I know a little something about computer networks and systems. If you want them to be secure and reliable, you need trained professionals not only to set them up, but to oversee and monitor them. One issue that hasn't received nearly enough attention is that execept in the largest of municipalities, the average local voting authority is unlikely to have such trained professionals on hand, which is why they need support contracts. Now here's a "surprise" - not -
the Columbus Dispatch says Diebold is charging so much for needed support contracts that a lot of localities in Ohio won't be able to afford them. More below the fold.
"Many say they need the extra -- and expensive -- technical support to program and run the machines properly and ensure the integrity of elections," according to the article,
Voting Machine Support Costly. "But a spokesman said Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell thinks counties can run the systems themselves after the May 2 primary election, when state-paid training and technical support ends.
Counties are not required to have extra technical support after that. It's their choice." (emphasis mine)
OK then. Local officials say they need outside tech support to "ensure the integrity of elections." The state won't fund that support, nobody requires them to have that support, and localities don't have enough money to fund all the many programs they need to fund.
What do YOU think is likely to happen?
This is shaping up to be a recipe for election problems this fall - EVEN IF you're willing to assume that the machines are safe and reliable when operated properly.
In one county, a full service contract would cost $90,000 - money the locals don't have, and the state is cutting off funding for such contracts. And they're not alone.
Do we care so little about our democracy that we aren't taking necessary steps to ensure the integrity of our vote counting?