California Secretary of State: Voting Machine 'Sleepovers' Violate State Law

[BradBlog]

Source: BRAD BLOG



California Secretary of State: Voting Machine 'Sleepovers' Violate State Law
Debra Bowen Says 'Sleepovers Don't Comply With Security Requirements...It's Really That Simple'
Reply to BRAD BLOG Question During Conference Call Monday, Most Direct, Definitive Statement on the Controversial Practice Since She's Taken Office...

She's hinted as much previously, and her new security requirements issued in the wake of her landmark "Top-to-Bottom Review" of e-voting systems would seem to preclude them, but CA Secretary of State, Debra Bowen has now given her most direct comment to date on the matter of voting machine "sleepovers".

"Sleepovers don't comply with the security requirements," Bowen said in response to a question we submitted on the matter during a conference call with the Secretary sponsored by the Courage Campaign.

"It's really simple," she added, after a pause following her immediate, direct reply to the question.

She went on to explain how unauthorized access to a single machine, by a single person, could allow an entire county's election to be flipped, putting every ones election at risk.

If you're not aware of what "sleepovers" are, and the long struggle to help election officials understand the remarkable dangers thereof, read on. The complete question and Bowen's full answer is transcribed at the end of the article.

It's good to have a new sheriff in town...

FULL REPORT, TRANSCRIPT OF BOWEN Q&A ON 'SLEEPOVERS':
http://www.bradblog.com/?p=5081


---
Brad Friedman
Publisher/Editor, The BRAD BLOG
http://www.BradBlog.com


Read more: http://www.bradblog.com/?p=5081

[annabanana]

1. This is SUCH a no-brainer you'd have thought it would have

been glaringly obvious at the time.

[hobbit709]

3. What is glaringly obvious to a THINKING person

is clear as mud to a repuke-especially if repuke has vested interest in machine hankypanky

[Le Taz Hot]

2. Those were absolutely the BEST

campaign dollars I ever spent. This woman needs to run for governor, or perhaps Feinstein's seat in 2012.

And I loved this:
"It's really simple," she added, after a pause following her immediate, direct reply to the question.

[Joe Bacon]

4. You got that right!

She isn't for sale at any price to anybody for anything and I LIKE THAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Vidar]

8. She'd have my vote, but being in Michigan, it wouldn't count for much.

But with voting machines & Diebold, who knows?

[pipoman]

5. Jesus...voting machine 'sleep overs'?

who was the complete idiot who came up with that idea?

Their story featured a pollworker from San Diego who we first reported on after she had stored voting machines in her garage prior to the special election.

Nice.

If the integrity of our voting/elections isn't worthy of the construction of multiple key access vaults at least keeping them in evidence lockers at the state or local law enforcement centers would be better than storing them in people's garages. Damn, unbelievable!

[slampoet]

6. If it violates the law why is no one going to jail?

You can spend the night in jail for driving without a front license plate in this country


WHY NOT THIS?

[slackmaster]

7. Because it's the Elections Code, not the Penal Code

You can violate some parts of the law without committing a crime.

You can spend the night in jail for driving without a front license plate in this country

Not in California. That would be an infraction of the Vehicle Code, not a crime. You can get a citation for it, you can be fined or perhaps even have your car registration revoked for multiple violations, but you can't be jailed for just that.

[Javaman]

9. So did they have s'mores?

unreal. just plain, unreal.

[lonestarnot]

10. And apple cider?

Fucking A "sleepover" now replacing "cheat." Soon we will have to recall the Navajo code talkers to break a vote.

[Bitwit1234]

11. So.. what are they going to do about it.

I think the person who let it happen should be prosecuted. Don't you'all.

[Kajsa]

12. Debra Bowen is doing her job!

I'm so glad I voted for her.

" It's really simple" alright, and Bowen cuts through the BS
to fix problems.

We may have fair elections, yet.

Ms. Bowen, :yourock:

[defendandprotect]

13. What are the chances this has been going on elsewhere -- ????

Congratulations CA re Debra Bowen -- !!!

[BradBlog]

16. It IS going on elsewhere...

See the full report linked above, for a link to the Lou Dobbs CNN Story which reported on the "sleepover" issue after we exposed the practice at BRAD BLOG.

They report that *at least* four other states do the same, including Florida, Ohio and Iowa.

[YvonneCa]

14. You know...

...technology changes everything. This is another example of that truth. There can be benefits to new, technological advances (like a cell phone)...but traditional practices, combined with new technology are dangerous(like driving 80 mph while talking on a cell phone).

I voted for Debra Bowen because she understands this truth, and its application to voting systems and democracy. Thank you, Secretary of State Bowen!!

[Warren DeMontague]

15. Replacing MacPhuckstick with her was CRUCIAL.

Go Debra!!! :thumbsup:

[Wilms]

17. Surely she realizes a married person could do the same thing.

"She went on to explain how unauthorized access to a single machine, by a single person, could allow an entire county's election to be flipped, putting every ones election at risk."

:shrug:

[Zomby Woof]

18. Good

I am beginning to believe she was the most valuable official I voted for last fall. When I was a pollworker for the '06 elections, I had to keep the disabled-accessible machine at home for a few days before the election. I kept it secured and out of view, but it bothered me that a less honest person with the right skills could do what they will with them.

Not one person ended up using the machine, but I considered my guarding of it my sacred duty. But I was always aware of how one might take advantage of the same situation.