BBV: Testing of voting machines inadequate, election experts say

[Kadie]

Testing of voting machines inadequate, election experts say

By ERICA WERNER, Associated Press Writer
Last Updated: June 24, 2004, 02:40:17 PM PDT


WASHINGTON (AP) - Electronic voting machines are not tested thoroughly enough before being used in elections, voting experts said Thursday.

"The processes that we're talking about here are much more out of control than anyone's willing to admit. There's virtually no control over how software enters a voting machine," Michael Shamos, a computer scientist at Carnegie Mellon University, told a House Science Committee subcommittee hearing.

A mishmash of groups and procedures now govern testing and certification of the electronic voting machines that some 50 million voters will use in November. The haphazard process has contributed to growing concerns over the security of the ATM-like machines.

Much of the responsibility so far has fallen to a volunteer organization of retired and active election officials, which has certified three little-known testing companies to verify the integrity of every machine and every line of code in e-voting equipment nationwide.

more... http://www.modbee.com/state_wire/story/8755210p-9634963c.html

[RedEagle]

1. Flip Flop

Shamos has been one of the few so-called computer scientists who has been quoted in support of paperless machines. (He's not a security expert, FYI) I think the LWV used him. In fact, he's used just about everywhere a quote was needed in favor of the paperless atrocities.

So now he decides there is a problem? Hey, it's a little late for CYA....

[JetJaguar]

2. A prodigal son

It's never to late.

This long article is well worth a read.
If just for a glimpse of the BBV dark ages.


ANNALS OF DEMOCRACY
COUNTING VOTES
By Ronnie Dugger

The New Yorker, November 7, 1988



http://www.newsgarden.org/columns/dugger.shtml

...


Shamos believes it "not unlikely for some guy to realize one day, he's sitting there in the room in the midst of all those coding forms-he says, `My God! I can control this whole thing!' " After all, Shamos said, "we have enough tales of hackers who when they found they could do something went and did it, maybe even not with malicious intent, just to show that they could do it."

He then pointed out a second possibility: "Of course, you can imagine that the venders of the system are in with certain politicians. The politicians agree, `Yes, I'll buy this system, if you fix the election my way next time,' and they actually give orders to their subordinates to do it. That's always seemed somewhat less likely to me, because of the possibility of a whistle-blower. Then, the third possibility is tampering by someone not in the employ of the company, by a break-in at the vending company."

Summing up, Shamos said, "What does it mean that one company is controlling a large fraction of the voting in the United States? If you provide the software, you are controlling, even if you are not manipulating. Computerized vote-counting doesn't occur in the light of day, it occurs inside silicon in a little black box. That box is completely under the control of the vender, and if anything wrong happens we might never find out."

...

Shamos has proposed that persons who have criminal records for acts of "moral turpitude" should be barred from the vote-counting-equipment business.



Buy that man a hamburger.

[RedEagle]

4. Make that bun only, please

This guy HELPED get those paperless machines in the hands of the officials the people he now berates.

"Oh, ooops, forget what I've said earlier, guess I better get on the right side of this issue now."

Shamos has zero credibility.

(Shamos liked the SERVE Internet voting project, too)

People like Barbara Simons have been warning the country all along.

What suddendly turned Shamos around- was he about to be shown for the unremitting proponent of the paperless- and undemocratic systems, he is?

[BeFree]

5. A week old bun, if that

Good question, Red Eagle, what did turn this guy?

Maybe he is just an incompetent boob when it comes to real world politics?

Or maybe he is trying to cover his ass because he was hired to ensure computer voting got a free ride and now that ya'll have exposed the corruption he's turned against diebold?

Whatever...I'm glad to see him turned around and flying the Left^TM way.

[dusty64]

3. Kick!

:kick: