BBV: Weird Diebold Georgia experience!!

[creativelcro]

Hi, one of out members at the Agonist posted this. She's been on the EVM team for a while. Does anybody have any clue what the Diebold laptop woman might have been doing ???? I have no idea...
-C

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
I just returned from voting and it was a very creepy experience. As I was filling out the forms prior to receiving my ballot activation card, I noticed a rather dorky-looking woman sitting in the corner of the room with a lap-top in front of her. She was avidly staring at the screen with her mouth slack. Her cell phone rang as I was handing over my forms and I heard her say, “Yeah, I’m watching 17-ARW and 17-DRW right now. It’s under control.” Then, she hung up. I got the card, strolled over to the booth and noticed that my Touch Screen was headed, “17-DRW” which disturbed me. I looked over at the dork and she was back to staring at her screen.
As an aside, I don’t see how anyone could slip extra cards into the machine without someone noticing. This was suggested at the symposium as a possible means of voting fraud. First of all, the EVM’s aren’t really in booths with curtains like the older systems had. Instead they are sitting on what look like flimsy, aluminum tube, folding tables with three panels about 18” high on the back and sides. Your body is completely exposed so I can’t imagine someone being able to sneak out fraudulent cards without being noticed. There were four of us voting at six machines and approximately 18 poll workers – six of whom were standing around watching the voters. If I had lingered too long, I'm sure someone would have come over to investigate.
Anyway, I cast my vote and walked toward the woman in the corner. I was prevented from passing between the folding tables where most of the poll workers were sitting by a woman who jumped up and blocked my way.
“May I help you,” she asked brightly.
“Yes, please,” I replied nicely, “Who is that woman in the corner?” This caused the dork to look up at me with an expression I can only call fright. I could see the word “Diebold” at the bottom of a badge she wore around her neck.
The poll worker answered, “That’s our technical aide in case we have any problems with the machines going down or whatever.”
“Oh, I see. Well, what is she doing right now?”
The poll worker’s smile dimmed and she appeared anxious while the Diebold dork’s eyes widened with alarm.
“You see,” I continued, “I overheard her saying that she was watching 17-DRW and I just voted at 17-DRW. I want to know if she can tell who I voted for...”
At this point, a large man with a Diebold badge blocked my view of the dork and said, “You need to leave now, mam. I’m sure you don’t want me to call security.”
“Excuse me,” I protested, “I’m only asking questions, quite politely, I might add.”
“If you have any questions, ask them of the Election Systems Administrator in the Secretary of State’s office.”
“Ah,” I sighed, “But, he doesn’t respond to my emails. Surely…” At this point, the man took hold of my arm and firmly moved me toward the door. I shook off his hand and left.
I’m now feeling mildly anxious about the whole thing. It was weird. What do you think was going on? Did they have a malfunction and didn’t want to admit it? I confess the idea of causing a scene entered my mind but I lost my nerve – I’m a little too old to risk going to jail like I did when I was a young rebel. Maybe I can get my husband to go back with me at closing time….

[NashVegas]

1. Um ....

Something about that tale has a ring of fiction to it, IMO.

[screembloodymurder]

3. How so?

If true, I would like to know why Diebold is involved in security. Surely, it is against the law for a voter to be removed by a company rep.

[NashVegas]

7. Yes, Exactly

I am only going on my own gut here, it's not like I think Diebold are champions of Democracy or anything.

For one thing, if they were going to gum up an election, I'd think they'd be smarter about it than menacing voters.

For another, if whomever wrote that would go straight to her local news media instead of a list-serv, she'd have more credibility.

There is something in the way the post is written that it appears to have been written for *presentation* to a specific group of people over just getting the facts out. "The poll worker’s smile dimmed and she appeared anxious while the Diebold dork’s eyes widened with alarm."

That certain little tinge of paranoia in other lines like, "If I had lingered too long, I'm sure someone would have come over to investigate," is tailored to raise the hackles of BBV-awares.

There may very well have been some funky things going on; I just think this story is either an exageration on them, or an outright falsehood to get attention.

On edit: if the post contained the precinct #, the time, and the identification of the heavies, at the very least actual physical descriptions (other than "dork") so others can verify they were actually there on site, it'd be a start.

[bobbieinok]

2. sounds like someone ought to get back there

AT ONCE

Why should a man wearing a Diebold badge have the authority to tell a legal voter to leave????????????????????????????

Diebold has more rights in a precinct than legal voters?????????????

[notadmblnd]

4. I think if you got his name..

that you should make a police report and have him charged with assult.

[hedda_foil]

5. Have you posted this at bbv.org?

[creativelcro]

10. YES, posted it there

but no replies yet.... I'd like to know if they are even allowed to connect to the machines with some other computer while the elections are running.... If she was monitoring one of the DREs, it looks like some connection with the machine must have been in place... -CV

[althecat]

6. Oooooh... Creepy....

Stories like this are great. They show what voting is coming too...

People in corners with laptops doing lord knows what. Security escorting voters out who ask too many questions...

Real creepy..

Perhaps that is part of the plan. Reduce the turnout even more.

Did you see the reports of problems in Texas...

******

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/topstory2/2200181

"Those who showed up early at the Holiday Inn at 7787 Katy Freeway found election judges scratching their heads over a glitch that later turned out to be a case of operator error. Worried about a malfunction, election judges passed out sheets of paper torn in half, along with sample ballots, and instructed voters to write down their votes. "

Snip..

"David Beirne, a spokesman for the Harris County Clerk's Office, said technicians quickly determined that there wasn't actually a problem with the eSlate voting machines and that election judges weren't following the correct steps to match voters with the right ballots. The repairmen also discovered, however, that the 12 machines at the hotel were improperly set up, with all linked to the one unit that seemed to be malfunctioning, instead of having half linked to another that would continue to operate in case of a glitch with one.

The problem at the Katy location was quickly resolved, but he said there was a report of another polling site with equipment problems. Those problems too turned out to be cases of operator error.

A volunteer working for the Urban League said voters were unable to cast ballots when the polls first opened at the Greater New Hope Missionary Baptist Church on Houston's northeast side, at Calgary and Bainbridge.

Voter advocate Frankie Young said some people who'd hoped to vote before work had to walk away without voting because there were no paper ballots available as a backup.

"It's sad," she said. "It can get pretty discouraging for people if they came out and the machines aren't working. They could have at least had a replacement ballot."

Beirne said it turned out that the election officials at that site weren't follow the correct steps when entering a computer password."

*******

I really find it hard to see how anyone can claim these machines are helping the democratic process... they are completely screwing it up!!!

[Gin]

8. I wonder if this is a true story....but..if it is...the people manning the

polls were witnesses. She has a case.

[creativelcro]

9. Yes, creepy

To respond to the "fiction" comment, I think it's just well-written. But I am pretty sure this person is not making it up.
Now, is there ANY reason why a Diebold employee would be in the room with a laptop. How would the laptop be connected to the machines ? Would not that violate whatever certification they had ? I mean, if they can mess with some database/whatever ??? Thanks!
-CV

[ewagner]

11. Need a second source

Then I will go ballistic!

[Zan_of_Texas]

12. I was at the polls in Houston today.

Mayor, city council, etc.

I spent some time at two precincts -- no problems there. We vote on electronic voting systems made by Hart InterCivic. No paper trail.

KHOU-TV report tonight was that just under 100 people cast makeshift paper ballots due to that error (machine? poll worker training?). A judge ruled that they could be counted.

Meanwhile, some time ago, a federal judge ruled that ballots in Harris County should be in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese, because we have exceeded the minimum number of voters to require that third language (I believe the number is 10,000). County Clerk and Hart Inter-Civic apparently promised to have that third language installed on the electronic voting machine. However, here is the election, and VOILA no third language. Neither Clerk or Hart is taking responsibility; however, they are promising that it will be done by the NEXT election. (They did provide an instruction card in Vietnamese.)

Meanwhile, for the second election in a row, not only do voters sign next to their name when they vote, but vote clerks are making a numbered list of the names of who has voted, and they are to turn it in in triplicate. They said they were given no reason.

So, I now have three questions.

1. If a federal judge ruled that paper ballots were legal in Harris County in an emergency, could people ask to cast a paper ballot in a non-emergency?????

2. If one of the advantages of electronic voting is that it's so easy to provide ballots in other languages, WTF is going on here that months later that is not accomplished?

3. Why is the list of who has voted needed, when there is already a list? (The judge said, "Maybe this is the paper trail." I assured her it was NOT the paper trail.")

(And, yes, WHO was the Diebold person in the story? Is it real? If a wireless system was set up to rig votes, wouldn't you put the laptop person in a room away from view? Or are they that brazen? Do you think they would mind if additional people came in with laptops, to observe?????? :^) )

[maggrwaggr]

29. OH MY f****ng GOD! That's horrible!

"We're sorry, but your vote cannot be counted at this time. We are experiencing technical difficulties. Please try your vote again later."

That is just so fucked up I can't even get over it.

And people asked to write their votes down on scrap paper???!!!

Uh ..... can someone say "low tech works?"

If it ain't broke, don't FIX IT!

This system is broke and we are screwed.

[Kelvin Mace]

13. Agree that we need some details...

If this person would like to call me and we can see about getting the incident confirmed.

Names (peoples were wearing name badges), time, place, etc.

I don't automatically discount it because it happened in Georgia and folks in Georgia have made no secret that they will not tolerate anyone questioning their decisions or their worship of all things Diebold.

None the less, the matter must verified before we blow the whistle.

If it were me, I would have been back with a lawyer and a few deputies demanding IDs and authorization to be there.

David Allen
Publisher, CEO, Janitor
Plan Nine Publishing
http://www.plan9.org

[creativelcro]

18. If this person would like to call me and we can see about getting the inci

David, I'll send her your contact info as well (I sent her the URL for this thread). She seemed very upset about this. The problem is that, like most citizens, it is not clear what the hell to do... It's easy to be intimidated (she can explain over the phone or e-mail)... Thanks.
-CV

[gristy]

14. Sounds like fiction to me too.

[Xithras]

15. My response would have been:

If you ever find yourself in a situation like this one, simply say "But I haven't finished voting yet". Refusing to allow someone to vote (or even forcibly ejecting someone) is a felony in most areas. If they force you out anyway, call the police, get a report, and call the press. Remember, with an anonymous paperless voting machine, they can't prove that you DID vote :)

Oh, and since the last election, I now carry a pocket recorder with me when I vote. I saw and heard some very irregular things when Ahnold was elected, but even the local press wouldn't comment on it because I had no proof to back up my claim. I now flip on the recorder when I enter the building, and flip it off after I leave. All I recorded today, though, was the sound of pencil scratching and my conversation with poll workers about the insecurity of electronic voting (which we didn't have today...it's still being "tested" in our county).

[ex_jew]

16. My response might be to take a hammer and bust all the

fucking machines I could get my hands on. Then see what they do. If only my family was financially secure before I get sent away...

[Eloriel]

17. Link?

I went over to Agonist, and without spending too much time there didn't see anything.

If there's something like this going on in Georgia, I'd like to find out about it and ESPECIALLY would like to be in touch with this person.

Please furnish whatever information you can, at least a link.

Thanks,

Eloriel

[DUreader]

19. What is the link for Agonist, I'll poke around a bit

[creativelcro]

20. Sorry... the main EVM board at the Agonist

is not visible to non-EVM team members and is non-linkable (we know about infiltration ourselves and we allow only people who have been around there for a few months and passed certain "tests"; just a precaution)... Sorry to play the middle-man, she should post here tomorrow morning (she just registered to DU after I told her I was creating this thread with her info). This was our last exchange:

"hey OL, can I post this to the bulletin board at BBV.org? Some of those folks would be very interested and MAY know what the dork type was doing... Thanks! -CV "

"Yes, please, perhaps they can make some sense of it. In the meantime I have sent copies of my report -- modified to leave out references to dorkiness -- to the Election Systems Administrator in the Sec. of States office with a copy to the ajc.

Specifically I closed by asking:
What was that all about and why couldn't I ask questions and receive polite answers. Was there a malfunction on the machine
I was using? If the Diebold woman was watching the activity on that machine, could she tell who I voted for? And why do employees of a private corporation seem to be in charge of our voting machines? Aren't our polls supposed to be served by citizen volunteers? Were these people residents of Fulton County serving in a volunteer capacity or paid employees serving their own private interests?

I'm not holding my breath waiting for an answer, of course. "

"OL, please check your PM; i sent you several messages with e-mails etc of people who can help you and would like to talk to you. You will get an answer, I'm pretty confident. It seems like something fishy happened here. i can tell by the way various activists and people who follow this reacted (essentially disbelief, at first). -CV "

[DUreader]

21. Fulton County, ok that is a start

[creativelcro]

22. actually, this is the last one...

"Well, I'm dismayed by the poster who thinks it's fiction because I write well. Guess I need to dumb down to be believed. Perhaps if I didn't have an ear for dialogue... and report it to the best of my albeit limited abilities...

Like I said, I thought about making a scene and screaming assault because the guy touched me but that's ridiculous, you know. I dislike people who pull that kinda shit -- screaming assault over a nudge toward the door.

Hubby doesn't want to go back up there with me. Ah well..."

[DUreader]

24. Tell her not to sweat it, we all talk shit here when in the mood

or when moody

[Eloriel]

25. Tell her the poster who thinks that is

FOS (similar to POS, only different). :evilgrin:

Eloriel

[Eloriel]

23. Okay, thanks. Check your PM

I'm sending you contact info for me. We Georgia activists definitely want to follow up on this, pronto. Please share the contact info with this person and ask her to contact me right away. Thanks.

Eloriel

[shance]

26. If these are the facts than this woman in my opinion is a Rosa Parks.

She didnt just say a polite thank you and walk off forever in bliss for casting her vote.

She was saavy and took it to the goal line, where she now has a card carrying case if all pans out.

[Generic Other]

27. Maybe it was the infamous Sophia on the laptop...

Didn't she get a green card?

[creativelcro]

28. LOL, I thought that too...

wherever there is something fishy, Sophia is there :)... -CV

[shance]

30. Who is Sophia?

???

[creativelcro]

31. Sophia is(was?) an

employee mentioned in some of the memos... She is (in)famous for giving passwords such as "sophia" to databases. This was convenient, apparently, as it made life easier on people who wanted to see what was in the database, but obviosly bad from the point of view of security. There was other weird stuff (such as, why were they putting such effort into pursuing a non-US employee ? Not clear what her background is). Some speculated that might be a good way to sneak in somebody to do a dirty job and to hide traces (= leave the country for good if there is a problem). But it may be that she was simply the girlfriend of somebody working there... Not sure about the latest on sophia... :) -CV

[markus]

32. Does your state have party polling place monitors?

If so, you should have spoken to that person.

If they don't its probably because your poor district chair had an awfully hard time getting people to take a day off work, and not get paid by the poll workers, to be a Democratic poll monitor.

What I want to know is, where the hell the Diebold contractor gets off threatening voters.

I believe interfering with voting--I'm not an attorney, but what you were doing seems to me to be reasonably within that box--is felony.