Election Reform, Fraud, & Related News Wed.,February 15

[stillcool]

All members welcome and encouraged to participate.


http://homepage.mac.com/rcareaga/diebold/adworks.htm

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

If you can:
1. Post stories and announcements you find on the web.

2. Post stories using the new Spring 2006 Edition of "Election Fraud and Reform News Directory" listed here:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x407240
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.



Please "Recommend" for the Greatest Page (it's the link just below).

[stillcool]

1. Pennsylvania...

Court ruling may slow election machine purchases
By Amy Karpinsky, Herald-Standard
02/15/2006
A ruling by Commonwealth Court this week that prohibits Westmoreland County from buying electronic voting machines until voters approve a referendum could have an impact on Fayette County as well.

The ruling means that in the primary, Westmoreland County likely will use paper ballots for U.S. Senate candidates and lever machines for local and state races, unless the state Supreme Court overturns the ruling. Appeals are expected. Because Fayette County uses lever machines similar to those in Westmoreland County, it could impact Fayette County's primary voting also.

Zimmerlink has been lobbying in support of a delay in implementation of the mandate. She wrote letters dated Jan. 30 and on Monday supporting legislation introduced in Congress (House Bill 4666) proposing a delay until at least the November 2006 general election. Zimmerlink said she would prefer a one-year delay, until the 2007 primary.

A couple of Zimmerlink's concerns and questions are that HAVA doesn't require a voter-verified paper trail and the state is still in the process of certifying electronic voting systems while counties are pressed to make purchasing decisions.

http://www.heraldstandard.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=16126579&BRD=2280&PAG=461&dept_id=480247&rfi=6

[stillcool]

2. Clarion County

CLARION - Clarion County commissioners on Tuesday signed off on a move to buy 122 new electronic voting machines that must be in place for the spring primary election.

Commissioner Donna Oberlander, who chairs the county election board, said the $431,000 contract is with Texas-based Diebold.

Electronic equipment at the polls will replace the current paper ballot system.
http://www.thederrick.com/stories/02152006-3008.shtml

[stillcool]

3. Delaware & Westmoreland County

Posted on Wed, Feb. 15, 2006
Court decision puts counties in quandryThe Associated PressMEDIA -- The transition to federally mandated electronic voting machines hit a snag in Delaware County and other areas when a judge said Westmoreland County must hold a referendum before purchasing the electronic machines.
http://www.centredaily.com/mld/centredaily/news/13877886.htm





County government
Decision on voting appealed
The state will ask the courts to ease a ruling requiring a public vote on new vote machines.
By JENNIFER LEARN-ANDES [email protected]
“The decision, if not promptly reversed, puts at risk over $20 million in funds to replace lever machines in 24 counties.”
Allison Hrestak Department of State spokeswoman

The state got counties into the voting machine predicament, so now counties are looking for the state to get them out of what could be a costly bind.
As far back as 2003, state officials had been telling counties that voter referendums would not be necessary to switch from lever machines to electronic machines because the federal mandate to make the change superseded state law.

Regardless of whether they want machines or not, state residents should be pleased with the ruling because the referendum was designed to make sure they’re OK with a change in how they vote, said Charles A. Pascal Jr., the attorney who won the commonwealth court ruling on behalf of 11 Westmoreland County residents.
“The purpose of these protections is to make sure the voters have confidence in machinery being used to collect and tabulate their votes,” Pascal said. “If people want to use electronic machines, they’ll indicate they’re confident in them by voting for them. HAVA was supposed to increase voter confidence.”

[stillcool]

4. Harrisburg....House sends voter id measure back to Senate

House sends compromise voting measure back to Senate
HARRISBURG - Voters would have to show some form of identification before casting ballots in any election, under legislation
"This bill could disenfranchise thousands of voters, which is counter to the American election system," Rendell's spokeswoman, Kate Philips, said.
Currently, only people voting in a polling place for the first time must show identification. Under the legislation, every voter would have to show election workers a form of identification such as a valid driver's license; U.S. passport; a student, employee or government ID; or a county voter-registration card.
The House and Senate had disagreed over whether the bill should also prohibit paroled felons from voting, and how many alternative forms of identification voters could use to verify their identities at the polls. The compromise bill does not include the ban on felons voting, which had been passed by the House, and it also allows for a wider range of alternative identification forms favored by the Senate
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/local/states/pennsylvania/counties/philadelphia_county/philadelphia/13875335.htm

[stillcool]

5. Somerset and Cambria County's

Officials defend voting systems

By KIRK SWAUGER
The Tribune-Democrat
SOMERSET —
Elections officials in Somerset and Cambria counties are undeterred in plans to purchase new touch-screen voting machines following a state court decision that requires voters in a neighboring county to approve the change.



Smith said voters in Cambria approved the switch to electronic voting during a series of municipal referendums from 1981 to 1996.

But another lawsuit could have an impact on Cambria’s plans. Five county residents and 16 from Butler County contend in the suit that the state constitution and state law specify that referendums are required on voting-system changes before any may be implemented.

Rullo said Somerset’s 1984 referendum did not specify the type of electronic voting machines the county intended to use, meaning it covers the new touch screens as well.

Cambria is buying 500 IVotronic machines from Election Systems & Software of Nebraska for $1.72 million. Federal funds will cover all but $167,000 of the cost, though officials say that soon will be offset by what the county pays to print ballots.

Somerset County will receive $691,000 in federal funds for new machines and will buy nearly 270 from Diebold Electronic Systems.
http://www.tribune-democrat.com/local/local_story_045233315.html?keyword=topstory

[stillcool]

6. Perry County voters aproved electronic voting in 1982

More From The Patriot-News | Subscribe To The Patriot-News
Ruling won't snag voting system switch
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
BY DEB KINER
Of Our Perry County Bureau
NEW BLOOMFIELD - As counties scramble to buy voting machines to comply with federal law, they were forced to pause yesterday to determine if they're in line with a Commonwealth Court decision released Monday
Last month, the Perry County commissioners agreed to buy touch-screen voting machines from Electronic Systems & Software Inc. of Omaha, Neb., for $449,000
Perry County apparently is in the clear because voters approved an electronic voting system in a 1982 referendum
"We are very, very fortunate that we did this back in the early '80s because we avoid this whole situation they are now facing in Westmoreland County," Solicitor Bill Bunt said.
Staff writers Matt Miller and Jack Sherzer and The Associated Press contributed to this report. DEB KINER: 567-3299 or [email protected]
http://www.pennlive.com/news/patriotnews/index.ssf?/base/news/1139998853250540.xml&coll=1

[stillcool]

20. Lawrence County-Voting system decision on hold

NEW CASTLE, Pa. —

Lawrence County commissioners have again delayed deciding on a countywide voting system.

At Tuesday's regular meeting, Commissioner Dan Vogler announced that they are awaiting clarification on a Commonwealth Court ruling from the previous day.

Oh My Stars....my heart be still..contrary to what you may have heard...there may still be some intelligent life left in the USA

Vogler, however, is unsure it will apply to today's technology. In 1982, voters were deciding whether to go with the current optical scan system which involves pencil marks on paper that are tabulated on a machine.

http://www.vindy.com/content/local_regional/293198173754409.php

[stillcool]

7. New York...

Voters won’t use new machines in Sept., Otsego officials say
County and state lack time to prepare

By Tom Grace
Cooperstown News Bureau

COOPERSTOWN — Residents of Otsego County and much of the state will be using the same mechanical voting machines this year that they have used for decades.

The state’s counties may buy electronic election machines this year, but before they can be used, technicians have to be trained to set them up and maintain them.

Before counties can select machines, the state must test them and certify that they meet New York’s standards. And before the state can test machines, it must have rules for the testing. A second draft of proposed voting regulations was reviewed Tuesday by the state Board of Elections and posted on the BOE’s website.
According to Robert Brehm, a BOE spokesman, the public may review these proposed regulations and comment on them until Feb. 24.
After the rules are adopted, the state can test and certify machines

http://www.thedailystar.com/news/stories/2006/02/15/voting3.html

related article -http://www.star-gazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060215/COLUMNIST15/602150309/1001

[stillcool]

8. Nebraska...Jefferson County leaves behind hand counting

Jefferson County leaves behind hand counting
By CARA PESEK / Lincoln Journal Star

RURAL DAYKIN
On Valentine’s Day, Jefferson County held its first election since receiving new electronic voting equipment.
Tuesday’s election eased the county into the age of electronic voting.

Tuesday morning, the machine didn’t work properly. County Clerk Sandra Stelling figured the ink inside the machine was too cold.

By later in the morning, it worked just fine. By mid-afternoon, more than 100 voters had successfully cast their ballots.
http://www.journalstar.com/articles/2006/02/15/local/doc43f28cdb6b63f013019217.txt

[stillcool]

9. Florida...

Sancho blasted for lost grant
By Jeff Burlew
DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER

Supervisor of Elections Ion Sancho got a grilling Tuesday from Leon County commissioners, who are upset over the loss of $564,421 in grant money because he didn't buy voting equipment for the disabled by a January deadline

But Sancho, during Tuesday's commission meeting, said he was hopeful he soon would be able to buy equipment required by the federal Help America Vote Act. Leon County is the only county in Florida that doesn't have either the equipment or a contract in place to get it.

Grippa said he worried that the lack of equipment could prompt the U.S. Department of Justice to run fall elections in Leon County. But other commissioners praised Sancho for trying to make sure that all voting systems have verifiable paper trails. Commissioner Bob Rackleff called criticism of him "shameless."

Now, Sancho is negotiating with Diebold again, although it means he may be forced to buy equipment he feels will not leave a verifiable paper trail. Diebold sells touch-screen devices with an audio component that can be used by the blind and other disabled people.

[stillcool]

10. Arizona...Committee nixes hand count of votes...

Committee nixes hand count of votes

By HOWARD FISCHER
Capitol Media Services
02/14/2006

PHOENIX -- State lawmakers won't mandate a manual check of election results despite questions about the accuracy of voting machines.

Members of the Senate Judiciary Committee refused Monday to adopt legislation which would have required a hand count of ballots cast in at least 5 percent of all precincts in the state, comparing that with what was recorded by the optical scanners which read the same ballots.

As crafted, SB 1157 would have spelled out that if this sample disparity exceeded a certain number, then the entire race would have to be recounted by hand. And that hand count -- rather than the one by machine -- would have become the official result.

Instead, committee members adopted a watered-down version that requires only a much smaller sample. More to the point, even if that hand count diverged from the one recorded by the machine, the machine count would remain the official result.

http://www.azdailysun.com/non_sec/nav_includes/story.cfm?storyID=124998

[stillcool]

11. Haiti....Preval Alleges Fraud...

Preval Alleges Fraud, Errors in Haiti Elections

By Amelia Shaw
Port-au-Prince
15 February 2006

Leading candidate Rene Preval says massive fraud or gross errors have been committed in Haiti's presidential election. It is Haiti's first election since former president Jean Bertrand Aristide was sent into exile following a violent uprising two years ago. UN officials are calling for calm after three days of protests demanding a final count.

Many say they think election workers and the international community are trying to steal the elections because they do not want Preval to win.

In New York, Security Council President John Bolton encouraged all parties to remain calm as the final results of the election are certified. He said the Security Council strongly urges all parties to respect the results of the election and refrain from violence.

Monday, thousands of protesters invaded a hotel where U.N. workers and Haitian election officials had set up a media center to announce the results. Nobel laureate Desmond Tutu, who was was staying at the hotel, appeared on his balcony and appealed to the crowd to remain calm. U.N. helicopters evacuated guests off the roof of the hotel. After jumping in the pool and running around the hotel, the protesters left peacefully. The hotel has since ordered the U.N. and election officials to close the media center, and vacate the premises.

http://www.voanews.com/english/2006-02-15-voa1.cfm

[Wilms]

12. Alaska: Division of Elections Delays Release of Election Records

Alaska: Division of Elections Delays Release of Election Records

Democrats Say Further Delay Not Warranted

By Kay Brown, Alaska Democratic Party

February 15, 2006

snip

The Division told the Alaska Democratic Party (ADP) that it has extended the deadline to provide the electronic file that contains the 2004 vote results until Feb. 27.

snip

Under the public records regulations, the Division was supposed to release the data file on Jan. 4. On Jan. 4 the Division extended the deadline until Jan. 19.

In a Jan. 19 letter, the Division asserted that the file was proprietary information belonging to its contractor, Diebold Elections Systems.

In a Feb. 3 letter, the Division advised the Democrats that Diebold had agreed to waive its proprietary rights to the GEMS database files, and said that the records would be provided if it is determined that the integrity of the election system can be protected. In the Feb. 3 letter the Division asked for an additional 10-day extension until Feb. 13, and the Democrats agreed. On Feb. 13, the Division again extended the deadline to Feb. 27, this time without asking the Democrats to agree.

snip

http://www.votetrustusa.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=929&Itemid=113


Discussion

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x412969

[stillcool]

13. Maryland-Avi Rubin...Op-Ed piece in Baltimore Sun

Flawed election machines leave Maryland voters guessing
By AVI RUBIN
Originally published February 15, 2006

Maryland has adopted a technology for voting that makes it impossible to audit the results of elections, makes it impossible to perform recounts when races are close or controversial and makes it possible for manufacturers to rig the results without risk of detection.
No voting system is less transparent than a direct recording electronic (DRE) system.

One of the weaknesses of Maryland's voting machines is the lack of any kind of verification by the voter that his or her vote was recorded correctly. A rigged or buggy electronic machine can display one thing to the voter and record the opposite.

Since ballots are secret, there is no way that anybody can ever tell if a machine makes a mistake or cheats. The machines must be completely trusted. They must be trusted not to fail, not to have been programmed maliciously and not to have been tampered with at any point before or during the election.

The defenders of the DREs do not account for the ease with which a malicious programmer could rig an election. It is much easier to hide malicious code in software than it is to detect it. Without an external check on the system, a fully electronic voting machine cannot be properly audited.
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/oped/bal-op.voting15feb15,0,5769724.story?coll=bal-oped-headlines

Avi Rubin, a professor of computer science and technical director of the Information Security Institute at the Johns Hopkins University, is the author of "Brave New Ballot: The Battle to Safeguard Democracy in the Age of Electronic Voting." His e-mail is [email protected].

[stillcool]

14. New Mexico...

House stays past midnight to pass paper ballot proposal
Last Update: 02/15/2006 8:36:50 AM
By: Associated Press
SANTA FE (AP) - The House has approved a Senate-passed bill to require all counties in New Mexico to switch to a paper ballot voting system.

The House approved the bill on a 38-24 vote and the proposal returns to the Senate for possible final approval.

Governor Richardson advocates the move to paper ballots for all voting statewide to help rebuild public confidence in elections.

The bill does not set a firm deadline for counties to move to paper ballot voting systems. Instead, the switch will be required once there’s enough money to replace existing equipment, obtain needed software, buy paper ballots for all counties and cover debts that counties have for electronic voting machines that will be eliminated.
http://www.kobtv.com/index.cfm?viewer=storyviewer&id=24301&cat=NMTOPSTORIES

http://www.votetrustusa.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=928&Itemid=113

[Algorem]

15. Ohio-"Elections staff learn to program machines"

http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060215/NEWS09/602150362/-1/NEWS

Elections staff learn to program machines
If they fail, counties must pay for help

By JANE SCHMUCKER
BLADE STAFF WRITER


How much local county elections officials learn about programming their new voting machines this winter will mean big bucks to area taxpayers.

Machine manufacturers, such as Diebold, are leading training classes and will help county election offices put the May ballot in their electronic machines, under a contract with the Ohio Secretary of State's office.

After that, county election boards are on their own.

If their employees learn to program the machines themselves, they're all set. And if they don't, they will need to hire someone to do it for them at an estimated cost of $16,000 to $70,000 a year, depending on the size of the county and how much help they want...

[Algorem]

16. Ohio-Blackwell turns up heat

http://www.cleveland.com/weblogs/openers/

Republican gubernatorial contender Ken Blackwell accused his GOP rival, Attorney General Jim Petro, of creating an “elaborate pay-to-play scheme” involving special counsel lawyers that has cost Ohio taxpayers more than $129 million.

Blackwell seized a potentially genial invitation to the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation’s “Ag Day at the Statehouse” Wednesday to turn up the political heat on his opponent, following revelations that the FBI is questioning lawyers who say Petro took state legal work away from those who refused to donate to his campaign.

“The fact of the matter is that he created a system that was more expensive to taxpayers,” Blackwell, secretary of state, told reporters after his formal remarks. “He also, in the process, created a pay-to-play scheme that was his own personal ATM for (campaign) finance payments.”

At the same function later in the day, Petro declined to engage in what he called “deceptions and half-truths.”...


- Julie Carr Smyth

[Algorem]

17. Ohio-Noe accused of stealing from funds until May 26&Petro, Montgomery

waited to act

http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060215/NEWS24/602150438/-1/NEWS

COLUMBUS - The 53-count indictment filed Monday against Tom Noe claims the coin dealer continued to defraud Ohio's $50 million rare-coin funds long after Attorney General Jim Petro and State Auditor Betty Montgomery first learned about problems with the investment.

For nearly two months after The Blade first reported on April 3 about problems with the coin funds, Mr. Petro and Ms. Montgomery failed to take action.

The indictment in Lucas County Common Pleas Court accuses Mr. Noe of continuing to steal from the coin funds, tampering with records, and engaging in corrupt behavior between April 3 and May 26, when the state shut down the coin funds.

Five of the 53 felony counts deal with crimes allegedly committed after April 3. They include:...

[Algorem]

18. Ohio-Hackett blames Democratic leaders

Some supporters believed veteran would stay in fight

http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060215/NEWS09/602150435/-1/NEWS


The pressure to quit Ohio's U.S. Senate race mounted for 10 days on Paul Hackett, but until late Monday night, some of his closest supporters believed he would stay and fight.

Results of a just-completed internal poll suggested a path to victory in the Democratic primary. Campaign advisers knew conflict helped Mr. Hackett's fund-raising, and they expected a public barrage from Democratic leaders to boost it further.

Some of Mr. Hackett's senior staff did not learn their candidate had left the race - and politics - until the New York Times reported the news on its Web site around 11 p.m. Monday.

He formally announced the news yesterday morning in a press release that criticized party leaders, ruled out a second run for U.S. House, and left some of his political allies still wondering why the attorney and Iraq war vet chose to end his 11-month career in national politics...

[Algorem]

19. Ohio-Fund raising was key to Hackett departure

http://www.cleveland.com/politics/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/news/113999629868420.xml&coll=2

Wednesday, February 15, 2006
Elizabeth Auster
Plain Dealer Bureau

Hours after he stunned some of his top aides by abruptly dropping out of the Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate, Iraq war veteran Paul Hackett said Tuesday that his decision came down to one overriding factor: Money.

In a telephone interview, Hackett said he realized early this week that he probably couldn't raise enough cash before the May 2 primary to pay for enough advertising to defeat his primary opponent, Democratic U.S. Rep. Sherrod Brown of Avon.

Brown, a longtime congress man and former Ohio secretary of state, began the race with a $2 million war chest. Hackett, an outspoken political novice, became a national Democratic celebrity when he nearly won a special House election that was held last summer in a heavily Republican Cincinnati-area district.

He had nearly kept pace with Brown on fund raising since entering the Senate race last fall but still lagged far behind...

[Wilms]

21. .