There has been a fair amount of discussion on DKos about voter suppression tricks used by Republicans: improper purging of registered voters from the voting rolls, onerous photo ID requirements, misinformation spread to poor people and college students about their rights and supposed legal liabilities, etc. Many of these tricks can be played by city and county officials, although it really helps to have a Republican Secretary of State or Elections Board Chair coordinating them.
However, if we wake up the morning after the election to hear that John McCain has won a stunning upset victory, another possible source of trickery to look for will be hacking of electronic voting machines. There has been a lot of examination of the security of electronic voting machines, especially paperless touchscreen systems (classified as Direct Recording Electronics or DREs), by computer scientists like Avi Rubin, David Dill, Rebecca Mercuri, et al. Generally what has been found is that there are many possible ways to hack most of these machines, especially (and this holds true for computers in general) when given physical access to the machine. Which makes the reports that election workers in many Ohio towns took machines home with them in the last days before the 2004 election all the more ominous.
Besides the DREs, another high value target for hackers would be the machines which receive vote totals from individual precincts and aggregate them at the county level. Especially if you have a Republican state official in charge of elections who can prevent a meaningful recount of scanned paper ballots in every precinct. What follows in this diary is a list of what types and brands of voting machines are being used in 2008 in a handful of swing states that will probably decide the election. The Obama campaign should be monitoring how their expected vote is comparing to reported vote counts on election day with a list similar to this, to ensure that any pattern in unexpected variances associated with a particular type or brand of voting machine gets brought to the attention of top level aides and computer security savvy consultants to the campaign. Any possible vote hacking that goes unchallenged for even 24 hours is likely to result in the American people once again being presented with a disastrous fait accompli the day after the election.
A major complication to ensuring secure and accurate voting, which to my mind would best be served by paper ballots (preferably counted by hand), is that decisions about what technology to use are made at the county or even at the individual town level, and officials at those levels are generally in denial and very defensive about being told that they spent large amounts of money for insecure or unreliable systems.
States listed below are the Bush 2004 states that Obama is given a good chance of pulling in this year, Colorado, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico and Virginia; a band of middle America Kerry states that McCain has a slight chance of prying away, including Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa; and two that should go to McCain but that might surprise, Montana and North Dakota.
In a few of these states, electronic voting machines were "decertified" by the Secretary of State a year or more back, when voting machine insecurity was in the news, but in most cases the decertified systems have since been "recertified with modifications" and will be used for the 2008 elections. In some cases the modifications were minor, in others more serious (such as retrofitting DREs with printers to produce a paper receipt). In some, testing was more rigorous, in others, not so much.
Governor Secretary of State
System Vendor Counties Used In
Machine Types
Colorado Bill Ritter (D) Mike Coffman (R)
Hart InterCivic Alamosa, Baca, Bear,
eScan Bent, Boulder, Boulder,
Ballot Now Chaffee, Cheyenne,
eSlate DRE Clear Creek, Conejos,
Costilla, Crowley, Custer,
Delta, Dolores, Douglas,
Eagle, Fremont, Garfield,
Gilpin, Grand, Gunnison,
Hinsdale, Huerfano,
Jackson, Kiowa, Kit Carson,
Lake, Las Animas, Lincoln,
Logan, Moffat, Montezuma,
Montrose, Morgan, Otero,
Ouray, Park, Phillips,
Prowers, Rio Blanco,
Rio Grande, Routt,
San Juan, San Miguel,
Sedgwick, Summit,
Washington, Yuma
Premier (Diebold) Adams, Alamosa, Archuleta,
Accuvote "D" 1.96.6 Broomfield, Delta, El Paso,
Accuvote "D" 2.0.12 La Plata, Larimer,
TSx-C/TSx-D 4.6.4 DRE Montezuma, Mineral, Pitkin,
Saguache, Teller, Weld
Sequoia Arapahoe, Denver, Elbert,
Edge II DRE Pueblo
ES&S Jefferson, Mesa
M100 5.2.1.0
M650 2.1.0.0
iVototronic 9.1.6.2 DRE
Iowa Chet Culver (D) Michael Mauro (D)
Premier (Diebold) Adair, Adams, Allamakee,
Accuvote Appanoose, Audubon,
Benton, Black Hawk, Boone,
Bremer, Buchanan, Carroll,
Cass, Cedar, Cherokee,
Chickasaw, Clark, Clay,
Crawford, Davis, Decatur,
Des Moines, Dickinson,
Dubuque, Floyd, Franklin,
Fremont, Greene, Guthrie,
Hamilton, Harrison, Henry,
Howard, Humboldt, Ida,
Iowa, Jackson, Jefferson,
Keokuk, Linn, Lucas, Lyon,
Madson, Mahaska, Marion,
Mills, Mitchell, Monona,
Monroe, Montgomery,
O'Brien, Osceola, Page,
Palo Alto, Plymouth,
Pocahontas, Poweshiek,
Ringgold, Sac, Scott, Shelby,
Sioux, Story, Taylor, Union,
Warren, Washington, Wayne,
Winnebago, Winneshiek,
Worth, Wright
ES&S Buena Vista, Butler,
Calhoun,
M100 Cerro Gordo, Clayton,
Clinton, Dallas, Delaware,
Emmett, Fayette, Grundy,
Hancock, Hardin, Jasper,
Johnson, Jones, Kossuth,
Lee, Louisa, Marshall,
Muscatine, Polk,
Pottawattamie, Tama,
Van Buren, Wapello,
Webster, Woodbury
Michigan Jennifer Granholm (D) Terri Lynn Land (R)
Premier( Diebold) Alger, Allegan, Alpena,
Accuvote Antrim, Arenac, Baraga, Barry,
Charlevoix, Cheboygan,
Chippewa, Delta, Dickinson,
Gogebic, Grand Traverse,
Houghton, Iron, Jackson,
Keweenaw, Leelanau,
Lenawee, Livingston, Luce,
Mackinac, Macomb, Manistee,
Marquette, Monroe,
Montmorency, Ontonagon,
Oscoda, Otseqo, Presque Isle,
Roscommon, Schoolcraft,
St. Joseph, Washtenaw,
Wexford
ES&S Bay, Clare, Eaton, Emmet,
M100 Genesee, Hillsdale, Ionia,
Kalamazoo, Kent, Mason,
Menonimee, Montcalm,
Muskegon, Oakland, Ottawa,
Shiawassee, Wayne
Sequoia Alcona, Benzie, Berrien,
Optech Branch, Calhoun, Cass,
Clinton, Crawford, Gladwin,
Gratiot, Huron, Ingham, Iosco,
Isabella, Kalkaska, Lake,
Lapeer, Mecosta, Midland,
Missaukee, Newaygo,
Oceana, Ogemaw, Osceola,
Saginaw, Sanilac, St. Clair,
Tuscola, Van Buren
Minnesota Tim Pawlenty (R) Mark Ritchie (D)
Premier (Diebold) Anoka, Dakota, Ramsey
Accuvote Washington
ES&S Aitkin, Becker, Beltrami,
Benton, Big Stone,
Blue Earth, Brown,
Carlton, Carver, Cass,
Chippewa, Chisago, Clay,
Clearwater, Cook,
Cottonwood, Crow Wing,
Dodge, Douglas,
Faribault, Fillmore
Freeborn, Goodhue, Grant,
Hennepin, Houston,
Hubbard, Isanti, Itasca,
Jackson, Kanabec,
Kandiyohi, Kittson,
Koochiching,
Lac qui Parle, Lake,
Lake of the Woods,,
Le Sueur, Lincoln, Lyon
Mahnomen, Marshall,
Martin, McLeod, Meeker,
Mille Lacs, Morrison,
Mower, Murray, Nicollet,
Nobles, Norman, Olmsted,
Otter Tail, Pennington,
Pine, Pipestone, Polk,
Pope, Red Lake, Redwood,
Renville, Rice, Rock,
Roseau, Scott, Sherburne,
Sibley, St. Louis,
Stearns, Steele, Stevens,
Swift, Todd, Traverse,
Wabasha, Wadena, Waseca,
Watonwan, Wilkin, Winona,
Wright, Yellow Medicine
Montana Brian Schweitzer (D) Brad Johnson (R)
ES&S Beaverhead, Big Horn,
M100 Blaine, Broadwater, Carbon,
M150 Cascade, Chouteau, Custer,
M200 Dawson, Deer Lodge,
M650 Fallon, Fergus, Flathead,
Optech Eagle Gallatin, Glacier, Granite,
Hill, Jefferson, Lake,
Lewis & Clark, Liberty,
Lincoln, Madison, Mineral,
Missoula, Musselshell, Park,
Pertroleum, Phillips, Pondera,
Powell, Ravalli, Richland,
Roosevelt, Rosebud,
Sanders, Sheridan,
Silver Bow, Stillwater,
Teton, Toole, Valley,
Wibaux, Yellowstone
paper ballots Carter, Daniels, Garfield,
Golden valley, Judith Basin,
McCone, Meagher,
Powder River, Prairie,
Sweet Grass, Treasure,
Wheatland
Nevada Jim Gibbins (R) Ross Miller (D)
Sequoia Carson City,
Edge II DRE Churchill, Clark,
Douglas, Elko,
Esmerelda, Eureka,
Humboldt, Lander,
Lincoln, Lyon, Mineral,
Nye, Pershing, Storey,
Washoe, White Pine
New Hampshire John Lynch (D) William Gardner (D)
paper ballots, optical town and city officials only,
scanning at town's discretion report directly to Secretary
of State
New Mexico Bill Richardson (D) Mary Herrera (D)
ES&S Bernalillo (D), Catron (D),
M100 Chaves (R), Cibola (D),
M650 Colfax (D), Curry (D),
De Baca (R), Dona Ana (D),
Eddy (D), Grant (D),
Guadalupe (D), Harding (D),
Hidalgo (D), Lea (R),
Lincoln (R), Los Alamos (D),
Luna (D), McKinley (D),
Mora (D), Otero (R), Quay (D),
Rio Arriba (D), Roosevelt (D),
San Juan (R),
San Miguel (D),
Sandoval (D), Santa Fe (D),
Sierra (D), Socorro (D),
Taos (D), Torrance (R),
Union (D), Valencia (D)
North Dakota John Hoeven (R) Alvin Jaeger (R)
ES&S Adams, Barnes, Benson,
M100 Billings, Bottineau, Bowman,
Burke, Burleigh, Cass,
Cavalier, Dickey, Divide,
Dunn, Eddy, Emmons, Foster,
Golden Valley, Grand Forks,
Grant, Griggs, Hettinger,
Kidder, LaMoure, Logan,
McHenry, McIntosh, McLean,
Mercer, Morton, Mountrall,
Nelson, Oliver, Pembina,
Pierce, Ramsey, Ransom,
Renville, Richland, Rolette,
Sargent, Sheridan, Sioux,
Slope, Stark, Steele,
Stutsman, Towner, Traill,
Walsh, Ward, Wells,
Williams
Pennsylvania Ed Rendell (D) Pedro Cortes (D?)
ES&S Adams, Allegheny, Beaver,
M100 Butler, Cambria, Cameron,
M650 Centre, Chester, Clearfield,
AutoMark Clinton, Columbia,
iVotronic DRE Crawford, Cumberland,
Elk, Erie, Forest, Franklin,
Fulton, Greene,
Huntingdon, Indiana,
Jefferson, Juniata,
Lackawanna, Lawrence,
Luzerne, McKean,
Mercer, Mifflin, Montour,
Perry, Snyder, Susquehanna,
Venango, Wayne,
Westmnoreland, Wyoming
Premier (Diebold) Armstrong, Bradford,
Accuvote TSX DRE Carbon, Clarion, Lehigh,
Lycoming, Northumberland,
Pike, Potter, Schuylkill,
Somerset, Sullivan,
Tioga, Union, Warren,
Washington
Hart InterCivic Bedford, Blair, Fayette,
eScan Lancaster
eSlate DRE
Sequoia Montgomery,
Advantage Northampton, York
Edge DRE
Danaher Berks, Bucks, Dauphin,
1242 Delaware, Monroe,
Philadelphia
Virginia Tim Kaine (D) Viola Baskerville (D)
(State Board of Elections Chair:
Jean Cunningham)
Advanced Voting Accomack, Appomattox,
WinScan Arlington, Boutetort,
WinVote DRE Brunswick, Buckingham,
Caroline, Craig,
Dinwiddie, Fairfax,
Floyd, Fluvanna, Henry,
Highland, Lunenburg,
Mecklenburg, Middlesex,
Montgomery, Orange,
Powhatan, Richmond,
Roanoke,
Southampton,
Spotsylvania, Warren
Premier (Diebold) Isle of Wight, James City,
Accuvote OS King George,
Accuvote TSR6 DRE King William, Lancaster,
Accuvote TSX DRE Loudoun, Nelson,
Northumberland,
Prince George,
Rappahannock,
Rockingham,
Shenandoah, Stafford,
York
ES&S Carroll, Chesterfield,
M100 Frederick, Grayson,
M650 Hanover, New Kent,
AutoMark Pulaski,
iVotronic DRE
Sequoia Albermarle, Amelia,
Optech IIIPE Bedford, Buchanan,
Optech Insight Chareles City,
AVC Advantage DRE Clarke, Cumberland,
Edge DRE Dickinson, Essex,
Fairquier, Franklin,
Gloucester, Greene,
Greensville, Henrico,
Lee, Louisa,
Mathews,
Northampton,
Nottoway, Page,
Prince William,
Russell, Scott, Smyth,
Surrey, Sussex,
Washington, Wise,
Wythe
Unilect Alleghany, Amherst,
Patriot MS Augusta, Bath, Bland,
Patriot DRE Campbell, Charlotte,
Culpepper, Giles,
Halifax, King & Queen,
Madison, Patrick,
Pennsylvania,
Prince Edward,
Rockbridge, Taxewell,
Westmoreland
Wisconsin Jim Doyle (D) Doug LaFollette (D)
(State Board of Elections Chair:
Judge Thomas M. Cane)
ES&S Adams, Ashland,
M100 Bayfield, Brown, Clark,
M150 Columbia, Dane,
Optech Eagle Douglas, Fond du Lac,
AutoMark Green Lake, Jefferson,
iVotronic DRE Kewaunee, La Crosse,
Lincoln, Manitowoc,
Marathon, Menominee,
Milwaukee, Oneida,
Rock, Sheboygan,
Taylor, Waukesha, Wood
Sequoia Barron, Dunn,
Optech Eagle Eau Claire, Oconto
Optech Insight Racine
Edge II DRE
Premier (Diebold) Calumet, Chippewa
Accuvote OS Dodge, Door, Green,
Accuvote ES 2000 Kenosha, Ozaukee,
Accuvote TSX DRE Sauk, St. Croix, Vilas,
Walworth, Washington,
Winnebago
Voting Technologies Peirce
VotWare DRE
paper ballots with DRE Buffalo, Burnett,
for disabled access Crawford, Florence,
(usually Sequoia Edge II) Forest, Grant, Iowa,
Iron, Jackson, Juneau,
Lafayette, Langlade,
Marinette, Marquette,
Monroe, Outagame,
Pepin, Polk, Portage,
Price, Richland, Rusk,
Sawyer, Shawano,
Trempealeau, Vernon,
Washburn, Waupaca,
Waushara
There's a tendency on some people's part to see allegations of electronic voting machine hacking as tinfoil hat conspiracy material, as if Republicans would only engage in some crimes but not others (kind of like the person that wants to drive 85 mph in a 30 mph zone and hangs two inches behind your bumper for miles because he doesn't want to pass you in a no passing area). But all the evidence suggests they will do whatever they can get away with, or whatever the mainsteam media will only report on page 59 if it comes out later.
I am hoping that Obama has a team of people, including highly technical computer security people, looking at all the possible ways that his voters can be disenfranchised, from vote suppression to inadequate numbers of voting machines in Democratic precincts to wrongly recorded votes on DREs to hacked counts at the county aggregation systems. There's a lot at stake in this election, and that includes a lot of money that is being siphoned off from government into the private hands of extremely wealthy crooks, and it's dubious that they'd scruple at committing one more type of crime to keep their confederates in office.
And if you're super confident that Obama's lead is too big to permit the election to be stolen from him, just remember the huge vote swing versus polls that victimized Roy Barnes and Max Cleland in Georgia's 2002 election. Forewarned is forearmed.