A new story out today on Wired reveals that Diebold installed
uncertified software on voting machines in all 17 counties in
California that use their equipment. At least 3 counties
including Los Angeles County used software that had never been
certified by state or federal authorities for use in an election.
The uncertified and untested voting machines were used in the
recent California recall election that removed Democratic Gov.
Gray Davis and elected Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger as his
replacement.
Secretary of State Kevin Shelley, who made an
unprecedented appearance before the VSP, said he was disturbed by
the company's actions and would not rule out the possibility of
de-certifying the machines in California. "The core of our
American democracy is the right to vote," Shelley said.
"Implicit in that right is the notion that that vote be
private, that vote be secure, and that vote be counted as it was
intended when it was cast by the voter. And I think what we're
encountering is a pivotal moment in our democracy where all of
that is being called into question."
Rob is the founder of the progressive news site robwire.com