Diebold Machines Block Terminator's Vote in CA

As recently reported on Brad Blog, Arnold attempted to vote but found he was recorded as already having voted.

http://www.bradblog.com/...

He was politely offered a provisional ballot.

Brad's headlines read:

ELECTION DAY: ELECTRONIC VOTING 'PROTOCOL BREACH' DENIES SCHWARZENEGGER AT POLLING PLACE!
Governator First Instructed to Use a Provisional Ballot, Given Normal Ballot Anyway!
LA County Registrar, Diebold Supporter Admits 'Protocol Breached in Advance of Election'

The problem was fixed on the spot so The Governator could file a regular vote--staff weren't going to let his voting rights be Terminated.  

Didn't help his propositions any, but it does help the electronic voting concerns return to national news again.

If electronic election fraud can potentially disenfranchise the California Governor, who is immune?  The event should trigger alarms and create serious concern amongst government leaders and citizens.

"This is someone who breached our protocol and was playing around in advance of the election," she said. [Los Angeles County Registrar, Conny McCormack]

Tom Hiltachk, the governor's attorney, said: "I have no reason to believe anything nefarious occurred.

But Kim Alexander, president of the nonpartisan California Voter Foundation, said the problem highlights the need for better verification of electronic voting.

"If the governor is going to have a mix-up on his ballot," she said, "it will make other voters wonder what is going to happen with their ballots."

•  DAMN! No wonder that diebold stock is plunging

  the once fool-proof system seems to be crumbling at the seams!

  by dumbya on Thu Nov 10, 2005 at 03:04:49 PM PDT

•  Come on

  really, the irony is just to much.
  I mean, you can't make this shit up.

  by mpc 12 on Thu Nov 10, 2005 at 03:10:35 PM PDT

•  DIEBOLD also purchase DIMS,

  a voter registration database vendor.  It's used in Cuyahoga County, Ohio and I think LA County, too, among other places.

  Just some more warm, fuzzy news to be grateful for.

  by joan reports on Thu Nov 10, 2005 at 03:22:21 PM PDT

•  Tipjar - mojo induction point

  Click me, rate me, tip me a little mojo juice.

  One must wonder if hackers were involved seeking to make a high profile case into a pointed example.

  When you read the Brad Blog article, note that Conny McCormack, LA County Registrar, has rather special relationship with Diebold, which might give one pause when considering she is now administer of a key office in a very large county.

  I would imagine the scary proposition for GOP operatives must be that if Democrats or Greens have stumbled on how to hack the machines, under the Governator's very nose, how will Diebold be able to deliver the vote for the GOP?  

  We may not need to fear.  I would imagine there'll be new and improved Diebold machines introduced for 2006, with new and improved backdoors, or else very special 'firmware' upgrades for existing customers.
  

  by antirove on Thu Nov 10, 2005 at 03:28:18 PM PDT

•  Want to get rid of Diebold once and for All?

  Start spreading the word that Democrats/Liberals have found a way to hack into these boxes, and without a paper-trail there's no stopping them.

  The truth of the matter is Howard Dean (DNC Chair, tell your Red State Of Minders that and it will send shivers won their back) was shown this on National Television, and he did it himself after he was shown how (in less then five minutes).  

  Also, did the Republicans really think they could forever keep a monopoly on hacking the vote?  Most computer folks I know come equipped with a tendency towards liberal/libertarian views.  I assume the folks that did the Diebold job in 2000 and 2004 were bought off, or had some really embarrassing stuff they didn't want to get out.

  by jackspace on Thu Nov 10, 2005 at 03:37:23 PM PDT