NationStates Jolt Archive

Clicky (http://serform.sos.state.oh.us/sos/news/release/07-16-04.htm)
Ohio Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell today halted deployment of Diebold Election Systems’ electronic voting devices in Ohio for the 2004 General Election. The decision is based on preliminary findings from the secretary of state's second round of security testing conducted by Compuware Corporation showing the existence of previously identified, but yet unresolved security issues. Hardin, Lorain and Trumbull counties had selected to use new Diebold equipment this November. Those counties will use their current voting devices in 2004.

I'm surprised TRA wasn't on this first, but this subject has been a baby of mine for the last three years or so, so I tend to keep a close eye on it. I actually tried to write a NS issue on electronic voting but it wasn't picked up.

Anyway, this is good news for the state of Ohio, regardless of which party you support. Electronic voting isn't ready for prime time yet, especially if there's no requirement for an auditable paper trail. There are too many security holes and if you believe in the concept of a democratic republic, then you have to believe that your elections are fair and aboveboard in every possible way.

One last note--I set the poll up as a private poll--no one will know how you voted. :D

yay, i was just reading about this! good news for all of us who want to retain our voice in government (such as it is).

One last note--I set the poll up as a private poll--no one will know how you voted. :D

Won't they? ;)

Though it hasn't happened in this thread (yet), I am suprised that this would be a partisan issue. Unsecure systems are as likely to give a false Democratic result as it is a Republican as it is likely to end up electing Frank Zappa. Anyone who knows a hacker's sense of humor knows that the latter is the most likely...

It's long been my opinion that in order for people to wake up to the possibility of fraud in this arena, that Mickey Mouse would have to be elected, although Frank Zappa would suffice as well.

And while it should be a non-partisan issue, the history of the issue shows that it has been the Democratic party who has pushed this, and Republicans who have stonewalled it in committee. I'm not accusing them of anything but indifference, which is bad enough.

Clicky (http://serform.sos.state.oh.us/sos/news/release/07-16-04.htm)


I'm surprised TRA wasn't on this first, but this subject has been a baby of mine for the last three years or so, so I tend to keep a close eye on it. I actually tried to write a NS issue on electronic voting but it wasn't picked up.

Anyway, this is good news for the state of Ohio, regardless of which party you support. Electronic voting isn't ready for prime time yet, especially if there's no requirement for an auditable paper trail. There are too many security holes and if you believe in the concept of a democratic republic, then you have to believe that your elections are fair and aboveboard in every possible way.
thats excellent news--now Bush cant steal Ohio. He'll also have a harder time stealing Florida this time around too since Jeb was forced to re-enfranchise thousands of voters that he illegally purged--but even with a paper trail im still leery of computer voting cause I still think it can always be susceptable to hackers so I voted NO to your poll above

I voted no.

The old system has worked for decades in different democracies around the world, its just fine. This system could potentially open up new holes for people to exploit.

Another victory for farting in my but

Well I voted with the 2nd choice. But it seems redundant to have a "paper trail" when we could just still vote on paper and kill two birds with one stone. The audits are a must have regardless.

Most of California went with Diebold as well and almost all the counties in California are now outlawing those machines for the 2004 vote for the same reasons as Ohio. Even some criminal allegations are being made against Diebold. San Diego County is going to civilly sue Diebold over it and the District Attorney is considering filing fraud charges, as is the California Attorney General. Diebold was almost bankrupt as it was. I think they're doomed now.

Not to hijack the thread... but if a large number of people are "too stupid to vote on paper" (as some highbrow officials and other "spokespersons" have publicly eluded to) and if electronic voting will make the people "too stupid to vote on paper" feel as though their vote's been counted, I'd like to have electronic voting eventually. Everyone needs to feel secure in their vote being counted and Florida 2000 will never be able to be repeated.

But then there's always the hax0rz... *ugh* :rolleyes:

in Franklin County (the one where Columbus is), they use electronic voting machines without a voter-verifiable paper trail. So this news means FC voters will be staying in the frying pan instead of jumping into the fire. But at least a potential election disaster was avoided for most of the state