Systematic problem statewide in Georgia confirmed

Drudge Report ^ | 11/5/02 | Matt Drudge

[Surge-on]

Systematic problem statewide in Georgia confirmed: When placing vote, and touching the screen for a Republican candidate, the box is incorrectly checked for the Democrat candidate. Another similar situation is occurring when the review screen comes up and previously marked Republican votes are showing as Democrat votes... is happening in lots of different races, to both parties. Officials fixing problems as they arise when made aware of them... Developing...

[Surge-on]

How widespread is this fraud? Any comment from Georgia?

[stands2reason]

bttt

[hsmomx3]

Do they test these new systems with a ballot before the public votes?

[Blood of Tyrants]

The Pubs should take a page from the Rats and take it to court!

[Michael Barnes]

O hgreat, I can see the lawsuit now...Count every vote, yada, yada...Pregnant electrons, dimpled touch screens...

[Trailerpark Badass]

As far as I know, my GA. ballot went in just fine. Local stations are reporting that the Sec. of State's office has only heard of these problems from inquiring media, not poll workers.

[TinCan]

I did't have that problem. Haven't heard of any of this in my area. South Georgia small town.

[GaPatriot]

I voted about an hour ago, and had none of the reported problems. Guess it's only happening in RAT nests.

Locked and Loaded w/RATshot

[CFW]

I had no problems. My review screen reflected my selections (I triple-checked).

[Shermy]

"Do they test these new systems with a ballot before the public votes?"

Yes, but there have been slip ups. The programming of the computers allows the voter to see that his or her vote was incorrectly recorded. This will be fixed so the voter does not know, and blithely leaves the polling place believing his vote was properly counted with the high-fangled technology.

Conveniently, there can be no recounts. No "hard evidence", like paper ballots.

[philman_36]

It's just script kiddies. /sarcasm

[nevergore]

I used the touch screen to vote here early today in Roswell, GA.....

There were six pages of ballots to be cast, 3 pages of candidates for county to federal level and three pages of issues/propositions.

The screens allowed you to review prior to moving to the next one. When all six were completed, you got a final screen that gave a summarry of each vote you cast and a opportunity to change any incorrect vote. My review page was correct so I hit the final Cast Vote button. (Hummming Bye Bye Cleleand)..

Didn't notice any fraud or really any way to commit fraud unless the poll workers conspired and voted for people on the list that didn't show.....

The touch screens worked great for me although I do miss the paper trail that was provided by the punch system. My wife commented while we were leaving that couldn't a talented programmer hack the system and manipulate the results.....With both parties watching, I don't know...

NeverGore

[r9etb]

Local stations are reporting that the Sec. of State's office has only heard of these problems from inquiring media, not poll workers.

IOW, sounds like McAuliffe's little rats are out there sowing seeds of doubt.

[Doctor Freeze]

Last I heard the touch screens were doing fine. It looks like the steady rain is not keeping people away from the polls. This could be bad news for Saxby Chambliss and the Republicans. We'll see what happens. GO GOP!

http://www.accessatlanta.com/partners/wsbtv/news/vote1105.html

[Myrddin]

Obviously a stupid, pro-RAT programmer. If you are going to screw with the results, you don't do it on the display where the user can see it. You modify the electronic output that is actually counted. This is exactly why I prefer the paper, optically scanned ballots that we use in Idaho. The primary ballot is still human readable and tangible.

[LBGA]

A woman told Neal Boortz earlier that someone "major" who she would never have voted for was checked when she got to the review screen. She tried to uncheck him to recast her vote, but couldn't. She called a poll worker over to help her, and he "accidentally" hit the "Cast Your Vote" button. His comment was "oh, sorry! There is nothing we can do about it now."

I voted by touch screen and had no problem, but I live in a mostly Republican county and precinct.

I thought I heard on the news (WGST) that the Republican State Chairman had complained and Elections officials had checked and these reports of malfunctions are false.

I liked the machines, but it does concern me that there is no paper trail. One woman suggested to Boortz this morning that these machines should print out a receipt for each voter so that in contested races they could be tablated manually.

[GaPatriot]

I, too, live in a small rural area of S. Ga. Probably doesn't apply here....less chance to sabotage machines.

Locked and Loaded w/RATshot

[Centurion2000]

What the hell is so wrong with a paper ballot?? Print one up. Print up the instructions. If you cant read or understand either in English. DONT VOTE.

I HATE DEMONRATS.

(/rant)

[Centurion2000]

What the hell is so wrong with a paper ballot?? Print one up. Print up the instructions. If you cant read or understand either in English. DONT VOTE.

I HATE DEMONRATS.

(/rant)

[mhking]

Two things: First, this already has a thread further down the Breaking news section: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/782824/posts

And second, unless Drudge can come up with something more than his "confirmation" with no corroborating information, I think he's full of used food. I voted early this morning - no problem. I have heard of a handful of places with minor glitches, but not any kind of widespread issue.

In addition, Drudge's description is identical to one called in during Neal Boortz's 9A hour - and appears to be the most common of the problems mentioned. But again, No local Atlanta outlet (and that includes CNN) has made mention of any "widespread" problems with the touchscreen machines in Georgia.