanine was holding an "emergency summit" with Gov. Pataki (who has been one of her few important consistent backers)to discuss it.

My view: Jeanine in the Senate race is political suicide.

As an aside, Pataki and Bruno seem to be having major league feuds over minor league details.

Candy Crowley on CNN friday:

PIRRO: I am excited about how my campaign's going.

http://talkleft.com/new_archives/013293.html

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CROWLEY: She must know something we don't. In a head-to-head with Senator Clinton, the latest polls show Pirro trailing by more than 25 points. Senator Clinton has about 14 million cash on hand, Pirro about 400,000.

[FogerRox]

7. Toledoblade- WIlliams county Ohio recount

yesterday I posted at laest 20 articles on recounts around the country, heres a few more--

Florence Township recount shows trustee kept seat


BRYAN — The Williams County Board of Elections’ recount of the Florence Township trustee race produced the same results Thursday as the board’s official count Nov. 22.

Incumbent Marvin Gearhart kept his seat by one vote.

He had 387 votes and challenger Ronald R. Thiel got 386, which led to the automatic recount.

The high vote-getter in the three-man race for two seats was incumbent Alan Muehlfeld with 456.

more--
http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051203/NEWS09/51203018/-1/NEWS

[FogerRox]

8. Virginia, No date set for city race recount

No date set for city race recount
Judge wants process finished by Christmas
By David Royer/staff
[email protected]


STAUNTON — The terms were set, but no date was named in a meeting Friday between election officials and candidates in the Elnora Hazlett-Rick Johnson vote recount.

Judge Thomas H. Wood, who will oversee the process along with two other judges appointed by the Virginia Su-preme Court, said he would get started as soon as he is able to find a retired judge willing to temporarily take over his court.

"It's got to be done before Christmas," Wood said. "It's absolutely got to be."

Two teams of three people each will watch local election officials hand-count vote totals from machines, and 312 absentee ballots.

Once the process begins, it should go quickly. Electoral board secretary Stanley Cline said the vote canvas on election night took four hours; the recount should be faster.

more-
http://www.newsleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051203/NEWS01/512030324/1002

[FogerRox]

9. Washington: Recount ordered in Upper Mount Bethel

December 3, 2005
Recount ordered in Upper Mount Bethel
Top three vote-getters in supervisors race were 14 votes apart.
By Tom Coombe
Of The Morning Call

Last month's race for two Upper Mount Bethel Township supervisor seats was close, with three people coming within 14 votes of each other. That's close enough for a Northampton County judge to approve a recount requested by a losing candidate.

In a ruling filed Friday in county court, Judge Stephen J. Baratta ordered election officials to recount the votes at 1 p.m. Dec. 16 at the voter registration office in Easton. Baratta's ruling came in response to write-in candidate Judith Henckel, who placed third and petitioned for the recount this week.


Henckel, a Democrat, began a write-in campaign after finishing last in the May primary.

According to the county's official results for the November election, Henckel finished third in the race for two seats, with 464 votes, four behind former Supervisor Edward Nelson, also a Democrat, who received 468 votes.

more--
http://www.mcall.com/news/local/poconos/all-b9_3recountdec03,0,1466273.story?coll=all-newslocalpoconos-hed

[FogerRox]

10. AmericaBLOG: Pelosi demands answers on TX redistricting scandal

Pelosi demands answers on TX redistricting scandal
by Joe in DC - 12/03/2005 10:58:00 AM


She's right. This is a big issue:
"There must be an independent inquiry into the contemptible politicization of the Justice Department to rubberstamp Congressman Tom DeLay's illegal redistricting scheme in Texas," Pelosi said.

http://americablog.blogspot.com/2005/12/pelosi-demands-answers-on-tx.html

[MelissaB]

11. Trolling for souls and voters in Ohio

Trolling for souls and voters in Ohio
Parsley blurs line between God and politics

By Andrew Welsh-Huggins

ASSOCIATED PRESS


COLUMBUS, Ohio - Evangelist Rod Parsley wants to gather voters as he wins souls, a mixture that's causing a stir in the state that put President Bush back in the White House.

The televangelist, opposed to same-sex marriage and critical of Islam, hopes the effort he calls Reformation Ohio will convert 1 million people to Christianity, help the poor and register 400,000 voters.

"We just seek to be a voice in the public arena," said Parsley, who has a TV ministry seen around the country and a 12,000-member church.

While ministers of all stripes have long taken stands on social issues and registered voters, Parsley's political activities worry Democrats and more liberal churches.

His critics say it's impossible to separate the goals of Reformation Ohio from Parsley's work on a successful election campaign to ban same-sex marriage and his ties to Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell, a conservative leading many polls in his bid for the GOP governor's nomination next year.

In his recent book, Silent No More, Parsley thanks Blackwell for his support, and Blackwell spoke briefly at a rally Parsley held in October outside the Statehouse.


More: http://www.kentucky.com/mld/heraldleader/living/religion/13308048.htm

[MelissaB]

12. Ohio televangelist takes to politics

Ohio televangelist takes to politics

By Andrew Welsh-Huggins

Associated Press

...snip


In his new book, “Silent No More,” Parsley thanks Blackwell for his support, and Blackwell spoke briefly at a rally Parsley held in October outside the Statehouse.

“If you’re not interested in influencing politics, you don’t hold a major rally on the steps of the Statehouse,” said Rev. Mike Schuenemeyer, a member of the national staff of the Cleveland-based and left-leaning United Church of Christ.

Parsley argues that homosexuality is morally and physically damaging.

He calls Islam an “anti-Christ religion” that intends to use violence to conquer the world and writes that Allah is a demon spirit.

Although not a political group, Parsley says, Reformation Ohio originated with his 2003 invitation to President Bush’s signing of a late-term abortion ban.

...snip

Parsley represents a new debate over the line between religion and politics, said Ronald Carstens, an Ohio Dominican University political science professor.

“The problem with the left, the reason they can’t get elected, is they begin with the premise that anybody who believes in God is a moron,” Carstens said.

“The other side now is reacting, and they’re trying to impose a moral ideology in the name of religion on people, when the best you can do, with any kind of moral ideas, is to try to persuade people.”

Parsley says it’s easy to separate his views on moral issues and the goals of Reformation Ohio.

“I am neither Republican nor Democrat, I’m a Christocrat,” he said. “I love a democratic republic and I want to be right in the middle of that process.”


More: http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/journalgazette/living/13319862.htm

[MelissaB]

13. U.S. judge declines to dismiss lawsuit (Ohio)

U.S. judge declines to dismiss lawsuit

BLADE COLUMBUS BUREAU

A federal judge yesterday refused to dismiss most of a lawsuit filed by the League of Women Voters of Ohio and 15 voters who accuse Gov. Bob Taft and Secretary of State Ken Blackwell of presiding over a broken election system in 2004.


The suit does not challenge the election results, which gave President Bush Ohio and ultimately the White House. But it claims the election was marred by inconsistent and sometimes incorrect decisions by poorly trained poll workers from county to county when it came to directing voters to their precincts, distributing absentee ballots, counting provisional ballots, and properly allocating voter machines to avoid long lines.

The only portion of the lawsuit dismissed by U.S. District Judge James Carr involved allegations that Ohio's voter registration system doesn't comply with the federal Help America Vote Act of 2002, the law passed in the wake of problems experienced in the 2000 election in Florida.

That reprieve could be temporary. The section was dismissed only because the federal law does not mandate compliance until Jan. 1, 2006, now less than a month away.


More: http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051203/NEWS02/512030397

[MelissaB]

16. Link to Rod Parsley's website for the curious

http://www.breakthrough.net/

[MelissaB]

14. Democratic state lawmaker considering run for governor

Democratic state lawmaker considering run for governor

By STEVE EDER and JAMES DREW
BLADE STAFF WRITERS


COLUMBUS - State Sen. Eric Fingerhut announced yesterday that he is exploring a bid to be the Democratic nominee in next year's governor's race.


Mr. Fingerhut's decision to form an exploratory committee to consider a run comes two days after Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman withdrew from the race.

"I feel very strongly that winning this election requires having the clearest understanding of what is the challenge in the economy in the state of Ohio and the clearest and best vision for how to create jobs and opportunity in the future," said Mr. Fingerhut, a one-term congressman who has represented a Cleveland district in the state Senate since 1999.

A year ago, Mr. Fingerhut captured just 36 percent of the vote in his bid to unseat U.S. Sen. George Voinovich.


More: http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051202/NEWS09/512020399/-1/NEWS

[Wilms]

15. CA: Uncertainty clouds future of e-vote tests

Uncertainty clouds future of e-vote tests

Despite movement toward new standards for machines, change may be years away

By Ian Hoffman, STAFF WRITER

SACRAMENTO

snip

Carnegie Mellon University computer expert Michael Shamos, a state voting-systems certification official for Pennsylvania, is one of the staunchest advocates for new, fully computerized electronic voting systems.

But judging by what he has seen emerge from secretive, private labs known as "independent testing authorities" and approved by the National Association of State Elections Directors, Shamos said, "There's stuff in there that's so horrible, I can't understand it."

He found a quarter of the voting systems presented to Pennsylvania unsuitable for elections, with such "glaring failures" as an inability to tally votes correctly. A recent study led by the University of Maryland showed all of six voting systems tested did not record 3 to 4 percent of the votes. What does pass state muster often can break down.

"I have good reason to believe that 10 percent of systems are failing on Election Day. That's an unbelievable number," Shamos told an assemblage of voting-system makers, elections officials and scientists. "Why are we not in an uproar about the failure of (touch-screen voting) systems?"

snip

Partly because of the testing and Diebold's own delays, a quarter of California's counties, including Alameda, Marin and San Joaquin, probably will miss Jan. 1 federal and state deadlines for offering new, handicapped-accessible voting machines with a paper record. Local elections officials want several months of lead time getting used to the new machines before the June primary.

"He's risking another huge meltdown for counties," said Los Angeles County Registrar Conny McCormack, head of the state association of local elections officials. "It's a setup for failure."

But the testing has disclosed security holes, as well as a bug that caused one in five Diebold touch screens to crash if a voter slid a finger on the screen, and forced Diebold to fix frequent paper jams in a printer for ballot records. Fixing the "sliding finger" bug alone cost the firm at least $250,000.

McPherson said this week that deadlines will have to take a back seat to making sure voting systems are secure, accurate and reliable.

"There is no compromise where election integrity is concerned," he said. "I cannot in good conscience certify systems that are not fully tested. This is a one-time show, and we're going to do it carefully."

snip/more

http://www.insidebayarea.com/portlet/article/html/fragments/print_article.jsp?article=3268257

Discussion

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x403777

[Wilms]

17. Machine Approval Delays Could Make California Miss HAVA Deadline

I. In Focus This Week

Machine Approval Delays Could Make California Miss HAVA Deadline

Counties awaiting approval for Diebold touch screens could be six months late

By M. Mindy Moretti

electionline.org

As the deadline for complying with the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) approaches in 30 days, California this week appears poised to join a growing number of states that seem almost certain to miss the mark.

snip

Despite a letter signed by a quarter of the state’s county elections officials urging the immediate approval of the machines, McPherson told reporters at a meeting earlier this week that he did not anticipate making any decisions before the end of the year.

snip

http://www.electionline.org/Newsletters/tabid/87/ctl/Detail/mid/643/xmid/165/xmfid/3/Default.aspx

[Wilms]

18. DeLay's Jersey dealings checked

DeLay's Jersey dealings checked

Saturday, December 03, 2005

By Terrence Dopp

TRENTON -- In a development that raised few eyebrows in New Jersey politics, prosecutors have subpoenaed campaign finance records covering 2001 through 2003 from the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission.

snip

It came from Ronnie Earle, the Travis County, Texas, district attorney leading an investigation of alleged money laundering and campaign finance violations by former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay.

snip

Several members of both parties interviewed said they had no clue why Earle would seek Garden State information.

"What surprises me most is why anyone would subpoena records that are publicly available on a Web site," offered Tom Wilson, chairman of the Republican State Committee.

snip

http://www.nj.com/news/gloucester/index.ssf?/base/news-0/1133601371321320.xml&coll=8

[Wilms]

19. Ohio Equal Voting Case Survives

Saturday, December 3

Ohio Equal Voting Case Survives

U.S. District Judge James Carr has denied a motion to dismiss a lawsuit filed by the League of Women Voters of Ohio and others, challenging the State of Ohio's administration of its voting system under the Fourteenth Amendment. The order, filed yesterday, may be found here. The League's lawsuit arises from problems with registration, the handling of provisional and absentee ballots, disability access, and the allocation of voting machines in Ohio, which they claim are of longstanding duration.

The most important aspect of Judge Carr's ruling is his conclusion that the League and other plaintiffs have stated claims under the Equal Protection Clause, based on the alleged disparate treatment of voters in different counties. He properly recognizes that the state "misconstrues the complaint" in asserting that voters should try to resolve their problems with local election officials (a point I made here in an earlier post, which contains a more detailed description of the case). The whole point is that voters across jurisdictions have been afforded unequal treatment, resulting in a "crazy-quilt" of different rules and processes.

The court also allows plaintiffs' due process claim to proceed, on the theory that Secretary of State Blackwell and Governor Taft may be liable for the "systemic failure to train." It specifically rejects the arguments that Taft and Blackwell aren't proper defendants, that plaintiffs lack standing, that their claims are precluded by the judgments in prior lawsuits, and that the case should be transferred to another court.

Judge Carr's order does dismiss plaintiff's claim challenging the state's registration list under the Help America Vote Act. The order reasons that this statewide list need not be implemented until January 1, 2006. (See this post for more on HAVA's deadline.) In effect, Judge Carr finds that the HAVA claim isn't yet "ripe," although he doesn't actually use this term.

snip

http://moritzlaw.osu.edu/blogs/tokaji/2005/12/ohio-equal-voting-case-survives.html

[MelissaB]

20. 'Fraud buster' Bob Fitrakis Announces Bid for Ohio Governorship

'Fraud buster' Bob Fitrakis Announces Bid for Ohio Governorship

Green Party of Ohio
www.ohiogreens.org

Candidate Release
Bob Fitrakis for Governor
www.fraudbusterbob.com

November 29, 2005

COLUMBUS -- On Tuesday, November 29, 2005, well-known Columbus attorney, author, and radio host Dr. Bob Fitrakis will announce his bid to be the next Governor of the State of Ohio. The announcement will be made on the west side of the State Capitol building along High Street in Columbus starting at 12:30 pm. Dr. Fitrakis has written several books and numerous newspaper columns on the irregularities and outright fraud that were rife during the last few elections in Ohio. Winner of many community and journalism awards, he has been endorsed by the Green Party of Ohio and will be seeking the party's nomination as candidate for Governor next spring, along with two other fraudbusting veterans: Anita Rios (Lt. Governor) and Tim Kettler (Secretary of State). Together they will spearhead the Green Party campaign to clean up the sleaze that has become so entrenched with the two major parties and their big money patrons.

"The goal of my campaign will be to win the Governor's mansion back for the People of Ohio," said Dr. Fitrakis. "Both the Republican and Democratic parties have brought dishonor to our great state with their cronyism and insider dealing. We need to clean house and end this culture of corruption."

Bob and his running mates were principals in the battle waged by the Green Party to recount the votes after the 2004 election. Anita Rios, his running mate as Lt. Governor, and Tim Kettler, candidate for Secretary of State, are both involved in lawsuits against the current Secretary of State because of his official actions which disenfranchised so many Ohio voters and skewed the vote count.


Lots more: http://www.gp.org/press/states/oh_2005_11_29.shtml

[MelissaB]

21. Diebold hires former Dem State Senator as Lobbyist against VR Activists!

I guess this is a new tactic by Diebold. Hire former State Elected Officials to lobby for them when voting activists have thrown up a roadblock by passing a good Bill to protect voting rights. Former State Senator Steve Metcalf from Buncombe County (Ashville) is now their lobbist.

Here's a SNIP from "Raleigh News & Observer" about Diebold's winning certification in NC after a Judge blocked their injunction which would have allowed them not to release all their computer code.

--------------------------

A vote of no-confidence
http://www.newsobserver.com/114/story/373305.html

Some state voters who don't like the voting machine company Diebold Election Systems tried Thursday to talk the State Board of Elections out of approving the company's equipment for use in North Carolina.

State elections officials approved the company anyway, along with two others, Elections Systems & Software and Sequoia Voting Systems.

Joyce McCloy, a Winston-Salem woman who fought Diebold in court this week, said the company could not be trusted to say exactly what is written into its software and told board members that California had disallowed use of a type of Diebold machine.

Perry Woods, a Raleigh political consultant, reminded the board that Diebold's CEO once promised to deliver the state of Ohio for George W. Bush.

"There's not a lot of confidence in Diebold," Woods said.

Board members asked how the board could single out Diebold for rejection when it had met the state's certification requirements.

Former Democratic state Sen. Steve Metcalf, now a Diebold lobbyist, said the Diebold executive's statements were "certainly unfortunate," but "never was that meant to be seen as an opportunity to use election equipment to control the election."


Thanks to KoKo01 here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x403728

[FogerRox]

22. thanks for lending a hand-- peeps