LTTE from Diebold's Mike Jacobsen in today's Chicago Sun-Times

[XNASA]

http://www.suntimes.com/output/letters/cst-edt-vox09ax.html

(Fourth letter from the top of the page.)

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In Diebold's defense

In regards to the Jesse Jackson column <"Something's fishy in Ohio," Nov. 30>, we want to clarify the reality of our company's role in the election in Ohio. For your information, Diebold had systems in only two counties in Ohio on Election Day-- Lucas (Toledo area, which went to Sen. John Kerry by a wide margin) and Hardin (a very small jurisdiction in northwest Ohio). Both used paper-based optical scan systems. The system in Franklin County Jackson refers to was provided by another company. Elsewhere in the country, our touchscreen systems were used predominantly, and with very positive feedback, in Georgia, Maryland, California, Texas and Kansas. None of which were swing states in the presidential election.

Also, as of June 2, Diebold's board of directors authorized a change to the company's corporate ethics policy to address the importance of the issue of political bias in regards to the company's election systems subsidiary. In recognition of the necessity for strict neutrality concerning political candidates and issues, the chief executive officer, president, and chief financial officer of Diebold Inc. and those Diebold Inc. executives identified by the company as responsible for the oversight of its election systems companies, as well as all employees of those companies, may not make contributions to, directly or indirectly, any political candidate, party, election issue or cause, or participate in any political activities, except for voting.

Mike Jacobsen, director,
Global Communications
Diebold, Incorporated

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Is this true? Were Diebold machines only used in 2 Ohio counties??