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FreeRepublic , LLC PO BOX 9771 FRESNO, CA 93794
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It is in the breaking news sidebar! |
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Posted on 10/07/2003 9:52:41 AM PDT by SteveH
Computer Experts Fear Recall Voter Fraud
Mon Oct 6, 2:43 PM ET
By RACHEL KONRAD, Associated Press Writer
SAN JOSE, Calif. - Punch-card ballots from Tuesday's historic recall election are sure to get a going-over by political activists, but some computer scientists think touch-screen voting machines deserve just as much scrutiny.
AP Photo
Reuters Slideshow: Calif. Recall Election
Latest news, photos, video
While punch-card ballots caused headaches for Florida election officials with their "hanging" and "pregnant" chads, nearly one in 10 California voters will be using touch-screen machines, which don't produce printouts voters can see. And no paper printouts, the scientists say, would make a legitimate recount impossible.
"You can't do a meaningful recount if the question is about the integrity of the voting machines themselves," said David Dill, a computer science professor at Stanford University. He urged voters in the four counties using touch-screen terminals to vote with absentee ballots.
The concern of Dill and some of his colleagues was dismissed as overblown and irresponsible by county registrars and executives at the companies that sell and update the electronic voting machines.
None of the elections officials who supervise the 50,000 touch-screen machines serviced nationwide by Diebold Election Systems has reported glitches or computer hacks that have resulted in known miscounts or fraud, said Mark Radke, director of the voting industry division of North Canton, Ohio-based Diebold.
But according to a July study by Johns Hopkins and Rice universities, any clever hacker could break into Diebold's system and vote multiple times. Researchers found it was theoretically possible to insert "back doors" into software code that would allow hackers — or insiders — to change future voters' choices and determine the outcome.
Activists are demanding that ballot machine vendors include printers that produce paper receipts so citizens can confirm that paper results match their touch-screen choices. Receipts would go into a county lock-box for use in recounts.
"It's horrifying and ridiculous that these machines don't have a voter-verifiable audit trail," said Rebecca Mercuri, a Harvard University research fellow who specializes in computer security and voting systems.
Officials from one affected county, Riverside County, have "total confidence" in the electronic system used by its 650,000 voters, said Mischelle Townsend, registrar of voters. On election day the county tests all 4,250 touch-screens for logic and accuracy, confirming that a "yes" vote is recorded as a "yes," Townsend emphasized.
"The machines have always been adjudicated to be reliable and accurate," said Townsend, who has supervised 19 touch-screen elections and five recounts since November 2000. "There's never been a single incident of what the scientists fear."
After polls close, elections officials make another accuracy check. They get printouts for 1 percent of voters in every precinct and compare the digital record with the printouts.
Electronic voting advocates acknowledge no system is perfect but say touch-screen machines are better than older technology.
The ACLU is watching closely for evidence of voter disenfranchisement, as is the California Democratic Party, which began soliciting $100,000 last week for a "No More Floridas!" campaign to scrutinize alleged violations.
The computer scientists will be watching as well, looking for statistical anomalies in touch-screen counties.
"The very thought of a recount — it's chilling," said Alameda County assistant registrar Elaine Ginnold. "We're all hoping there will be a huge margin because a recount would plug things up for quite a while."
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On the Net:
California Voter Foundation: http://www.calvoter.org
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FreeRepublic , LLC PO BOX 9771 FRESNO, CA 93794
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It is in the breaking news sidebar! |
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Republicans better be working now to register new voters, because desperate democrats are already digging up bones, registering college students, (who will vote absentee and on campus), prisoners, felons, illegal immigrants, you name it.
Tell me again how this editorial is somehow "Breaking News"...
"You can't do a meaningful recount if the question is about the integrity of the voting machines themselves," said David Dill, a computer science professor at Stanford University. He urged voters in the four counties using touch-screen terminals to vote with absentee ballots.
WARNING ---- Watch for Democrat activists to try to save the butterfly ballot. They'll fight tooth and nail to save them.
They can use more than one ballot at a time. That's how the dimples were formed - Otherwise, the cad falls out easily.
WARNING ---- ATTENTION --- These are the people who are on his comittee for "Verified Voting.Org!!!!!!! (Democrat Commitee, NOW hags, Serra Club, Democrats.Com......)
Officials from one affected county, Riverside County, have "total confidence" in the electronic system used by its 650,000 voters, said Mischelle Townsend, registrar of voters. On election day the county tests all 4,250 touch-screens for logic and accuracy, confirming that a "yes" vote is recorded as a "yes," Townsend emphasized.Guys, This idiotic seeming woman seems to have NO conception of "extra" votes being cast. But, seeing that she is probably a democrat, she probably knows VERY well. How much to buy a programer in today's marketplace???? Peace and love, George.
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It's breaking news in my opinion because it has to do with the voting process which is being used in the recall today, and the potential for fraud is in my opinion important for every responsible citizen and voter to be made aware of, at the earliest possible opportunity.
Non Violent Opponants of War, Public Land Without Livestock, Peacespan Network, Computer Specialists for Social Responsibility.
Don't trust this man. Back away from the keyboard! LOL.
Elected officials backing this group.Green Party, Democrats, School Boards, Public schools, Etc.
I do not trust the new machines and would like to go back to a paper optically read ballot. But I think the Diebold machines favor conservatives this election.
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