Election Reform, Fraud, & Related News February 6, 2006

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I call upon members of Congress in both parties to uphold your oath of office and defend the Constitution. Stop going along to get along. Start acting like the independent and co-equal branch of American government that you are supposed to be under the Constitution of our country.

Never forget the pursuit of Truth.
Only the deluded & complicit accept election results on blind faith.

Election Reform, Fraud, & Related News February 6, 2006

All members welcome and encouraged to participate.

Please post Election Reform, Fraud, & Related News on this thread.

If you can:

1. Post stories and announcements you find on the web.

2. Post stories using the "Election Fraud and Reform News Sources" listed here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x371233

3. Re-post stories and announcements you find on DU, providing a link to the original thread with thanks to the Original Poster, too.

4. Start a discussion thread by re-posting a story you see on this thread.

If you want to know how post "News Banners" or other images, go here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=203&topic_id=371233#371391



All previous daily threads are available here:
http://www.independentmediasource.com/DU_archives/du_2004erd_el_ref_fr_thr_calenders.htm

Please

"Recommend"

for the Greatest Page (it's the link just below).

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1. PA: Pittsburg Thinks Diebold Stinks but Likes their Efficiency

Don’t you love it. Well our vendor is run by a bunch of crooks but they can deliver on time. Like the fascists say about Mussolini, “He made the trains run on time.” Terrific. Let’s sacrifice democracy for efficiency. It’s a travesty and is the basis of HAVA entirely. Efficient vote counting, meaning biased and Republican controlled vote counting.
County considers Diebold because it promises timely delivery
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/pp/06036/649814.stm
Sunday, February 05, 2006
By Jerome L. Sherman, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Diebold Inc., a multibillion dollar company that soon may sell 5,600 touch-screen voting machines to Allegheny County, has seen its share of public relations nightmares.

In 2003, then-chief executive officer Wally O'Dell -- a top fund-raiser for President Bush's re-election campaign -- sent out a letter to Ohio Republicans promising that he was "committed to helping Ohio deliver its electoral votes to the President next year."

Over the next several years, some computer experts and election officials pointed out potential security flaws with the company's machines, and cries of conspiracy and fraud circulated in the press and on the Internet.

Diebold, based in North Canton, Ohio, reacted by ordering all employees involved with its elections division, including Mr. O'Dell and other top company officials, to refrain from participating in any political activities beyond voting. Its machines also performed just as well, if not better, than those built by competitors.

[Wilms]

10. Discussion

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x411982

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2. PA: Citizens for Legitimate Government—Stop Pitt. Coup

CLG is doing a great job of alerting people to the problems in Pittsburg. Let’s give them a hand!

Pittsburgh Must Undo the Coup!

Pittsburgh - which is CLG and Steelers country - will *STOP* Diebold in its tracks. Voting machine firm's past questioned 05 Feb 2006 (PA) Diebold Inc. soon may sell 5,600 touch-screen voting machines to Allegheny County. In 2003, then-chief executive officer Wally O'Dell -- a top fund-raiser for President Bush's re-s-election campaign -- sent out a letter to Ohio Republicans promising that he was "committed to helping Ohio deliver its electoral votes to the President next year." Diebold has told Allegheny County that it could deliver 5,600 machines by the May 16 primary election, at a cost of $11.9 million. But the county's elections board, which meets Tuesday, needs to decide soon.

Quick Actions!! Call, write, email and fax the Allegheny County of Elections and tell them to STOP Diebold and all GOP-owned and operated touch-screen 'voting' machines!! Office of the County Council Email: [e-mail]

Mark Wolosik, Division Manager
County Office Building
542 Forbes Avenue
Room 604
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Phone: [phone] Fax: [phone]

Dan Onorato, Office of the Allegheny County Chief Executive
Courthouse
436 Grant Street
Room 101
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Phone: [phone] Fax: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]

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3. Nation: Paleo Election Fraud—Boehner (Ba-ner, not Boner) OKs Paid Trips

Are you surprised that the new “leader” says it’s ok for fat cats to pay for Congressional representative’s trips overseas. Nah, it’s the old fashioned election fraud—pay offs for election officials, all legal like, ya know.

GOP leader: Keep privately paid trips

http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/02/05/house.leadership/

Boehner backs tighter disclosure, opposes other proposals (like turning away lobbyist bribes through paid trips!
Sunday, February 5, 2006; Posted: 10:31 p.m. EST (03:31 GMT)

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The new Republican leader in the House of Representatives backed more stringent disclosure rules for lawmakers and lobbyists Sunday, but criticized measures such as a ban on privately paid travel proposed by other GOP leaders.


Boehner (pronounced Bay ner not
Boner, get it right DU;)

Rep. John Boehner, who was elected House majority leader Thursday, also said limits on "earmarked" spending bills would help clean up Congress amid a wide-ranging influence-peddling probe.
"Sunlight is the best disinfectant," the Ohio congressman told NBC's "Meet the Press."

"If there is more disclosure of travel before you go, more disclosure of the relationship between lobbyists and members and their staff, let the American people take a look at this," said Boehner. "Let them watch it and let them judge what we're doing. I think that will reduce the amount of corruption and graft that goes on."

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4. FL: Problems with Voting Machine Selection

Could it be that certain lobbyists for the big vendors wrote HAVA in such a way that only those vendors would meet HAVA standards. Try and do something different, oops, it’s not HAVA!


Voting machine hits state snag
The AutoMark system can't be certified if it is unable to handle multi-page ballots.
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/volusia/orl-vvote0306feb03,0,2083555.story?coll=orl-news-headlines-volusia

Kevin P. Connolly | Sentinel Staff Writer
Posted February 3, 2006

County Chairman Frank Bruno expressed strong reservations Thursday about Volusia's chances of getting new voting equipment this year that provides independent voting for the visually impaired and a paper record.

For the first time, Bruno voiced strong doubts about the likelihood the AutoMark ballot-marking device will earn state certification this month.

The county can legally purchase only state-certified equipment.

"I'm not very optimistic is what I'm saying," said Bruno, one of the County Council's most vocal supporters of AutoMark.
The device's approval process hit a snag this week after a problem surfaced related to AutoMark's ability to handle multi-page ballots, said Bruno, who didn't have all the details about the issue.

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5. LA: LA Sends 1 Million Mailers to Distant Katrina Voters

I’m cautiously optimistic. This could actually increase turnout. Watch the Republicans challenge the ballots, you just watch.!

Katrina complications enter election preparations
Those driven out by hurricane to receive mailers on how to vote

By ELIZABETH WHITE

The Associated Press

WASHINGTON — Louisiana officials are preparing to send out nearly 1 million mailers as part of a campaign to tell voters who fled the wrath of Hurricane Katrina how to cast ballots from afar, a problem not as widespread in other Gulf Coast states.

“It’s unfair to think that displaced people would be election experts,” Louisiana Secretary of State Al Ater said Saturday during a conference of secretaries of state.

Ater said he wants every voter driven out of Louisiana to have “the opportunity to participate, if they want, and that the bar is no higher for them to participate than it is if somebody’s home didn’t get destroyed.”

In contrast, Mississippi faces fewer challenges because many of those who were displaced along the coast moved inland but are still

[EFerrari]

12. Link?

:)

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6. Nation: Diebold Not Out of Woods in National Testing

What a joke! Testing what? HAVA, Election Assistance Commission, who is doing the testing. It’s all a huge fraud, a joke to make it look like there is actually some QA on these pieces of cyber garbage. There isn’t. Paper is the only solution in 2006 and 2008. Maybe something after that but not now.

Company must prove problems are limited, can be fixed with more security

By Ian Hoffman, STAFF WRITER

After months of anxiety, California elections officials learned Wednesday that nearly a half-dozen voting systems could be ready for purchase and use in the June primary.

The state's chief elections officer, Secretary of State Bruce McPherson, had wielded the power of the nation's largest voting market in ordering U.S. voting-machine makers to finish private, national testing by Tuesday.

Manufacturers balked, but the market pressure worked: By day's end, all but one major manufacturer had cleared national testing and now are lined up for California review.

Only Diebold Election Systems Inc., which has struggled more than two years for California approval, still was in national testing Wednesday for its new, flagship voting system. But state elections officials said Diebold still could clear that final hurdle and supply voting equipment to nearly a third of California counties, including Alameda, San Joaquin and Marin.

Local elections officials voiced some relief. Each

[Wilms]

9. Link for the above

02/02/2006 02:32:17 AM

E-voting systems OK'd, except Diebold's
Company must prove problems are limited, can be fixed with more security

http://www.insidebayarea.com/argus/localnews/ci_3467452

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7. VA: Nightmare Democratic Senate Primary Candidate—TOTAL NIGHTMARE

Within two weeks of announcing for this job, Harris Miller had been outed by the VA political blogs as: 1) a big supporter of outsourcing tech jobs, a hot button issue in our area, and 2) an opponent, hostile at that, of election integrity. HE HEADED UP AN ATTACK PROGRAM AGAINST ELECTION INTEGRITY ACTIVITST. He’s not going to make it. Besides, he sucks as a speaker. I saw him give one and it was embarrassing. When he’s not holding a big cash donation as a lobbyist, I don’t think many people will want to listen.

Blogged by Brad on 1/8/2006 @ 6:25pm PT...

With Democrats Like Harris Miller, Who Needs Diebold? (Or Republicans for that Matter!) A Diebold Lobbyist Runs for the U.S. Senate...as a Democrat!

http://www.bradblog.com/archives/00002254.htm
In case you haven't heard of them, the Information Technology Association of America (ITAA) is a "trade association" who set up the Electronic Technology Council (ETC) as an "astroturf" group...


Would you trust this
Diebold lobbyist as your
Dem Senate Candidate.
TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE!!!

In case you haven't heard of them, the Information Technology Association of America (ITAA) is a "trade association" who set up the Electronic Technology Council (ETC) as an "astroturf" group at the behest of Electronic Voting Machine companies. Harris Miller was President of the ITAA and instrumental in convincing the Voting Machine Vendors to band together and give the ITAA money to create the ETC to spread the "good word" about Electronic Voting to Americans and Boards of Elections everywhere. Now Miller is reportedly about to announce his run as a Democratic(!) challenger for the U.S. Senate seat from Virginia currently occupied by Republican George Allen.


"We oppose the idea of a voter-verified paper trail." -- Harris Miller

Most of you haven't heard of Harris Miller, who departed earlier this week as head of the Information Technology Association of America (ITAA), a lobbying group for big information technology corporations. But you will certainly hear about him next week, as he is expected to announce his candidacy for the U.S. Senate, as a Democrat from Virginia, running against George Allen. In fact, the media trial balloons this week have treated him as a presumptive nominee, who has the backing of the party leadership, even though they haven't made any formal endorsement.

As head of the ITAA, Miller specifically lobbied Congress against verified voting, on behalf of the interests of Diebold and other manufacturers of paperless e-voting machines -- members of ITAA.

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8. VA: More on the Odd Man in the Senate Primary, Diebold’S Harris Miller

VA: More on the Odd Man in the Senate Primary, Diebold’s own Harris Miller
GregP, KOS diarists, really knocks this out of the park.
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2006/1/6/214520/6350

Diebold's Lobbyist: Dem Senate Nominee from Virginia? WTF??

by GregP
Fri Jan 06, 2006 at 07:45:20 PM PDT

"We oppose the idea of a voter-verified paper trail." -- Harris Miller

Most of you haven't heard of Harris Miller, who departed earlier this week as head of the Information Technology Association of America (ITAA), a lobbying group for big information technology corporations. But you will certainly hear about him next week, as he is expected to announce his candidacy for the U.S. Senate, as a Democrat from Virginia, running against George Allen. In fact, the media trial balloons this week have treated him as a presumptive nominee, who has the backing of the party leadership, even though they haven't made any formal endorsement.

The quote above, obviously, gets at the reasons why this should concern us, as Democrats.

[Wilms]

11. OH: Making Sense of Ohio's New ID Law

Making Sense of Ohio's New ID Law
February 5, 2006

by Dan Tokaji

Last week, the Ohio legislature passed and the Governor signed a massive election bill (Sub HB 3), which significant changes in such areas as voter registration, provisional voting, challenges to voter eligibility, election contests, and the identification that voters must show at the polls. Unlike the laws that Georgia and Indiana have enacted, Ohio's law does not require government-issued photo identification. That's very good news for Ohio voters, since such photo ID laws impose a major burden on those who don't have photo ID -- a disproportionate number of which people have disabilities, are elderly, live in poverty, and are people of color.

The bad news is that, like many other features of Ohio's new law, the new requirements on ID and provisional ballots are very complicated. This will make implementation challenging, especially for the state's many poll workers, upon whom the functioning of the system depends. Most of these dedicated folks, I'd venture to guess, are not lawyers. Figuring out the detailed rules of how different voters are supposed to be treated, however, is something that almost requires a law degree -- indeed, I have one, have struggled with this bill for hours, and confess that I'm not completely sure I understand even the requirements on ID and provisionals.

snip

http://moritzlaw.osu.edu/blogs/tokaji/2006/02/making-sense-of-ohios-new-id-law.html


Discussion

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x412038

[Algorem]

13. OH-New Blackwell book written with Corsi, author of Swift Boat Vet's book

New Blackwell book written with Corsi, author of Swift Boat Vet's book-
Edited on Mon Feb-06-06 01:10 PM by Algorem

2nd story down on new daily Plain Dealer political blog-

http://www.cleveland.com/weblogs/openers /

(which is on new Plain Dealer all-Ohio politics web page called "Open"- http://www.cleveland.com/open / )

GOP gubernatorial candidate Ken Blackwell has teamed up with Jerome Corsi, author of the Swift Boat veterans' book that attacked John Kerry, to write a new book blasting the welfare state. Though it promises to provide a blueprint for a new war on poverty, it could also raise questions about the company Blackwell keeps.

The book is scheduled for release next month amid a spirited, not to say vicious, primary campaign between Blackwell and Attorney General Jim Petro.

Though their positions are similar on hot-button issues like guns, abortion and gay marriage, Petro is generally considered the more moderate of the two, and some observers believe that gives him more appeal to mainstream voters in November...

Although he has since apologized, Corsi referred on FreeRepublic.com to Muslims as "ragheads," to Islam as "a cancer that destroys the body it infects," to the late Pope John Paul II as "senile" and to Hillary Clinton as a "fat hog" who could not keep her husband satisfied...


Blackwell is 'blogging'(campaigning) on there this week-

http://www.cleveland.com/weblogs/openmike /

Monday, February 06, 2006

Ken Blackwell: Opening Words on Open Mike

Since it’s the day after the Super Bowl, I want to tell you that I spent yesterday like 90 million other Americans, watching the game at home with my family. I love football. I was a linebacker at Xavier University in Cincinnati (click here for a picture), then signed a contract with the Dallas Cowboys after I graduated. That didn’t work out, and I came back to Xavier to get a Master’s Degree in Education. I started working towards a public career, and was elected to Cincinnati City Council in 1977.

Getting elected to City Council was the first step of many that brought me here, running for Governor. Thanks to the Plain Dealer for the opportunity to talk about my campaign in this new blog.

Today’s blog post might be a little longer than what we post the rest of the week, since I need to take some time to introduce you to myself.

Growing Up: I was raised in Cincinnati, where my father was a meat packer and my mother was a stay-at-home mom and nurse. Both worked hard to provide for me and my younger brother but we were never able to buy the house we lived in. At one point we lived in public housing, a benefit to military veterans like my father...

[Algorem]

14. OH- Blackwell picks state Rep. Raga as running mate

http://www.cleveland.com/newsflash/cleveland/index.ssf?/base/news-22/1139196561289400.xml&storylist=cleveland

Blackwell picks state Rep. Raga as running mate
2/6/2006, 3:47 a.m. ET
By JOE DANBORN
The Associated Press

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell is going back to what he knows best in his bid for governor.

Already a favorite of conservatives for his opposition to abortion, gay marriage and taxes, Blackwell has chosen three-term state Rep. Tom Raga from solidly Republican southwest Ohio as his running mate for the GOP nomination.

The pick, first reported Sunday by The Cincinnati Enquirer on its Web site, strengthens Blackwell's position in a conservative part of the state in advance of a primary showdown with Attorney General Jim Petro, said Rick Segal, an advertising executive who directed Blackwell's search.

Raga, who ran unopposed in 2004, "is one of the bright, rising stars of Ohio Republican politics. It's a good fit," Segal told the newspaper...



___

On the Net:

http://www.tedstrickland.com

http://www.fingerhutforgovernor.com

http://www.jimpetro.com

http://www.kenblackwell.com

[Algorem]

15. OH- Out-of-state interest high in Ohio governor's race

http://www.cleveland.com/newsflash/cleveland/index.ssf?/base/news-22/1139206118211780.xml&storylist=cleveland

Out-of-state interest high in Ohio governor's race
2/6/2006, 12:45 a.m. ET
By ANDREW WELSH-HUGGINS
The Associated Press

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Interest in Ohio's campaign for governor is high inside the state and out, with individuals from California to Florida making political contributions to a race that still has 10 months to go.

These contributors know the stakes are large even though their donations often are small. No Republican has won the presidency without carrying the state, which gave President Bush the White House in 2004, and only two Democrats have won without it in the past 100 years.

Since money flows toward power, governors and the party they represent have an upper hand when campaigning for their presidential candidate, as happened with Gov. Bob Taft and George W. Bush in 2000 and 2004.

But bellwether states can also be fickle: Ohio twice elected President Clinton while Republican Gov. George Voinovich was in office...

[Algorem]

16. OH- Republican councilman allegedly stole from Katrina donation jar

(I don't know if he's any relation to Ohio Republican chairman Bob Bennett)

Councilman Arrested For Allegedly Stealing From Katrina Jar

http://www.newsnet5.com/akroncanton/6757711/detail.html

UPDATED: 9:47 am EST February 5, 2006

AKRON, Ohio -- ...

Police said Gary L. Bennett, 58, was caught on tape taking money from a donation cup at the Circle K on East Waterloo Road. He was arrested Thursday.

The cup was located next to the register.

Police said the donations collected were going to benefit Hurricane Katrina victims.

Bennett is currently a councilman for the Village of Lakemore.

http://www.newsnet5.com/politics/5283031/detail.html

...Lakemore Village - Member of Council
(electing 4)
(precincts counted/total) (2 / 2) 100.00
Rep - James Myers Beck 202 20.87
Rep - Gary L. Bennett 216 22.31
Dem - Tammie L. Coontz 354 36.57
- John Fast 196 20.25
TOTAL 968 100.00...-


AKRON -- ...

Police say surveillance video shows newly elected Lakemore council member Gary Bennett walking into a "Dunkin Donuts" in Akron.

While waiting for his order, he apparently grabs $2.

Although the donation cup wasn't labeled, it was for employee tips that were then donated to a fund for hurricane victims.

Bennett told police he thought the cup was a "give a penny, take a penny" jar.

http://www.wkyc.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=47174

[Wilms]

17. Election officials fear '06 season of the glitch

Election officials fear '06 season of the glitch

This fall, millions to use unfamiliar voting machines

By Jim Drinkard
USA TODAY

02/05/2006

“When you look at disaster stories, it is usually that first time using a new piece of equipment that something is going to fall apart,” says Kimball Brace, president of Election Data Services, which maintains data on voting systems across the country.

Brace's latest update, to be released today, shows that at least 647 of the nation's 3,114 counties will be using new voting machines this year, more than at any time since records began in 1980 and probably ever, he said. Those jurisdictions are home to 30.6 million registered voters, or almost a fifth of the national total.

snip

Linda Lamone, administrator of the Maryland Board of Elections and president of the National Association of State Election Directors, says widespread worries about glitches include:

•Is there enough time to educate voters and poll workers, many of them older and not proficient with computers, before Election Day?

•Will there be adequate tech support from voting-machine manufacturers?

•How will the 25 states that require a paper backup for their computerized machines handle that — and which record will be the official one for any recount?

"Election officials are worried,” Brace says. “A lot of them are saying, ‘Why didn't I retire last year?'"

snip

http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20060206/a_elections06.art.htm


ER Discussion
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x412062

LBN Discussion
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2089126

[Wilms]

18. Revote in Ohio After More Votes Than Voters Recorded on Diebold Machines

Revote in Ohio After More Votes Than Voters Recorded on Diebold Touch-Screen Voting Machines!
Court Orders Special Re-Vote Tomorrow After 'Failure' of Montgomery County, OH's New AccuVote TSX Machines!

County one of forty-four to implement new touch-screen machines for last November's election resulting in inexplicable results...

by Brad

2/6/2006

Diebold Inc., one of America's largest voting machine companies, likes to claim that there's never been any substantial problem with their touch-screen machines in any election in America. You may...

Diebold Inc., one of America's largest voting machine companies, likes to claim that there's never been any substantial problem with their touch-screen machines in any election in America.

You may not be surprised to hear that claim is patently untrue.

As reported in yesterday's Middletown Journal, a special "re-vote" will be held tomorrow in Montgomery county, OH on an issue where last November's election results were set aside due to more votes being cast on Diebold's AccuVote TSX touch-screen voting machines than there were actually registered voters who voted!

snip

http://www.bradblog.com/archives/00002379.htm


GD Discussion

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x337636


ER Discussion

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=203&topic_id=412066&mesg_id=412066

[Algorem]

19. AP Interview: New Diebold chief defends e-voting machines

http://www.cleveland.com/newsflash/cleveland/index.ssf?/base/business-5/1139276046198340.xml&storylist=cleveland

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=203&topic_id=412088&mesg_id=412088

2/6/2006, 8:26 p.m. ET
By M.R. KROPKO
The Associated Press

NORTH CANTON, Ohio (AP) — Diebold Inc.'s new chief executive, determined to cut costs, said Monday he will take a close look at the company's embattled electronic voting business, which some shareholders and computer experts have assailed, but insisted he feels good about its performance.

Thomas Swidarski told The Associated Press the future of the e-voting segment of the company, which also makes automatic teller machines and security systems, depends on a thorough review he will conduct as part of his quest to cut $100 million in costs over three years.

"There's pieces and aspects of each of our businesses that I'm going to be looking at with a very critical eye in terms of what the future holds for us," Swidarski said in his first media interview since taking over the troubled company in December.

He said Diebold Election Systems, the company's smallest business segment, now offers machines and computer software he feel confident will satisfy certification demands...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=203&topic_id=412088&mesg_id=412088