Diebold Earnings Up 13 Percent in First Quarter

[displacedtexan]

Diebold Earnings Up 13 Percent in First Quarter
The Associated Press
Published: Apr 20, 2004

NORTH CANTON, Ohio (AP) - Automated teller and voting machine maker Diebold Inc. reported a 13 percent increase in first-quarter earnings Tuesday, helped by a 19.9 percent increase in non-election system businesses.

Diebold earned $29.2 million, or 40 cents per share, on revenues of $498.3 million, compared with first-quarter 2003 earnings of $25.9 million, or 36 cents a share, on sales of $410.2 million.

snip

The company said in January that uncertainty remained in its election systems. State and county governments nationwide are seeking to upgrade voting equipment to qualify for federal matching funds as part of the 2002 Help America Vote Act, but several states have delayed buying touch screen ballots because of worries over security.

Besides ATMs and electronic voting machines, North Canton-based Diebold also manufactures security equipment.

more...
http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGAOBIF3ATD.html

[nodictators]

1. Seems their election fiascos were up 100% in the same quarter

Massive problems with Diebold touchscreens in both San Diego and Alameda counties in the California 2004 Primary Election, March 2.

In San Diego County, hundreds of precincts opened an hour or two late due to (take your pick):

• a power surge
  
• a power fluctuation
  
• dead batteries in brand spankin' new Diebold equipment
  

Alameda County had some of the same types of problems, perhaps to a lesser extent.

Note: San Diego County bought 10,200 Diebold touchscreens in Dec. 2003 for $30 million. The machines weren't certified by California or the Feds. I beleive they only had a provisional certification from CA for the primary election.