'Rat a l'Orange' -- Documents indicate voting machine certification fraud

[BevHarris]

While we are waiting for some charts and stuff on the election ... Freedom of Information requests at http://www.blackboxvoting.org have unearthed two Ciber certification reports indicating that security and tamperability was NOT TESTED and that several state elections directors, a secretary of state, and Dr. Britain Williams signed off on the report anyway, certifying it.

The documents, posted at Black Box Voting (.ORG) show that Shawn Southworth used a conformance chart specifying FEC regulations, marking each test item "pass" or "fail."

Shawn Southworth “tested” whether every candidate on the ballot has a name. But we were shocked to find out that, when asked the most important question -- about vulnerable entry points -- Southworth’s report says “not reviewed.”

Ciber “tested”whether the manual gives a description of the voting system. But when asked to identify methods of attack (which we think the American voter would consider pretty important), the top-secret report says “not applicable.”

Ciber “tested” whether ballots comply with local regulations, but when Bev Harris asked Shawn Southworth what he thinks about Diebold tabulators accepting large numbers of “minus” votes, he said he didn’t mention that in his report because “the vendors don’t like him to put anything negative” in his report. After all, he said, he is paid by the vendors.

Was this just a one-time oversight?

Nope. It appears to be more like a habit. We also posted the sister report, for another vendor entirely, VoteHere, and you can see that the critical security test, the “penetration analysis” was again marked “not applicable” and was not done.

Maybe another ITA did the penetration analysis?

Apparently not. We discovered an even more bizarre Wyle Laboratories report. In it, the lab admits the Sequoia voting system has problems, but says that since they were not corrected earlier, Sequoia could continue with the same flaws. At one point the Wyle report omits its testing altogether, hoping the vendor will do the test.

Computer Guys: Be your own ITA certifier.

Black Box Voting has posted a full Ciber report on GEMS 1.18.15. We also posted a .zip file download for the GEMS 1.18.15 program. We also provided a real live Diebold vote database. Compare your findings against the official testing lab and see if you agree with what Ciber says. E-mail us your findings.

Who the heck is NASED?

They are the people who certified this stuff. Now, if the security of the U.S. electoral system depends on you to certify a voting system, and you get a report that says security was “not tested” and “not applicable” -- what would you do?

Perhaps we should ask them. Go ahead. Hold them accountable for the election we just had. (Please, e-mail us their answers) Their names are listed on the Web site.

Bev Harris

[Zuni]

1. Holy F-in shit!

We have 'em!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[laylah]

2. I hope you are

right, Zuni. I have lost count of the times we have felt we "had 'em", only to be completely disappointed!

Jenn

[LTRS]

9. And what exactly do we "have"

Sloppy certifications of machines? What state is this, even? And what does this have to do with republicans fixing an election? Where is the connection?

[Zuni]

18. Woodward and Bernstein didn't start with the whole story on Watergate

They had to begin somewhere

These machines should have been publicly certified

[LTRS]

29. Sure they should have, but that doesn't mean we

have anything except certifiers slacking and taking short cuts. Your subject header is gross hyperbole.

[BevHarris]

35. Well, we always know we hit a nerve ...

when folks like you rush into the thread.

"shortcuts."

A shortcut on an O-ring caused the space shuttle to blow up.
But this wasn't shortcuts. It was standard procedure, signed off by the same government officials that have implemented secretive and repressive election systems, like Donetta Davidson, and who have presided over one stinky election after the next, like Denise Lamb, and let me tell you, these folks are making a beeline to retirement faster than we can keep track of it.

Here's another shortcut: Shawn Southworth, July 3, on videotape when Andy and I popped in for a surprise interview, the day before July 4 when he had no secretary to run interference: He doesn't test for wireless, because the vendors didn't tell him to.

Just a couple shortcuts.

No worries.

Bev Harris
Black Box Voting (.ORG)
http://www.blackboxvoting.org

[LTRS]

40. Oh come on Bev, I'm not the enemy

You've got plenty of data to show that these machines suck already. If DU'ers want the system to change then THEY have to get active and demand that the system be fixed by calling their political representatives.

But your answer tells me what I wanted to know. Thanks.

[Joe Chi Minh]

117. Do you

understand the meaning of the word, "certification", LTRS? It's not a gratuitous extra-judicial, anecdotal opinion. An advertising "puff". What have you got between your ears?

[linazelle]

118. Why attack LTRS...the question is valid

We have known that certifications did not take place. But does that prove that there was cheating? :shrug:

[Cassandra]

84. My main concern is...

no matter what you find, I just can't imagine the corporate media reporting that Kerry actually won, let alone the Repukes accepting that.
BTW, do you still need money? I don't have alot to spare, but I can send you a bit if you need it.

[jdj]

100. they did a special on wireless hacking the other night on the news.

If its the same thing, people drive around with some kind of device that can pick up wireless signals. when they find one they can hack into your computer and get credit cards#'s personal stats,etc.

Jesus H. if this is how they stole the election it would be so easy.

[Zuni]

72. I was just excited

I got carried away. This is a beginning. Hopefully much more will come out.

[KittyWampus]

92. More Negativity From You?

[regnaD kciN]

41. What we have, at least at this moment...

...is not only "sloppy" certification of machines but, in terms of security, nonexistent certification of machines. And, in answer to your "what state?" question, if you'd actually read the report, you'd find out the answer is apparently all of them. This certification was from the National Association of State Election Directors (NASED).

[LTRS]

50. The report doesn't say that it's every state at all

... and here is a clue - NO ONE is going to take this seriously if we scream fraud over this kind of thing. Improper procedures leave the system vulnerable to fraud, they don't automatically result in fraud. I believe there was fraud, but we already know these machines have not been certified correctly. That has been in the mainstream press.

We need to get down to investigating suspicious vote counts that give us clues that actual fraud may have taken place. I am beyond dismayed that BBV is "breaking news" on something that is pretty much known already. That tells me that's all they've got so far -- same old shit.

[BevHarris]

58. Spelling out what this is

the NASED committee.

[LTRS]

59. In a report from July 2002

.. that apparently had to be completed before the machines could be certified as viable voting machines? I read all pages of the report on the web site. So apparently you're saying that the machines were certified even though in your judgement they should not have been because the security was not tested adequately.

Since it has already been proven quite adequately that the machines can be hacked, what is the value in this?

[RedEagle]

129. Maybe this will help FEC 2000 Security Overview

www.fec.gov/pages/vssfinal/overview.doc

This is from the 2000 standards that most of the systems have been certified by. This is from an FEC overview. I'd say that if the systems were not examined and tested for security, it was a violation of FEC standards and a violation by the NASED Voting Systems Board to have certified systems that were not examined and tested:

...snip....


 Section 6 - Security Standards: This section describes the essential security capabilities for a voting system, encompassing the system’s hardware, software, communications, and documentation. The requirements of this section recognize that no predefined set of security Standards will address and defeat all conceivable or theoretical threats. However, the Standards articulate requirements to achieve acceptable levels of integrity, reliability, and inviolability. Ultimately, the objectives of the security Standards for voting systems are to:

• Establish and maintain controls that can ensure that accidents, inadvertent mistakes, and errors are minimized;
• Protect the system from intentional manipulation and fraud;
• Protect the system from malicious mischief;
• Identify fraudulent or erroneous changes to the system; and
• Protect secrecy in the voting process.

These Standards are intended to address a broad range of risks to the integrity of a voting system. While it is not possible to identify all potential risks, the Standards identify several types of risk that must be addressed, including:

• Unauthorized changes to system capabilities for defining ballot formats, casting and recording votes, calculating vote totals consistent with defined ballot formats, and reporting vote totals;
• Alteration of voting system audit trails;
• Altering a legitimately cast vote;
• Preventing the recording of a legitimately cast vote,
• Introducing data for a vote not cast by a registered voter;
• Changing calculated vote totals;
• Preventing access to vote data, including individual votes and vote totals, to unauthorized individuals; and
• Preventing access to voter identification data and data for votes cast by the voter such that an individual can determine the content of specific votes cast by the voter.

[jdj]

102. yes, but 'they' are a bunch of yellow- bellied lily-livered pansies.

if you are referring to the "media". And our elected officials are once again out numbered, if you didn't already notice.

It will take a groundswell from the public to get this system overturned,and that is what Bev is working to incite.

Also, as the repukes get scarier and scarier, true conservatives will peel off to try and move their party back into the right, or center right from the outer limits/twilight zone.

The libertarians/conservatives/ideologues will be men (and women) without a country, and instead of thrashing about trying to figure out how to appeal to the eviljailankill xtians, we need to figure out how to convince these politicians it is in their best interest to support a ban on paperless voting and work for more oversight of elections.

[jdj]

99. you know that's illegal don't you?

[DELUSIONAL]

3. kick

thanks for your work Bev.

[Zhade]

4. Kick for the morning crowd.

Come on, peeps, keep this kicked!

[bigtree]

5. good

[Brundle_Fly]

13. OMG OMG OMG

this GEM application is going out to my list of contracted programmers.

Were in Canada and independant of "bias"

hehe yeah right..

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

23. Brundle:

Get this in the hands of EVERY geekishly inclined person you can. Especially network security folks. Have them document if it can be hacked across networks and how. Not that this hasn't been done before, but to increase the database. Also, to generate press in Canada. If they won't come to this story in this country, build it outside.

One more point: The more certs and degrees these experts have, the better. One of the rules of peer review.

[BevHarris]

27. Oh, you'll definitely want tomorrow's story then.

Because it gets worse.

Bev

[Brundle_Fly]

28. GOD BLESS YOU BEV.

your humble servant.

Brundlefly.

[Brundle_Fly]

30. don't you worry

this is hitting the boards as well

we are an underground army.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

43. Brundle:

Two more words: SCIENTIFIC METHOD. Adhere, at all times, to the strictest of objective controls in the generation of this data. Said data will be probed for flawed methodologies in testing and that, if found, WILL be used to discredit.

Think: Swift Boats Smear. Magnify the viciousness and off-handed dismissal. If nothing else, this can generate a debate in the academic and legal communities. You gotta start somewhere.

[leftchick]

62. brundle if you are able....

please keep us non-geeks informed and translate for us what your 'army' comes up with. Thanks!

:)

[KoKo]

110. Yes.....some of us non-geeks are desperately trying to parse out what

you are talking about and what it means...but I think you are saying that the State Elections Commission certified the machines but without taking into account all the way they could be corrupted...by wireless, by code interference, etc? :shrug:

You are now trying to find out whether they knew or not that they were certifying machines to do fraud? :shrug:

[LTRS]

31. Any actual evidence of actual fraud coming up?

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

32. Darlin'...

I know One True Thing: Where this will end up will not push, but explode the bounderies of my envelope of dark fantasies.

My gut is screaming too loud for it not to happen.

[Pachamama]

39. With your hard work, we are all hoping the story gets better....

Bev - let us know how we can help...I used to be in Seattle...if I was there, I'd be at your doorstep reporting for duty...but here I am in the Bay Area...how can I help? All of us? Do you want me to be sending things out to the press internationally? To elected officials? How?

:bounce:

[Pachamama]

33. Yeah...Canada...please help us!

:kick:

[Celeborn Skywalker]

6. kick!

[Bluebear]

7. News: "E-Vote Machines: Secret Testing"...What's the big secret, Shawn?

12:22 PM Aug. 22, 2004 PT

In Huntsville, the window blinds were closed when a reporter visited the office suite where CIBER employees test voting machine software. A woman who unlocked the door said no one inside could answer questions about testing.

Shawn Southworth, a voting equipment tester at the laboratory, said in a telephone interview that he wouldn't publicly discuss the company's work. He referred questions to a spokeswoman at CIBER headquarters in Greenwood Village, Colorado, who never returned telephone messages.

CIBER, founded in 1974, is a public company that promotes itself as an international systems integration consultant. (Its name spelled out is Consultants in Business Engineering Research.) Its government and private-sector clients include the Air Force, IBM and AT&T. In 2003, government work generated the largest percentage of the company's total revenue -- 26 percent.

Also in a sprawl of high-tech businesses that feed off Redstone Arsenal and NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville is the division of Wyle Laboratories that tests U.S. elections hardware, including touch-screens made by market leaders Diebold, Sequoia Voting Systems and Election Systems & Software.

http://www.wired.com/news/evote/0%2C2645%2C64668-2%2C00.html?tw=wn_story_page_next1

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

12. One would think that...

A company that certifies equipment so sensitive to the fundiment of our democratic system would happily embrace transparency, in the interest of marketing the fact that their certs are our protections.

Who owns CIBER?

[Bluebear]

17. Here is a 2002 SEC Form 10-K annual report

http://secfilings.nasdaq.com/edgar_conv_html%2f2003%2f03%2f27%2f0001047469-03-010567.html#FIS_BUSINESS

[Bluebear]

19. Mac Slingerlend, President and CEO -- BIG time BUSH contributor

His political contributions per

http://www.newsmeat.com/fec/bystate_detail.php?st=CO&last=slingerlend

MUSGRAVE, MARILYN N (R) $250.00
COLORADO REPUBLICAN FEDERAL CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE (R) $5000.00
BEAUPREZ, ROBERT LOUIS (R) BOB BEAUPREZ FOR CONGRESS COMMITTEE $4000.00
BUSH, GEORGE W (R) BUSH/CHENEY $4000.00
MCINNIS, SCOTT (R) $1000.00
and on and on and on

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

21. There's a "fix is in" inflection point.

Just one more element to make a case.

[Bluebear]

26. CIBER BOARD OF DIRECTORS- James Rutherford of GAHANNA, OHIO

http://www.newsmeat.com/fec/bystate_detail.php?st=OH&last=rutherford&first=james

Contributor to Bush, Giuliani, Tiberi, DeWine, Voinovich.....

Gahanna, why is that name so familiar? O8)

[Bluebear]

38. Machine error gives Bush 3,893 extra votes in Gahanna, Ohio

Oh yes, now I remember.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/vote2004/2004-11-06-ohio-evote-trouble_x.htm?POE=NEWISVA

COLUMBUS, Ohio — An error with an electronic voting system gave President Bush 3,893 extra votes in suburban Columbus, elections officials said.

Franklin County's unofficial results had Bush receiving 4,258 votes to Democrat John Kerry's 260 votes in a precinct in Gahanna. Records show only 638 voters cast ballots in that precinct. Bush's total should have been recorded as 365.

Bush won the state by more than 136,000 votes, according to unofficial results, and Kerry conceded the election on Wednesday after saying that 155,000 provisional ballots yet to be counted in Ohio would not change the result.

Deducting the erroneous Bush votes from his total could not change the election's outcome, and there were no signs of other errors in Ohio's electronic machines, said Carlo LoParo, spokesman for Ohio Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell.

[LTRS]

46. I hope (or wish) that BBV was focused on finding

stuff like this. This was actually discovered by a DU'er who just decided to download the report from the BOE and go through it. Problem is each country report is like 400 - 600 pages long.

[Expat_Kristen]

82. WHAT?????

This is all getting too fucking weird. All these strange connections - at times like these I wish I would have become a journalist.

[WhiteTara]

106. it's not too late

all you need to do is ask "WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN AND
WHY" These are the bedrock questions for any reporter. 
YOU GO!

[Blue_Roses]

104. this really stinks to high heavens

:puke:

[regnaD kciN]

48. And who said God lacks a sense of humor...?

Granted, the fact that one of their directors just happens to live in Gahanna is pure coincidence, but so is that fact that the Iraqi munitions site just happened to be named al-QaQaa...

;-)

[Bluebear]

49. Coincidence? Of cooooooooourse

Now stop talking about all of this and let's bash Barbra Streisand...or...something.

[in_cog_ni_to]

80. OMG. This is unbelieveable!

Well, actually, it's not unbelieveable. The Board of Directors! Holy Crap. No wonder Chimpy received more votes than there was citizens. This is getting good.

Why aren't any of the people connected to these companies Democrats? Gee, I wonder. :eyes:

[Bluebear]

131. kick!

[Bozos for Bush]

63. Holy shit - Hunstville is the Right Wing Freak capital of the world!

One of the two right wing freaks who stalked the hell out of me on AOL for 3 years, and even messed with my personal life, drove to where I live, etc., comes from Huntsville, and works at Redstone.

Damn PT, you've given me some new angles here to research into.

John

[acmavm]

8. Yeah, keep this one going. The Sunday morning people need to see

this one. There are way too many people with connections and computer smarts who probably aren't on at 4:30 a.m. who need to see this one.

If it dies, it needs to be reposted.

edit: It also needs to be sent on to others outside this board. But who would be best?

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

10. Bev, a couple of questions:

1) Have you put this information before "Pap" yet? You need a legal pitbull. Someone who practices in the federal system.

2)Have you gotten any "wave-offs" yet, from anyone who could benefit from your data? Conversely, have you gotten "You go, grrl!" feedback from those same quarters?

3) Have you reached out to the African-American Community and other minority blocs in your efforts?

Now a comment: Don't give up. Don't ever give up. You, Andy and the others have become something of a beacon of hope in these dark times. Nothing more important has ever been undertaken as a citizens initiative. Think of yourselves as a civil rights organization for everyone. Even freepers. Consider the last statements well.

[BevHarris]

15. Not sure I understand all your questions, but

the "you go grrl" came from a government employee in the form of bonus documents. Picking up 3,700 more, which I understand have more "bonuses," should have them early this week.

Bev

[LTRS]

34. This sounds like just more of the same of what you

have been doing, which is good, of course. But is anyone looking into the actual votes cast on Nov 2nd? I think we already have plenty of evidence that these machines suck. Seems the next task in that regard is getting our politicians to do something about it.

But the immediate task is reviewing ballots or whatever data exists from the vote on Tues. Any of that going on?

[BevHarris]

37. Nope, LTRS. We aren't doing a bit of that. Of course not.

Doh.

[LTRS]

44. Well how about some info on that instead of all this

stuff we already know then? Any chance of that?

[Pachamama]

53. Bevs giving us what she can...and lets support her in that...

...Its great your so full of knowledge, but let's let Bev educate the rest of us and give us what she can...remenber, sometimes its best to keep some info until the time is right...

:kick:

[LTRS]

61. I love what Bev is doing, but if I could give her some

advice - there are politicians and others in the system who don't take her seriously because of previously hyperbolic claims. That's all I am saying. A vulnerability to fraud is not fraud - it's just a potential for fraud.

[molly]

76. Who?

"there are politicians and others in the system who don't take her seriously because of previously hyperbolic claims."

[leftchick]

86. hyperbolic!!!!?????

Not one of Bev's claims has ever turned out to be "hyperbolic"!
If you believe that why don't you save us some space on this thread.

[jdj]

113. well, they support bush despite claims of WMD's and yellowcake

so I wouldn't worry about that. It's partisanship, and when their partisan ship starts to sink because of the crazy fundies, they may come on over to our way of thinking, at least for a while.

[phasev]

121. A Question for Bev

The site mentions a modified copy of Windows CE 3.0. Are you guys doing anything to try to acquire copies of it or at least see if the operating system was actually audited by a 3rd party? The OS could have the offending libraries and system calls and the voting machine software could actually look legit.

[flpeach]

11. Oh Me!

This was so important to do, to certify that the votes HAD NOT been tampered with. WTF? Are they nuts??!!!

[LTRS]

95. The votes can still be tampered with whether

the machine is certified or not. Thanks to the really crappy software on them, if you can get access to the machine you can tamper. Just want to point out that certified doesn't mean tamper proof.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

14. People!

Don't just kick! Put this on the front page!

[shelley806]

16. kick! n/t

[shelley806]

20. Nominated for the front page.....Thanks so much Bev! n/t

[phylny]

52. Kicked, nominated, I'm SALIVATING with anticipation and praying

that we're not ultimately disappointed.

Thanks so much for ALL you do, Bev!

[Spiffarino]

105. Kicked and nominated

Keep it going, kids.
:kick:
:yourock:

[ClintonTyree]

22. Yet another kick....................

for Democracy. :kick:

[happynewyear]

24. kick!!!

:kick:

[Pachamama]

25. Wow! Bev keep up the good work -DUers: we need to get this info out there

The evidence is mounting...we need to keep on this and help Bev...if you haven't donated to her yet, send $5 (even $1) and help her do this...she's our voice... http://www.blackboxvoting.org

Bev - your my heroine :hug:

[LTRS]

36. Again, help me out here - what's so "wow" about this?

We already knew these machines weren't being certified correctly. What is news here?

Now here is something that might indicate actual tampering:

http://www.theeveningleader.com/articles/2004/11/06/news/news.01.txt

Who is looking into that?

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

47. Compilation time?

Might be something, might just be sloppy. If I were gonna lay in functionalities on a windows-based system that would abrogate their security, I would use some of the approaches of spyware: a little-used .dll with bad, bad intent.

[LTRS]

54. Like I said, we already know these machines

are vulnerable to tampering. That has been demonstrated many times, thanks to Bev. Now we need to get down to finding evidence that they WERE tampered with.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

55. Tampered with?

What about maliciously programmed to perform certain functions, given a certain set of conditions, over the course of runtime?

Pretty standard stuff, if you ask me. Damn near trivial.

[Pachamama]

60. Who said they aren't? n/t

[LTRS]

64. This report provides no evidence that they

were tampered with. All it shows (and I read all 30 - 40 odd pages of it) is that they didn't test several functions because they were not applicable. It recommended certification and gave the system an A grade on security, and passed it on every measure. Presumably it was then certified. Bev doesn't think it should have been because of the not applicables. She very well could be right, but if she is this is a pretty vast and wide conspiracy, and those are pretty hard to keep hushed up.

And even if she is right, it is not evidence of fraud, much as I wish it were. At best it is evidence that standards for certification are not up to par, though I really have no idea if that is even the case since we don't know what the generally accepted criteria are.

[kittenpants]

77. What EVERYONE is doing here is important.

Bev is doing what she's good at, and we'll definately need all of this info in a potential investigation. Everyone else should help combing through numbers, contacting members of congress, etc. We're all part of this. Do what you do well and we'll uncover the truth here!

[crixus]

112. We don't need evidence that they were tampered with at all.

What we need is evidence that dozens, hundreds, or thousands of these machines are as prone to errors as the one that the USATODAY reported about on Friday or Saturday. It seems an easy proof to demonstrate since it's likely that all machines from the same manufacturer use identical hardware and similar if not identical software versions.

I don't necessarily think that it's wise to approach this from that fraud angle, since we know the corporate media won't latch onto those stories. We need to show that enough machines made errors that could have put the election results on jeopardy.

Even if we could show fraud I suspect those involved have already cooked up a good enough alibi so that they can alays claim "machine error, not my fault."

I agree that we already know the machines are error prone. I DO NOT agree that we should be screaming "fraud!" (even though I know it's true).

On a related note, the latest issue of Popular Science is discussing electronic voting machines. I was reading it at the bookstore yesterday.

C...

[itzamirakul]

56. LTRS: You assume...

that all of us understand/understood the complexities of the voting machine system. The fact that Bev is taking the time to investigate the many failures of the machines and then trying to explain those failures to computer-technology-thick-heads like me, is certainly something to be lauded, not pooh-poohed or dissed. Every bit of information that she posts is "new" to me.

I can do a damn good job of moving around my keyboard and using my mouse, but I haven't the faintest idea of how information can be manipulated INSIDE this baby and I WANT TO KNOW...so please, be skeptical, that is your right, but understand that many of us truly appreciate the work that Bev Harris and Andy are doing. It is not so much whether or not the end result proves that Kerry actually won, it is about learning how to keep the democratic process alive.

And as far as the link you provided, you ask if any one is doing anything about that...could you start? I will help in any way that I can if I have the know-how to be of assistance.

[LTRS]

68. Really? You haven't heard about this stuff?

Well okay, here goes in a nutshell...the machine software was not secured, the dummies who run the companies left it up on an open FTP server where anyone could download it, which means it can be messed with and probably even substituted for software that has been certified. The machines are also open to hacking because they have piss poor if not non-existent security on them. You wouldn't leave your own computer as vulnerable as these things are.

Those that do have access can manipulate the vote totals, then easily erase all traces that they were there, and even the password to the system is vulnerable. Apparently you can even cut and paste the encrypted password and get in according to BBV. Lastly, and worst of all you can manipulate the vote while leaving the audit log perfectly intact, which is what they check on a routine basis when they are looking for potential errors.

And to top it all off, there is no paper trail for when all else fails.

In short, there is no way in hell these machines should be used for our elections. We know how easy it is to defraud the system with them, so I wish we would get busy seeing if they were used that way.

As for Ohio, there is not a damn thing I can do about that. Bev has the donations for the lawyers and subpoenas that need to be issued. And the software on the machine that guy was messing with should definitely be checked.

[itzamirakul]

123. LTRS: See...Your excellent explanation...

really helps me understand! Sure, I heard about computer tampering etc. and I am all mad aboutit, but until now, I didn't understand HOW!

If there had not been a thread like this, I and perhaps several others would continue to lurk in the dark, suspecting, but unable to grasp the deviant methods that can be used. So even while you exercise your right to be skeptical, remember how you helped me learn something new today.:)

Petition for Dr.Dean to become Chair of DNC:
http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/deanfordnc

[ParanoidPat]

57. It seems your questions have been answered above.......

.......and in many other threads all over these forums. :evilgrin:

Though I can't say for sure, I'm quite confidant that Auglaize County, Ohio is one of the initial 3000 counties that FOIA requests have been filed for by BBV.

With the added emphasis on that county's reliance on former ES&S employee Joe McGinnis to access the main computer that is used to create the ballot and compile election results, against state protocol, I'm sure it raises that county a bit in the priority of things.

The date of the notice from J. Kenneth Blackwells office being October 30 however, places the problem you bring up here well before this election.

Worth looking back at for the primary election but not germane to this one.

[LTRS]

69. It says he accessed it on Oct 16th

How do you know it wasn't in preparation for the Nov 2nd election? It can't have anything to do with the primaries. Those were well over by then. Read it again and you will see what I mean.

[AzDar]

42. Kick! n/t

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

45. Two Words: John Dean

He needs a heads-up.

[leftchick]

75. I agree...

:kick:

[lamp_shade]

51. Kick...

[teach1st]

65. Kick for the coffee drinkers... N/T

[Bozos for Bush]

66. Bev, I sent you a PM - please respond.

And fight!

John

[Bozos for Bush]

67. BTW how can we get Soros involved in this fight?

The guy can buy out the damn voting machine companies!

Must be a way to get his attention.

John

[Branjor]

70. Kick! n/t

[whatelseisnew]

71. kick

[mindfulNJ]

73. kick

*

[flpeach]

74. ESS Man Caught in Ohio Election Computers

by Calee4nia


Sat Nov 6th, 2004 at 22:32:33 PST

I don't know what to make of this, but am posting this in case folks want the info:

In a letter dated Oct. 21, Ken Nuss, former deputy director of the Auglaize County Board of Elections, claimed that Joe McGinnis, a former employee of Election Systems and Software (ES&S), the company that provides the voting system in Auglaize County, was on the main computer that is used to create the ballot and compile election results, which would go against election protocol. Nuss claimed in the letter that McGinnis was allowed to use the computer the weekend of Oct. 16.
Interesting?

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2004/11/7/13233/6353

[leftchick]

78. More than interesting....

how about federal election fraud!!

[Pachamama]

87. Exactly...it is more than interesting....

:hi:

[molly]

79. What is the main computer and what software does it use?

[Pobeka]

108. But these machines *can't* be *tampered* with.

Oh, but now there is stark evidence that the certification test for tampering was conveniently not performed, and anyone with knowledge of that fact could tamper with the software with confidence of success.

Pieces of a puzzle...

[JohnnyCougar]

126. Here you go, LTRS

We just need this guy questionned. Let's hope they get some people to lean on this guy hard. I definitely smell a rat here!

[flpeach]

81. Outrage in Ohio: Angry residents storm State House in response to massive

http://michiganimc.org/feature/display/7644/index.php

[Andy_Stephenson]

88. Me thinks the natives are getting

restless...

[maryallen]

122. Please post this as a separate thread ---

The picture of the students in Ohio marching on the courthouse is worth a thousand words.

[in_cog_ni_to]

83. Kick

:kick:

[splat]

85. just give me some truth

I just woke up and read the thread.

A couple of thoughts: ciber certification isn't gonna make waves with the hordes of political reporters who will run with any solid evidence\leads.

If, as was posted here last night, Hardball is gonna tackle this tomorrow, something the people can understand has to come out. Not circumstantial possibilities (registered dem counties in fla voting gop, or machines without the seal of approval) but enough explanation so people get it and begin to doubt the "mandate madness." And it has to be explained as not just one state, but a pattern of inflating votes in red districts to get that mandate and those big margins in the house and senate.

we need a wise man able to say, "If the central server was compromised, the individual machine totals are intact, and a recount on a clean machine would not be that difficult. we need to do that to prove to america and the world that our election system works."

the exit-poll company has a compelling reason to want to show its polls were accurate and the vote was not. they have the ear of the most influential media.

the whole case doesn't have to be there, but the ominous thing that is out there is that Kerry's computer guys worked all night election night but could not come up with a smoking gun, so he conceded. that needs to be overturned, and quickly.

anybody with a clue needs to know they can save their skin and be a hero now if they come forward, or face federal prosecution and ignominy later. being benedict arnold is not a pretty legacy.

It has to be grave, and united bipartisan effort on the part of good people who put the country above party.

And the tip of the iceberg has to come out tomorrow -- rock solid -- to shift the media from reporting endlessly on an illusion.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

89. there is absolutely NO news about Iraq and Falluja how will this make the

news???....

[leftchick]

93. excellent question ED....

my hope is that someone with dreams of pulitzers in their head will be brave enough to fight for this story.

[leftchick]

90. ATTENTION: DU Researchers.....

Let us find out who these NASED people are and e-mail them about this election....


~snip~

Perhaps we should ask them. Go ahead. Let's hold them accountable for the election we just had. (Please, e-mail us their answers) They don't make it very easy to get their e-mail and fax information; when you find it, let us know and we'll post it here.

NASED VOTING SYSTEMS/ITA ACCREDITATION BOARD

Thomas R. Wilkey, Executive Director, New York State Board of Elections

David Elliott, (former) Asst. Director of Elections, Washington State

James Hendrix, Executive Director, State Election Commission, South Carolina

Denise Lamb, Director, State Bureau of Elections, New Mexico

Sandy Steinbach, Director of Elections, Iowa

Donetta Davidson, Secretary of State, Colorado

Connie Schmidt, Commissioner, Johnson County Election Commission, Kansas

(the late) Robert Naegele, President Granite Creek Technology, Pacific Grove, California

Brit Williams, Professor, CSIS Dept, Kennesaw State College, Georgia

Paul Craft, Computer Audit Analyst, Florida State Division of Elections Florida

Steve Freeman, Software Consultant, League City, Texas

Jay W. Nispel, Senior Principal Engineer, Computer Sciences Corporation Annapolis Junction, Maryland

Yvonne Smith (Member Emeritus), Former Assistant to the Executive Director Illinois State Board of Elections, Illinois

Penelope Bonsall, Director, Office of Election Administration, Federal Election Commission, Washington, D.C.

Committee Secretariat: The Election Center, R. Doug Lewis, Executive Director Houston, Texas, Tele: 281-293-0101

[KoKo]

114. Look at the States the folks are from! Do you think they should be

alerted that folks are "onto" them? These people are in on the fraud.

:shrug: what will contacting them do? Wouldn't it be better to get the evidence together and get lawyers to go after these people?

As with Sinclair, we only got results when we contacted the advertisers and here in NC picketed their stations.

Would e-mailing the perpetrators who signed off on lousy machines accomplish anything? The only one on that list I might trust is the New York State Rep....and only because NY votes Democratic. But, he's probably in there just to make the group look "representative."

[KittyWampus]

91. kick

[papau]

94. default to Bush in BBV is a AP story - why no real press?

Sequoia Vote Machines default to Bush if Touchscreen not pressed hard enough for Kerry!

problem was "workers who had not calibrated them properly"?

This is a ABC 11/2 story - why is the media burying it?

http://www.whtm.com/news/stories/1104/184856.html

Electronic Voting Machine Woes Reported
UPDATED - Tuesday November 02, 2004 11:23pm


FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) - Voters nationwide reported some 1,100 problems with electronic voting machines on Tuesday, including trouble choosing their intended candidates.

The e-voting glitches reported to the Election Protection Coalition, an umbrella group of volunteer poll monitors that set up a telephone hotline, included malfunctions blamed on everything from power outages to incompetent poll workers.

But there were also several dozen voters in six states - particularly Democrats in Florida - who said the wrong candidates appeared on their touch-screen machine's checkout screen, the coalition said.

In many cases, voters said they intended to select John Kerry but when the computer asked them to verify the choice it showed them instead opting for President Bush, the group said.

After 10 minutes trying to change her selection, the Pinellas County resident said she called a poll worker and got a wet-wipe napkin to clean the touch screen as well as a pencil so she could use its eraser-end instead of her finger. Harvey said it took about 10 attempts to select Kerry before and a summary screen confirmed her intended selection. Election officials in several Florida counties where voters complained about such problems did not return calls Tuesday night.

A spokesoman for the company that makes the touch-screen machines used in Pinellas, Palm Beach and two other Florida counties, Alfie Charles of Sequoia Voting Systems Inc., said the machines' monitors may need to be recalibrated periodically (claims they default to Bush if Kerry was not pressed hard enough!). <snip>



I assume the screens were calibrated to be harder to push depending on the age of the population in that precinct. The older the people, the harder the screen was to push..... - but the "selection" was made for Bush


the article still says this

If Touch screen setup is more than a sensitivity adjustment, and includes moving the mask around so that the area called a Kerry vote becomes a Bush vote, then how can repeated attempts - moving up scale to a hard eraser - change the vote if it is a mask problem?

It appears to be a default to Bush - perhaps on a random basis.

[scottxyz]

96. This might be a stupid question, but...

...Why is the GEMS program available for everyone to download and look at? Isn't this a program we don't want hackers to be able to get at? If it's publically available, and running on a Windows machine hooked up to a modem, can't anyone who knows the dialup number just waltz in and use their knowledge of GEMS to mess with the program?

[Andy_Stephenson]

97. Bingo! Give that man a prize.

You may want to ask Diebold why they left it available on the web for 6 years.

[BevHarris]

111. Bingo, scottxyz

right as usual.

[scottxyz]

98. I'm trying to get this posted on slashdot.org

I don't often post there, and it's moderated, so I don't know if they're going to accept my post.

In my post I said that BlackBoxVoting.org believed that Diebold's GEMS program (written in MS-Access, and used for tallying votes in the last election in some states) had been improperly certified, and the program is now available on the BlackBoxVoting.org site so that computer people can download it and independently check it for vulnerabilities.

If the slashdot.org people get ahold of GEMS, they'll rip it to pieces.

[Hubert Flottz]

101. Hope is on the way Bev!

I'm seeing pieces of one hell of a court case falling into place! We MUST DEMAND Transparency after the shit hits the fan! No closed door bullshit on this one! If my vote don't count I will not pay the government another penny, if I can help it! Remember this, THEY are the ones that cheated, not you and me, we've All been doing our part, all our lives! I'm sick of being RIPPED OFF, time after time! If John Kerry is truly a "LEADER" he must soon step forward and lead! Are you a leader John, or just another liar?

[Andy_Stephenson]

103. Bev is the real Leader....

Leaders lead...they do not follow.

[Hubert Flottz]

109. I agree!

Bev and you both have my undying gratitude and respect! There are still plenty of GREAT Americans, fighting the fight that started in 1776! I won't forget!

Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[DemoTex]

107. BBV.ORG is the only one getting a red cent from me now.

My entire budget for political donations will now go to Bev's www.blackboxvoting.org . My entire editorial effort will now shift to the stolen ballots of 2004.

Thank you Bev!

[jdj]

115. kick.

[happynewyear]

116. kick!!!

:kick:

[JudyM]

119. News: send evidence to Cam Kerry!

See link with more info:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x2628051

[txindy]

120. Bev, you truly do awesome work

Prepare to spend a lot of time testifying about this as an expert witness in the many trials that will surely follow. You'll be absolutely superb! :toast:

Let us know exactly how we can help. We know what to do at this juncture, but if there is something else that turns up, we're on it. I PROMISE!!

[Andy_Stephenson]

124. kick

:kick:

[Pithy Cherub]

125. Go BEV!!!!!!

If you sign your name willingly to a legal document, isn't that indications of a willingness/conspiracy to commit a felony?

What crimes can these certifiable frauds be charged with? Fight on the criminal side as well as the larger issue of election fraud!

sp.

[JohnnyCougar]

127. ***HERE'S WAHT WE NEED TO DO***

1. Contact the FOREIGN media with the information that these voting computers have NO SECURITY AT ALL. This is a legitimate story, but our media WILL NOT TOUCH IT for fear of backlash. Not, at least, until more evidence comes out. Our friends overseas are far more skeptical of our elections process, and won't hesitate to report this. This will at least give the story legs.

2. Get the Kerry lawyers working on this. This is a legitimate issue. NO vote should have ever been conducted in this fashion. This is ridiculous. We don't need to throw around accusations of fraud just yet. But we can prime the public's interest. It is completely legitimate to investigate the security of our elections process.

[JohnnyCougar]

128. KICK!!!!

[troubleinwinter]

130. "This is not what we ordered. Send it back."

Thanks Bev!

[Cha]

132. 'Rat a l'Orange' !

Very freakin' descriptive!

Thanks for this Bev!