Election Reform, Fraud, & Related News Saturday, March 4

[livvy]

Election Reform, Fraud, & Related News

All members welcome and encouraged to participate.



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).

[livvy]

1. The New Yorker: Drawing the Line: Tom DeLay's Redisticting in TX

DRAWING THE LINE
Will Tom DeLay’s redistricting in Texas cost him his seat?
by JEFFREY TOOBIN
Issue of 2006-03-06
Posted 2006-02-27

For three days in October of 2003, Tom DeLay left his duties as majority leader of the House of Representatives and worked out of the Texas state capitol, in Austin. During the previous year, DeLay had led his Republican colleagues there in an effort to redraw the boundaries of the state’s congressional districts. For more than a century, congressional redistricting had taken place once every decade, after the national census, but the Texas Republicans were trying to redraw lines that had been approved just two years earlier. Several times during the long days of negotiating sessions, DeLay personally shuttled proposed maps among House and Senate offices in Austin. Once, when reporters glimpsed DeLay striding through the corridors of the state capitol, they asked him about his role in the negotiations. “I’m a Texan trying to get things done,” he said.

Before the end of the month, the Republicans had pushed their plan through both houses, and it paid off in November of 2004. The Texas delegation in the House of Representatives went from seventeen to fifteen in favor of the Democrats, to twenty-one to eleven in favor of the Republicans. Martin Frost was the third-ranking Democrat in the House when the Republicans eliminated the district he had represented for twenty-six years. “I knew what DeLay was doing,” Frost told me. “I didn’t like it, but he wasn’t just trying to get me, he was trying to get as many Dems as possible. I went ahead and ran in one of the other districts. It was almost impossible to win, and I didn’t. But I went out with my boots on.”

The struggle over redistricting amounted to a Promethean display of political power by DeLay, and his subsequent downfall has been similarly epic. DeLay’s recent travails, which include a criminal indictment in Texas last year and his resignation as majority leader, can be traced to the redistricting fight. Today, his victory in that battle looks fragile. On March 1st, the Supreme Court will hear a challenge to the Texas congressional map, and the outcome is by no means clear. In the first major case to be heard by the two new Justices, John G. Roberts, Jr., and Samuel A. Alito, Jr., the Court will weigh the constitutionality of the Texas plan, which represents just one of the partisan gerrymanders that have transformed Congress in recent years. The Republican majority in Texas and the Bush Justice Department are asking the Court to preserve the Texas plan. But DeLay’s political fortunes have changed so much that, paradoxically, the best thing that could happen to him now may be for the Court to strike down the plan he created.
Interesting history of the Texas redistricting and DeLay's role in it.

The new Justices, Roberts and Alito, have modest public records on voting-rights matters, and neither had much to say on the subject during the confirmation hearings. In Alito’s now famous 1985 application for a promotion at the Justice Department, where he asserted his belief that “the Constitution does not protect a right to an abortion,” he also briefly addressed voting rights. “In college, I developed a deep interest in constitutional law, motivated in large part by disagreement with Warren Court decisions, particularly in . . . reapportionment,” he wrote. At the confirmation hearings, Alito rebuffed suggestions by Democrats that this statement meant that he opposed the principle of “one man, one vote,” which was at the heart of the Warren-era apportionment decisions. “I do not see any reason why it <‘one man, one vote’> should be reëxamined, and I do not know that anybody is asking for that to be done,” Alito testified. “Every legislative district in the country and every congressional district in the country has been reapportioned, has been redistricted numerous times in reliance on the principle of ‘one person, one vote,’ and the old ways of organizing state legislatures have long been forgotten.” Nevertheless, Roberts’s and Alito’s conservative orientations suggest that they may vote the way their predecessors, Rehnquist and O’Connor, did on this issue, and the decision will turn on Kennedy’s vote.
more...

http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/articles/060306fa_fact

[livvy]

2. High Court's Hot Potato: Redristricting

from the March 01, 2006 edition

High court's hot potato: redistricting
A Texas case, argued Wednesday, could hand House seats to Democrats - or unleash more gerrymandering.

By Warren Richey | Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor

A high-stakes redistricting case is pushing the US Supreme Court into politically charged territory.

At issue: whether Republican tactics to redraw Texas congressional districts in 2003 violated election laws or the US Constitution.

A decision by the high court, which hears the case Wednesday, could have far-reaching political consequences.

Striking down the redistricting plan, which helped give the GOP a near 2-to-1 advantage over Democrats in the Texas congressional delegation, could bring as many as six congressional seats into play for the Democrats. They hope to seize control of the US House of Representatives in November. Upholding the plan, however, could unleash a new round of increasingly aggressive efforts by both Republicans and Democrats around the country to use partisan gerrymandering to try to establish one-party domination of local, state, and national politics.

more...

http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0301/p03s03-usju.html

[livvy]

3. NYT: Justices Express Concern... (Coverage of the Wed. SC Argument)

Justices Express Concern Over Aspects of Some Texas Redistricting
By LINDA GREENHOUSE
Published: March 2, 2006

WASHINGTON, March 1 — Texas Democrats had their day in the Supreme Court on Wednesday to challenge the unusual middecade redistricting of the state's Congressional delegation that led to the loss of five Democratic seats and helped solidify Republican control of Congress.

While the Democrats may not come away completely empty-handed, it appeared unlikely by the end of the intense two-hour argument that a majority of the court would overturn the 2003 redistricting plan, or any other plan, for that matter, as an unconstitutional partisan gerrymander.

Justice Scalia made his views clear throughout the argument. To Mr. Smith, he said at one point: "Legislatures redraw maps all the time for political reasons. To say it's something horrible is ridiculous."

Further, Justice Scalia said, even if there was a problem with middecade redistricting as a general rule, any such rule should not apply when a first redistricting after a new census had been done by a court rather than a legislature. "Surely that's a good reason" for the legislature to redistrict when it chose to, he said.
more...
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/02/politics/politicsspecial1/02scotus.html

[livvy]

4. One More on the SC & Redistricting

High Court Tackles Political Boundry Case (spelling theirs, not mine!)


By GINA HOLLAND, Associated Press Writer Thu Mar 2, 4:34 AM ET

WASHINGTON - A key justice questioned the effects on Hispanics of redrawing Texas congressional districts, but the full Supreme Court showed little inclination to throw out the entire map promoted by former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay.

Justice Anthony Kennedy on Wednesday said the redistricting may have harmed the rights of Hispanics, but others on the court were skeptical that redistricting could be separated from politics.

Justices also did not seem ready to bar states from drawing their boundaries more than once a decade.

The subject matter was extremely technical, and near the end of the argument Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg dozed in her chair. Justices Souter and Samuel Alito, who flank the 72-year-old, looked at her but did not give her a nudge.
...more


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060302/ap_on_go_su_co/scotus_texas_redistricting;_ylt=AjQFkZJHqCKPq_GQlWi4jSCyFz4D;_ylu=X3oDMTA5aHJvMDdwBHNlYwN5bmNhdA--

[livvy]

5. Potential Clinton Challenger Launches Site

Potential Clinton Challenger Launches Site

By MARC HUMBERT, Associated Press WriterFri Mar 3, 8:02 PM ET

A former Pentagon spokeswoman under President Reagan launched a Web site Friday to solicit donations for a possible run against Democratic Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Republican Kathleen Troia "KT" McFarland is still gauging support and has not actually decided whether to run, said adviser William O'Reilly.

McFarland, 54, was a deputy assistant secretary of defense for public affairs from 1982 to 1985. She has been out of government since then and has never run for public office.

McFarland said she had been approached by Republicans in Washington and New York about pursuing the GOP nomination.



http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060304/ap_on_el_se/clinton2006;_ylt=Am5WEWH2S8P1vM2O07RGyQqyFz4D;_ylu=X3oDMTA5aHJvMDdwBHNlYwN5bmNhdA--

[livvy]

6. More info on McFarland

New name possible in Senate race
By ELIZABETH BENJAMIN, Capitol bureau
Click byline for more stories by writer.
First published: Sunday, February 12, 2006
ALBANY -- A former high-ranking national security official in three Republican presidential administrations is contemplating a challenge to U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y. But state GOP and Conservative leaders say it may be too late for her to mount a credible campaign.
Kathleen Troia "KT" McFarland, who was the highest-ranking woman in the Pentagon from 1982-85 as deputy assistant secretary of Defense for Public Affairs and speechwriter to Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger, confirmed Saturday she is eyeing the Senate race.
McFarland, a 54-year-old Manhattan resident, mother of five and grandmother of three who has never held elected office, had been raising money for a possible run against Democratic U.S. Rep. Carolyn Maloney.
But in recent weeks, McFarland said, she has been urged by "people in New York and Washington," whom she refused to identify, to consider a run against Clinton instead.

http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=449872&category=STATE&newsdate=2/12/2006



Hillary's Newest Foe?
(CBS) This story was written by CBSNews.com's Allison Davis

>snip
In an interview with CBSNews.com, McFarland says that she wants to run for office because “after 9-11 the stakes have changed” and it is time to “put playground politics aside.” She is “optimistic” about the start of her race and will continue traveling the state meeting with Republican leaders.
While she has technically “not made the decision yet”, McFarland’s candidacy is sure to get off the ground in the coming months and she insists that “all signs are good.” Politically, Mrs. McFarland is described by her spokesperson, William O’Reilly, as a “Reagan Republican – an actual one – an unabashed fiscal conservative who believes that tax cuts create jobs. She's moderate on social issues and believes in a strong national defense.”
>snip
In a highly handicapped race, Moss adds that Mrs. McFarland has some small advantages. “She has three things going for her: low expectations, good pedigree, and she is not tarnished by being tied to current Republican office holders.”
>more
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/03/03/politics/main1369356.shtml

[livvy]

7. Harris Denies Campaign Funds Wrongdoing

Harris Denies Campaign Funds Wrongdoing

By MITCH STACY, Associated Press WriterFri Mar 3, 12:04 AM ET

U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris (news, bio, voting record) said Thursday she did not knowingly do anything wrong in her associations with a defense contractor who prosecutors say illegally funneled thousands of dollars to her campaign in 2004.

Questions about the donations have arisen as Harris, the former Florida secretary of state who oversaw the 2000 presidential election recount, tries to unseat U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (news, bio, voting record), D-Fla.

The donations were described in a plea agreement last Friday, when Mitchell Wade, the former president of MZM Inc., pleaded guilty to bribing U.S. Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham in exchange for assistance in getting $150 million in Defense Department contracts for his company.



n the plea agreement, Wade acknowledged dining with Harris at a Washington restaurant in 2005 to discuss a possible fundraiser for her and obtaining funding for a Navy counterintelligence program involving his company. She requested the funding, but Wade didn't get it.
more...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060303/ap_on_go_co/congress_bribery;_ylt=AgCWNV_1P1LkGrpWRg72MkGyFz4D;_ylu=X3oDMTA5aHJvMDdwBHNlYwN5bmNhdA--

[livvy]

8. Elections Around the World: Interesting Site

Welcome to the Election Resources on the Internet Web site. In this space you will find links to Internet sites around the world which provide complete and detailed national and local election statistics, as well as other election resources. If you know of a site that meets such criteria and you do not see it listed here, please send me a message.
Main page:
http://electionresources.org/


US specific: A sampling of links available....

# Election Statistics - Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives
# Federal Elections Commission

# Atlas of U.S. Presidential Election Results, maintained by David Leip.
# Federal Elections Project
# The Green Papers: United States Midterm Election 2006

# CBSNews.com - Election 2004 Results
# CNN.com Election 2004

# State Election Resources.....more!
http://electionresources.org/north.america.html#US
Last update: January 22, 2006.

[Algorem]

9. Ohio- Auglaize County elections chief voted out

http://www.cleveland.com/newsflash/cleveland/index.ssf?/base/news-23/1141438156306650.xml&storylist=cleveland

3/3/2006, 9:02 p.m. ET
The Associated Press

WAPAKONETA, Ohio (AP) — The Auglaize County elections chief was ousted from office Friday and later said she believes she had been brought in merely as a figurehead.

In a 3-1 vote taken by secret ballot at a reorganization meeting, Linda Huber, director of the Board of Elections in this western Ohio county, was replaced by Carolyn Campbell. The board had hired Campbell a few weeks ago as a part-time clerk.

Huber had succeeded Jean Burklo, who was ordered removed from office in April by Ohio Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell following a state report that accused her of improper conduct...

"I was replaced because I wanted to do the job without secrecy and with full accountability to the citizens of Auglaize County," she said.



Auglaize elections board reorganizes again; Hires new director, deputy, clerk

http://www.limaohio.com/story.php?IDnum=23108

WAPAKONETA — Fighting back tears, Linda Huber walked into what was once her office Thursday morning and looked around. Teary-eyed former colleagues assisted as Huber packed up her belongings and silently walked out the door.

It was just a few minutes after the Auglaize County Board of Elections voted to appoint a new director that Huber, who has served in that capacity since former director Jean Burklo was ousted by Ohio Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell last April, packed her office and left herself.

Silent during and after the board’s action to remove her from her position, Huber later said the decision was a calculated effort prior to Thursday’s reorganization meeting to remove a director who sought to run an open office.

“What happened at the reorganizational meeting had already been decided beforehand,” Huber told The Lima News. “During my 11 months as director, I was never given an evalua-tion or reprimand. My removal was handled coldly with no public discussion. This is the way the Auglaize County Board of Elections operates. If you dare rock the boat or question actions, you are removed from your position...

[livvy]

10. CO: State OKs Electronic Vote Machines

State OKs electronic vote machines

Friday, March 03, 2006


Chaffee County election officials are close to purchasing new voting equipment that will make voting by disabled people easier and will improve the way ballots are counted.

Colorado Secretary of State Gigi Dennis this week certified Hart Intercivic voting equipment, making it available to all counties seeking new machines.

Chaffee County is in the market for new equipment to comply with the Help America Vote Act and to avoid a repeat of ballot counting glitches that resulted in a hand recount last November.

Chaffee County Clerk and Recorder Joyce Reno is out of town, but chief deputy clerk Denise Kailey said Reno likely will sign a contract with Hart soon after she returns.
more...

http://www.themountainmail.com/main.asp?SectionID=4&SubSectionID=4&ArticleID=7421

[livvy]

11. Iowa: Will Vilsack Follow Richardson's Lead?

Iowa: Will Vilsack Follow Richardson’s Lead?
By Jerry Depew, IowaVoters.org
March 03, 2006
Iowans For Voting Integrity are sponsoring Lobby Days at the State Capitol on March 8th. For More information click here.

New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson and Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack (pictured at right) may both run for President in 2008. Both are now trying to attract attention to themselves. Vilsack has his ten words campaign and Richardson has his paper ballot triumph.


According to Dusky Terry, former policy aide to the Governor, Vilsack threatened to veto non-controversial legislation last spring unless it was accompanied by SF 351, a bill to require paper ballot trails behind magical computer voting machines. Asked for Vilsack’s current views, Terry reminded me that he no longer works for Vilsack but said Vilsack “really believes in paper trails”.
end
http://www.votetrustusa.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=995&Itemid=113

[livvy]

12. NC: Election Move Draws Fire

Saturday, March 4, 2006
Election move draws fire
Citizens group wants review of selection of voting machines
Leah Friedman, Staff Writer
A Chatham County citizens group has asked a lawyer to review how the county selected new voting machines.

Members of the Chatham County Ad Hoc Committee on Election Integrity say the county Board of Elections was not as open as it should have been as it deliberated over the purchase of new voting equipment.

"It is clear that there has not been good open government," said John Bonitz, an ad hoc committee member. "It's not just the outcome, but it's about the process. Backdoor dealings have plagued in recent years."

While his group opposes computerized voting equipment, Bonitz said it was the decision-making process where the election board broke two laws. He would not specify which laws, saying it could hurt the group's case against the county.
more...
http://www.newsobserver.com/102/story/413607.html

[livvy]

13. Opinion: Actually Paper is Cheaper

Actually, paper is cheaper
BY PAUL STOKES, UNITED VOTERSNM, AND ROBERT STEARNS, VERIFIEDVOTINGNM GUEST COLUMN
March 1, 2006

We would like to address some of the points made by Ms. Robyn Silva in her opinion column titled "Paper ballots carry heavy cost."

The Legislature has now agreed with the governor that paper ballots are the best way to provide a permanent record of the vote that can be used to check on the accuracy of voting machine counts, and that can be used for a recount in the event that significant errors are detected.

Ms. Silva claims that transitioning to a paper ballot system statewide would be cost prohibitive, but she does not quantify her argument. There have been several studies done that compare historical operating costs in counties using direct electronic machines, to the costs in counties using optical scan machines. In Florida, a study of 33 counties ("Touchscreen Voting Increases Election Costs," www.votersunite.org/info/costcomparisonextended.asp) showed that the operating costs per voter, including cost of ballots, were about 40 percent higher for touchscreen direct electronic machines.

In North Carolina, a similar study of four counties, which can be read at www.ncvoter.net/affordable.html, also showed that operating costs per voter were about 40 percent higher in the counties using direct electronic machines.
more...

http://www.alamogordonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060301/COLUMNIST04/603010307/1013/OPINION

[livvy]

14. WV: Clerk Says Machines Will Take Punch Out of Voting

Friday March 3, 2006
Clerk says machines will take punch out of voting

by DON AINES
[email protected]

CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. - Insert the paper ballot and the touch screen of the AutoMARK Voter Assist terminal lights up with the command to "Vote For Not More Than TWO."

Don't like any of the choices? Then touch the write-in position on the screen to call up a video keyboard and type in your selection.

Jefferson County Clerk Jennifer Maghan says there will be one of these devices at each of the county's 33 precincts in time for the May 9 primary, along with optically-scanned paper ballots that will replace the punch card ballots that have been used for years.

"All of the candidates' names will be on the ballot, which has never happened before," said Maghan, explaining that the punch card system required voters to punch numbered holes that correspond with the number assigned to the candidate.

When voters go to the polls, they will get a paper ballot and pencil in the candidates of their choice, Maghan said Thursday. Voters can use the AutoMARK machines, but the machines have functions which allow physically and visually-impaired voters to cast their ballots. Braille keys allow the blind to vote, while hearing the list of candidates and offices through headphones.

more...
http://www.herald-mail.com/?module=displaystory&story_id=132588&format=html

[livvy]

15. MN: Senate Candidates Play Nice During Early Debate

Posted on Sat, Mar. 04, 2006


Senate candidates play nice during early debate
POLITICS: Amy Klobuchar and Ford Bell and Republican U.S. Rep. Mark Kennedy give brief answers on health care and energy policy.

ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS

ELECTION 2006

MOUNDS VIEW, Minn. - The three main candidates vying to represent Minnesota in the U.S. Senate next year hit key campaign themes in their first metro-area debate Friday but had little chance to expand on their deep policy differences.

The hourlong debate was largely cordial for the one Republican and two Democratic-Farmer-Labor candidates as they told their well-honed life stories and voiced their hopes for the Senate.

Hennepin County Attorney Amy Klobuchar, a DFLer, said she is "tired of propaganda. It is time for performance." She would bring a sense of fair play and hard work with her to the Senate, she said.

Republican U.S. Rep. Mark Kennedy said he wants to keep the American dream alive by bringing change to Washington.



DFLer Ford Bell, a veterinarian, said when the Senate is filled with "fighters," all you get are fights. By contrast, he said, he would bring people together.
more...
http://www.sunherald.com/mld/duluthsuperior/news/local/14016852.htm?source=rss&channel=duluthsuperior_local

[livvy]

16. WI: Reform in Elections, Ethics Nears for State

Reform in elections, ethics nears for state
by Ann Babe
Friday, March 3, 2006

In a bipartisan effort to bring ethics reform to Wisconsin, assembly committee members approved a measure Thursday to merge the state’s Ethics and Elections boards.

The measure, known as Senate Bill 1, would create a single Government Accountability Board with the power to investigate and prosecute possible campaign-finance and election fraud.

“This bill would actually give some teeth to our state watchdog agencies,” Common Cause in Wisconsin Executive Director Jay Heck said. “It would enable them to investigate and prosecute wrongdoing at both the state and local levels.”

Authored by Sen. Michael Ellis, R-Neenah, SB 1 aims to combat political corruption and public distrust in the wake of 2002’s legislative caucus scandal.
more...

http://badgerherald.com/news/2006/03/03/reform_in_elections.php

[livvy]

17. Lookout Pittsburgh! The Little Nitwit's Coming!

(Bolding is mine)
Briefs: Bush to be at reception to aid Santorum
Tribune-Review
Saturday, March 4, 2006

President Bush will appear in the Pittsburgh area on March 24 to help raise money for U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum's re-election campaign, a Santorum spokeswoman said Friday.

Santorum, R-Penn Hills, is seeking a third six-year term. He faces a tough battle for the seat with state Treasurer Bob Casey Jr., the likely Democratic nominee. "With the amount of money that our opponent will no doubt" raise, Santorum spokeswoman Virginia Davis said, "Sen. Santorum is most appreciative of the president's support."

Bush will appear for Santorum at a $1,000-per-person reception at a private residence in Sewickley Heights, Davis said. The campaign expects to raise about $500,000 at the event.


http://pittsburghlive.com/x/tribune-review/s_429887.html

edit: I just had to add the running man.

[livvy]

18. Ohio REdistricting Issue Nears Compromise

Article published March 3, 2006

Ohio redistricting issue nears compromise
Legislators aiming to have amendment on Nov. ballot

BLADE COLUMBUS BUREAU

COLUMBUS - House Republicans and backers of last year's failed election-reform ballot issues are closing in on a compromise to revamp how Ohio redraws congressional and legislative districts.

The proposal on the table for negotiation would create a seven-member panel - two Republicans, two Democrats, and three independents - to adjust district boundaries based on population shifts reflected in each U.S. Census every 10 years.

The goal is for lawmakers to place a proposed constitutional amendment on the Nov. 7 general election ballot. After the election, insiders believe this window of bipartisan cooperation would probably close.

Under current law, Ohio's 18 congressional districts are redrawn by the General Assembly.
more,,,


http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060303/NEWS24/603030411/-1/RSS

[livvy]

19. Maine: Taxpayer's Bill of Rights: Good or Bad?

Taxpayer's Bill of Rights: Good or bad?
[email protected]
03/03/2006
Tax reform debate will begin again if a citizens' petition is allowed by court to go to a statewide vote.
By Victoria Wallack, Times Record Bureau

AUGUSTA — If a petition drive to put a Taxpayer's Bill of Rights on this year's ballot passes muster in court, its chances of being adopted could come down to whether voters think Gov. John Baldacci's tax reform initiative is working.

Also in play is how voters here view the experience of Colorado, which was the first state to adopt a Taxpayer's Bill of Rights (TABOR) in 1992. That state suspended the program last year after it cut too deeply into aid for K-12 education.

Three other states — California, Missouri and Washington — have shelved their tax and spending limits as well.

How TABOR works
The TABOR being proposed for Maine is similar to Colorado's in that it would allow spending at the state and local level to increase at the rate of inflation plus population growth. If inflation is 2 percent, for example, and the population grows by 1 percent, spending could increase 3 percent.
more...

http://www.timesrecord.com/website/main.nsf/news.nsf/0/58121CE1DB24858D052571260057BB65?Opendocument

[livvy]

20. FL: Voting Bosses Must Boost Security

Posted on Sat, Mar. 04, 2006

ELECTIONS
Voting bosses must boost security
Despite downplaying a threat to the security of voting machines last year, state officials ordered new security measures for all election supervisors.
BY GARY FINEOUT
[email protected]

TALLAHASSEE - Florida's top elections officials, who in December dismissed a report that computer experts had hacked into a Leon County voting system, on Friday abruptly ordered new security measures for all 67 counties.

The decision comes on the heels of a Feb. 14 report in which California experts concluded security flaws exposed in Florida were ''a real threat.'' The Republican secretary of state in California then ordered changes to have Diebold machines certified for the 2006 elections in that state.

The security changes, which were ordered ''immediately'' by Florida Division of Elections Chief Dawn Roberts, require that election supervisors counties keep an inventory of all memory cards used inside voting machines and that the cards are never left with just one person.

Jenny Nash, a spokeswoman for Secretary of State Sue Cobb, tried to downplay the role of Sancho's test, saying the new rules were based on a continuing evaluation of standards. Still, she acknowledged, Sancho's test was ''a factor.'' Nash also said many election supervisors already follow the new standards but that the new requirements were ordered to ensure that all counties had ``a uniform application.''
more...

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/local/14014342.htm?source=rss&channel=miamiherald_local

[livvy]

21. Short Piece in the Herald Today

Posted on Sat, Mar. 04, 2006


State orders security safeguards for voting machines


ASSOCIATED PRESS

TALLAHASSEE - The state recommended Friday that elections officials across Florida enhance security safeguards for all voting systems after tests in California and Tallahassee exposed weaknesses.

Leon County Supervisor of Elections Ion Sancho called the technical advisory a vindication of his findings last year that some Diebold optical-scan voting machines can be hacked by election office insiders to change results.


Sancho said the California testing verified his earlier results, which had been disputed by the Division of Elections and Diebold.

http://www.bradenton.com/mld/bradenton/news/local/14014110.htm?source=rss&channel=bradenton_local

[livvy]

22. Vote is Least of Diebold Woes

Vote is least of Diebold woes
Its controversial voting machines play a tiny role in firm's sagging fortunes

Associated Press

March 3, 2006

NORTH CANTON, Ohio -- The man who ran Diebold Inc.'s much-criticized electronic voting business now faces bigger challenges as the company's chief executive.

Thomas W. Swidarski is looking to restore the image of the 147-year-old company, fortify its bottom line and reshape the way it does business with a determination to go global.

He's got his work cut out for him.
big snip
Part of Diebold's turnaround hangs on the company's ability to change its image by moving attention away from the voting machine business and refocusing on its ATM and security core.
more...

http://www.baltimoresun.com/technology/bal-bz.diebold03mar03,0,617508.story?track=rss

[Stevepol]

23. Number 5 K&R!

[AmBlue]

24. FL: State: Absentee vote count 'will not be a problem' in elections

http://www.heraldtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?
AID=/20060304/NEWS/603040424

State: Absentee vote count 'will not be a problem' in elections

By MAURICE TAMMAN
[email protected]

With just days before elections, state officials were scrambling this
week to determine whether they had a problem that could call into
question tens of thousands of absentee votes.

The problem surfaced in the state's newly minted central voter
database, a multimillion-dollar project that is supposed to cleanse
the voter rolls of errors and prevent voter fraud.

The Herald-Tribune on Wednesday found thousands of mysterious entries
in the tally of historic votes that suggested people had already
voted in elections that haven't yet occurred.

The revelation launched a furious review by state election officials
who worried that the entries could make it appear as though
legitimate voters were trying to vote twice.

<snip>