The Maryland State Board of Elections RESPONSE to my letter. READ THIS.

[nickshepDEM]

About 3 weeks ago I wrote a letter to all of my local delegates, states senators, and US Senators regarding the electronic voting machines in Maryland and throughout the whole country. One of my local delegates forwared the letter and his response to the Maryland State Board of Elections. In the letter I included my complaints about the inability of the machines to verify my vote, the lack of paper trials, and the political LEANINGS of DIEBOLD's owners.

I dont have a scanner so I am just going to re-type the response they gave me and I want to know what you guys/gals to tell me what you think. I personally think it was faily convincing and gave me a little bit of hope that our elections in this state and country are somewhat fair. Or maybe Im just a fool?



MARYLAND STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS

Dear Mr. Sheppard

Thank you for your inquiry to Delegate Minnick about whether your vote was counted in the recent election. Delegate Minnick forwarded your correspondence to this office for a response.

Maryland has taken numerous steps to verify that the voting system accurately records and tabulates votes. First, the State receives the voting system software directly from a federally appointed independent testing authority, not from the voting system vendor. When installed, an independent validation and verification process is performed to ensure that the correct version of the software has been installed. Second, the state and counties perform numerous tests to verify that the system accurately records and tabulates votes. Third, Maryland has implemented recommendations from security experts to reduce the likelihood of unauthorized access to the voting system. All of these actions should assure the public that the voting system is accurate and secure.

In addition to the numerous tests election officials have performed on the voting system, this office conducted “parallel testing” on randomly selected voting units during six counties required public demonstrations and on Election Day. Parallel testing is a method of testing an electronic voting unit by producing an independent set of results that can be compared against the results produced by the voting unit. At the conclusion of each parallel test, the hand-tallied results matched the voting unit results. These results confirm the accuracy of the voting system.

Although the political leanings of the president of Maryland’s voting system vendor are well known, Diebold Election Systems, Inc. Was selected after a competitive procurement process and was approved by the prior administration. The evaluation considered the technical and financial proposals of all of the vendors and selected the best proposal for the State. While it is unfortunate that the political leanings of any voting system vendor are publically known, it does not equate that the vendor’s product does not accurately record and tabulate votes.

Thank you for your interest in Maryland’s voting system. If you have any additional questions, please contact me at 410-269-2843.

Sincerely yours,
Nikki Baines Trella

[Bronco69]

1. *sigh*

"While it is unfortunate that the political leanings of any voting system vendor are publically known"

Unfortunate? I think it speaks volumes. Especially when the "voting system vendor" specifically said he was going to deliver Ohio's votes to bush*

WTF is so hard about giving someone a damned receipt when they vote?

[nickshepDEM]

3. I hear ya on that.

But, if the testing they claim to do is actually done and comes back as acuratley as they claim it seems somewhat convincing to me. Still anything is possible with this type of technology.

[understandinglife]

10. What they describe as "tests" means nothing unless you have....

....a variety of other records and checks, in place, during the actual voting process and tabulation process. What they describe is 'hand waving.'

What they May Have Actually Done could be more substantial, but what the letter describes is so lame as to be laughable. And, as mentioned, those scurrying to cover-up don't need any more pointers than they've already got.

Peace.

[helderheid]

17. How can they know it's accurate

if the software is "secret"? It could say any damn thing it wants on the screen and record something completely different, or more likely, get switched when the central tabulator "tallies" the votes.

[suziedemocrat]

23. As a software programmer -"testing" doesn't impress me.

There's testing and then there is testing. Unless you have professionals who take testing very seriously - I'm guessing their testing was pretty lame. Most people hate to test software - and give it a quick once over and say it is fine. I think without receipts - there is really no way to prove the votes counted. What if your credit card decided to just give you your balance every month - and no details on your purchases, etc that went into calculating that balance. Would that be OK?

[understandinglife]

5. Correct. And ....

....WTF is so hard about having....well, like I said, enough pointers for the freeplurkers.....

Peace.

[Al-CIAda]

27. Huh?

"While it is unfortunate that the political leanings of any voting system vendor are publically known"

Is this a joke? This statement is almost verbatum of what the Diebold reply was to their original statement (delivering the Oh. votes to GWB) -that reply went something like 'it is unfortunate that tthe statement was made public'.

Are these statements supposed to clear things up? Unreal. Its as though they expect logic and analysis to take leave of our senses. "We're sorry the bias and irregularities were made public, we'll try to hide it better."

It reminds me also of Rumsfeld's statement about the torture at Abu Ghareb. "It is most unfortunate that the photos were made public." I see, damned journalists...it wasn't that we used torture that was the worst of it, it was that it got out.

- Ignorance is bliss????
Ahhhhh!

Open source, independently tested, voter verified backup paper ballot...

I wonder how many 'parts' and batteries are being switched over this weekend in preperations to hide the corrupt ones.

[understandinglife]

2. Just one sentence is all that is required to classify this as BULLSHIT

"Third, Maryland has implemented recommendations from security experts to reduce toe likelihood of unauthorized access to the voting system."

Apart from the typo ("toe" should be "the"), the "...reduce the likelihood of unauthorized..." is the tipoff. Anyone want to discuss further, let's do it through pm as we've already provided all freeplurkers and other scum with enough pointers as to what they should all be scurrying to cover-up. :evilgrin:

Peace.

[nickshepDEM]

4. I retyped this because I dont have a scanner it COULD have typos.

If they are present they are my fault.

[understandinglife]

6. Not to worry ....

....just like to point out those little issues for all the obvious reasons. Thanks for clarifying how the text was entered. You might want to fax a copy of that letter to Congressman Conyers office with a copy of the comments posted here.

Peace.

[nickshepDEM]

11. Do you think I chaged the letter or something?

I clearly stated in the paragraph before the letter that I retyped it because I dont have a scanner.

[understandinglife]

12. Not at all....

....my point was that you were honest enough to state up-front that you had typed it. I pointed to the typo because: 1. you might want to correct it; 2. it might actually be in the letter, thereby indicating that they sent you something other than a 'form letter' that they may have sent to others; or 3. they might just not proof-read their correspondence.

Peace.

[nickshepDEM]

13. Then why would you point out the typos like they are a big deal.

what does n/t mean by the way I see that alot and dont know what it means? Nice try? Nice thread?

[No Mandate Here.]

18. n/t means No text. (just what's in the title bar...)

EOM, end of message

[nickshepDEM]

15. Oh ok...

Ill scan a copy at my girlfriends letter and make a link if it makes a difference. I was just looking for honest opinions about what they claim to be tests and parellel testing.

[IndyPriest]

7. There are MANY ways those machines could be hacked that

would never show up on Maryland's BoE tests.

[me b zola]

26. Yeah, .."reduce he likelyhood.."

If they can't prove beyond ANY doubt that all votes have been accurately counted and are secure, then the election is not verifiable. If an election is not verified, then it is not legitimate. That simple.

VERIFY

PROOF

TRANSPARENCY

DEMOCRACY...NOW!!!

[HysteryDiagnosis]

8. Voting machines and their software should only be purchased from OOC,

from a neutral third world nation if need be, from another planet if need be.

The software code for the machine and the tabulator should be opensource, and available to ANYONE who wants to check it out.

The machines should NOT BE hooked up to any freakin network, phoneline, wireless thingy, etc.

The machines MUST SPIT OUT a paper receipt.

Anything less is just more monkey business from the GOP.

[idealista]

14. what about government-owned vote software?

It should be a pre-condition of bidding on contracts that software will be public and non-proprietary. If companies don't want to work that way, there will be competitors who do.

Someone who knows much more that I do might be able to comment on how important/why companies need or want this secrecy (other than if their friends the Republicans told them it would be a good idea). I assume they think if they develop such software, they don't want a competitor to be able to use it for free?

Maybe the governement should pay for voting software to be developed, owned in effect by all Americans. I guess they would have to maintain and upgrade it over time. And then companies providing voting/tablulation equipment services would be simply implementing it, providing hardware, service, repair etc.?

[HysteryDiagnosis]

21. I posted this before... and I will post it again... Windows is broken when

you buy it.... witness the utilities for gaining an Access database password... Diebold if I am correct used Access in their "voting" machines. One can only wonder why.

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[suziedemocrat]

25. Absolutely - Most systems I've worked on the client owned the software

that way they could change consulting companies or decide to finish/modify/maintain the system in house to save money. I've worked on very large projects where the consulting company I worked for did not own the software being developed - even though they may have developed the software off-site in their own offices. The client owned the software - if another client could use that software - the first client got to sell it to them - not my consulting company.

[hootinholler]

9. The Baltimore Sun ...

Has had a few interesting things to say about Md. voting.

-Hoot

[nickshepDEM]

16. I am NOTTT disagreeing with you guys about the possibility of fraud.

I think fraud will always be a problems when using computers with no paper trials.

I just wanted to see what you guys thought about their comments. To an average voter like me who is not as experienced with Voter Fraud as some of you it comes of as they are "VERRY Confident" in their systems, ya know?

[understandinglife]

19. We're just indicating to you that their 'confidence' is either ...

....a function of naivete, complicity, laziness, or some combination of all. Their letter is bullshit. Their system is bullshit. And, you have received several specific reasons why its bullshit from others who have responded to your post.

And, please, I am grateful you posted the letter. Thank you for doing so. And, do consider faxing it and the comments you've received to Congressman Conyers. We have a Nation that has been hoodwinked.

It is reprehensible and disgusting such a sloppy approach would be taken to the most important act in a democracy. It is particularly disgusting because we know that technology does exist to make the voting process simple, transparent and real-time accountable to each voter. What MD and other States have opt'd to do is to make our sacred vote something no reasonable person can have any confidence is actually recorded the way they intend.

Peace.

[IndyPriest]

20. Nick: it's quite possible they FEEL confident in their machines

and be COMPLETELY mistaken. One of the problems with a letter like the one you received is that the BoE is using its authority to inspire confidence in voters while not having a clue that by doing so they're helping to destroy the country.

Another possibility, sadly, is that they are actually in league with those who would defraud. Not as likely. But in either case, I might write them back and just let them know that none of the testing they report actually inspires confidence if they don't know how their computers can be hacked.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

22. I am linking to a previous post so that EVERYBODY on this thread

notices it... this is important.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=203&topic_id=195424&mesg_id=195537

[understandinglife]

31. Wonder how many Diebold, ES&S, Triad, Sequoia.....

....executives and 'technicians' are vacationing outside of the country this 'holiday season'....... :scared:

[Pithy Cherub]

29. Actually it is Election Fraud.

The voter did intend to cast a rational fair ballot. The election system is rife with fraud and other inconsistencies because it is not transparent. Election fraud until everything is transparent and the voting systmes have national standards and enforcement tools to ensure that a vote is held sacred in our democracy!

[Smirking_Chimp]

24. "the voting system is accurate and secure" Where's proof?

[nickshepDEM]

28. Thanx guys/gals.

But you guys can see where Im comming from right? If my mom, dad, grandmother, or grandfather were to recieve a letter like this they would be OVERWHELMINGLY convinced that the Board of Elections is doing all they can to make sure every vote is counted accuratley. They way the BoE praises their testing and "parallel" testing would make an average voter who does not know much about voter fraud think everything was "A-OK". I on the other hand stil question that this is the truth just like many of you do. That is why I wrote the letter to all my senators, congressman, and delegates. Its a shame that we claim to be the STAR of democracy here in the United States yet we still have HUGE problems in our own elections.

[WritersBlock]

30. Another telling phrase: "was approved by the prior administration."

Anytime a government spokesman or official says this, the apparent meaning to me is that they're trying to wriggle out of something they know is bad.