Activists cry foul in electronic voting furore

[DoYouEverWonder]

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/story.jsp?story=535566

27 June 2004

US voting activists who fear an "electoral train wreck" worse than Florida 2000 if electronic ballot machines are allowed to determine the outcome of November's presidential election, are claiming a breakthrough victory after the scandal-ridden resignation of one of the country's most outspoken e-voting apologists.

After years denying theevidence that touchscreen voting machines were unreliable and prone to tampering, the registrar of voters in Riverside County, California, Mischelle Townsend, suddenly announced her retirement - supposedly to spend more time with her family.

It seems more than likely, however, than her decision was swayed by a looming lawsuit challenging her handling of a recount in a local county race in March, and a flurry of allegations about her own conduct in office and the misleading claims of Sequoia Voting Systems, the company that makes and services the county's voting machinery. Ms Townsend was among the first US election registrars to introduce electronic voting, even before November 2000. Despite initial praise for her farsightedness, her judgment has come under increasing scrutiny.

According to the staff of one candidate, who were present in her office on election night, Ms Townsend inexplicably halted the count for about an hour while two Sequoia employees were observed typing at a computer terminal with access to the ballot tabulation software.

[anarchy1999]

1. And this is news in Britain? WTF?

Why is this not front page on every paper in this nation?

[The Zanti Regent]

7. Because the Nazi Republican Party controls 99% of the American Press

All the big media companies march in lockstep to the Nazi Republican Party!

[teryang]

2. kick

[teryang]

3. Injunctions are the answer

Someone needs to get a federal injunction blocking the use of machines by manufacturer.

[DoYouEverWonder]

4. We need to go back to paper and pencil

for the November election. So what if it takes two weeks to count all the votes. I want a paper ballot and a verifiable count.

[teryang]

5. No doubt about it

Computer security is notoriously bad

[PATRICK]

6. But as of now what WILL happen?

Some states have fussed and delayed so that only a high court injunction can stop them and they will plead(and create) chaos. Others reluctantly will be deflected to temporary solutions and compromises. Others will go to some older system.

It is not going to be pretty, but if they know they are going to lose big, the rats should be fleeing from the cheese and not try too much. Congressional seats are every bit as important as the main race. 2004 will not be 100% clean nor should it be given a passing grade even if the intimidated losers keep their hands to themselves this time.

Or, Bush falsely pumped back up, however briefly, all states without visible auditable ballots will be defrauded.

Time is running out and no real solution has won the battle yet. Nor are the people adequately informed as to the major number one issues. NO it is NOT about those outside hackers mucking up the results or glitches.

Unfortunately in waging this battle, many activists have settled for working with this consciousness, unable or prevented from pointing out to people how digital programs secretly officiated by private companies and their bad products is a ludicrous place to safeguard a ballot.

[AndyTiedye]

9. We Need The Biggest Landslide In History To Win At All

They will steal every vote they can.
We have to win every vote they can't steal.
Maybe it will be enough.

[narcjen]

8. I'd like to see

MM or someone make a documentary about the perils e-voting. Where is the f*cking media on this issue? It seems they're doing a great job of censoring/burying this issue for *.

Such a film is sorely needed right now. It could be just the thing to wake up the voters and the media to this issue. All the media have been inexcuseably AWOL on this critically important issue/controversy to our democracy, especially broadcast media.

[loudsue]

10. Even beyond bush, This e-voting issue is the greatest danger

to our Democracy. If we can INSURE true elections, we, THE PEOPLE, can force this country back into line.... and we can effectively threaten our elected officials with being voted OUT, unless they restore Freedom of the Press.

But, WITHOUT true elections, we will continue to fall further and further into the hands of the plutocracy that has become the U.S. government.

The SECOND most important issue for Democracy is, of course, freedom of the press.

With these two things alone (Freedom of the Press and True elections), we can sustain this Democracy. Without them, we are toast.

But the elections system has to come FIRST! It's the basis from which every other thing can be corrected.

:kick::kick::kick:

[struggle4progress]

11. kick

:kick: