Before I say anything else, let me point out that what is opaque to visible light may well not be opaque to IR. The only way to know if tape is blocking IR is to test it at close range.

Back to why these things MIGHT legitimately have an IR port.

Although it's clear from the physical appearance that the hardware is purpose-built (it looks a bit like a laptop with the lid rotated so the screen faces away from the main body), it's very likely that it uses a standard motherboard. It's cheaper if they can use a standard motherboard for a product that's going to sell in thousands rather than in millions.

If they did go with a standard motherboard it's possible the one they chose came with a load of doohickeys that we all expect these days: 10/100 network interface, USB ports, and even IR ports. As is clear from the picture, the IR LEDs stick out slightly from the case. Not as much as the keypadocnnnector, to be sure, but they do stick out. The only way to have the case block them off would be to add a corresponding protruberance to the case moulding. Possible, but it spoils the clean lines.

So if you were the case designer, and not giving a thought to security (and why would you, since the programmers didn't either), you'd leave holes for the IR LEDs and even label what they are (so idiot poll workers don't phone the support line and ask why those two indicators never do anything).

That's the innocent explanation. Which I'm tempted to believe, because those LEDs could be recessed and covered by a piece of material that is opaque to visible light but transparent to IR and nobody would know they were there. Why advertise the fact that they're there? OK, four possibilities: the innocent explanation as above; they're too damned stupid to think of concealing the fact that there's an IR port; it's a double-bluff (if we were being naughty we'd have covered our tracks better); or it's Bush/Rovnan psycophathic in-your-face "we're doing this and you can't stop us, so nyah, nyah, nyah."

Sandy, YES.. the same.. AND, given that, you CAN write a program for a "palm pilot" that would "signal the voting machine, get the counts/IDs for the current vote, then send back (if needed) the -changed- votes/IDs to get the result you want".. and all that could happen in just a matter of seconds, with no one noticing.

I had been thinking it would be a bitch to "fiddle with cards". I know if someone wanted to badly enough, they could and would.. but what a pain. Now that we see the "super easy" way, holy shit.. They even have cell phones that have IR ports, and run Java apps.. you could put the program on a PHONE and stand next to the machine talking to someone and point the phone at the port and click a button.. boom! flipped votes (if needed).

Brian De Ford: I agree that there "could" be an "nnnocent" explination, but I don't believe there really is. Sure, if they want "cheap motherboards" to use as a base, fine.. but then DISCONNECT the IR.. there's NO VALID reason to have it. A lot of "cheap motherboards" these days have WiFi too and/or BlueTooth. Should they just leave those up?

I don't think you can just "cover" the ports for IR and still use them either. IR is slower than visible light and visible light is blocked by anything opaque. That is, Microwave towers don't work when something blocks them, and infra red is between light and microwaves. I did a quick search but didn't find the details I was looking for, I might be backward on that, but I"m pretty sure IR being near heat, it won't transmit well through any obsticles.

Bottom line is, this is a HUGE security hole in these systems. Anyone who has "inside" knowledge can tweak any of these machines at will. If we had full access to the system schematics and software, we could tellf

This post is directed toward Jody's post at 3:41pm P.T.

She writes, "Why would a company continue to market a voting system that has known security defects? Why would a state election official approve such a system once it has been pointed out, especially when to do so would be an illegal act?"

I posted a thought in reaction to a post at BBV by Bev Harris "Election Family Tree: Who got us into the and how...." It is a theory I have applied to your question, because I have had the same question.

(This is Bev Harris's post below and then my reaction I will post):
As we unravel the family tree responsible for the current elections mess, to our surprise it looks like some of these people are in fact legally related. This article exposes some of the ties, family and otherwise. Let's open tho otoset and look at some of the underpinnings of today's secret elections:

{Ed note: Rest of post deleted since it was the complete article from BBV. Please do not copy and paste full articles, especially when they're long, and/or not completely on topic like this one. But rather, give a few useful paragaraphs along with a link to the original article --- in this case the original article is right here. Thanks for understanding!}

To Jody Holder,

This is how I saw/reacted to what Bev Harris had posted.

"This discribe a situation that sounds like a "Soap Opera". I mean you can't believe what goes on in politics or government. The reason I wanted to point this out to you, because of the whole, "What's the Matter with Kansas?" book/theory. How has the GOP and the right wing Neo-Cons have taken control. Try to remember these NeCsCons have been working years on trying to excute taking back congress and all government. The following post from BlackBoxVoting.org I think can help you see how they took over in SOCAL voting districts. This is a good example of
"What's the Matter with California?" A book/theory soon to be written if we don't stand
up and fight. You can go here if you need help with remembering the book I have noted above;
http://en.wikipedia.org/...s_the_Matter_with_Kansas

When you read the below I would like you to identify, "Brigham Young University", (Google it!)look who has graduated from that school and
what/who do they support, also look at some other elements like where these elections official have come from (out of state). This is something we all need to understand. We are not involved in our own local governing, what can come in and do the job for us, and it sureisn't someone who cares about the citizens of this state!"

I thought if anything it might stir somenrnterest, or if someone in my good saw this maybe the might have some information on the people Bev mentioned. You never know....

REPLIES FROM BRAD...

Rich Miles #5 - We've discussed AccuPoll over at VelvetRevolution.us as the only machine vendor that we were able to endorse in our "Divestiture for Democracy" campaign because they agreed to the conditions we set forth. More info here... Unfortunately, it looks like they may now be facing an SEC investigation and possible bankruptcy, though I have an idea of the causes for either. I wouldn't doubt it's due to some of the reasons you mention.

Sandy D #6 - Yes, it's exactly the same IrDA infrared port used on Palm Pilots. It would very easy, in theory, to walk up to a Diebold AccuVote TS machine and transfer data with the use of a Palm.

Jody Holder #8 - Thanks, as always foyryour insight. I'm on the same page. I feel your pain.

But a keypad port is not a standard port on an everyday motherboard.

Can anyone here come up with even ONE STANDARD off-the-shelf motherboard with a keypad port?

And IrDA ports don't usually have LEDs (except on handheld devices, like palm pilots.) If they're there, they obviously use them for something.

This is a special purpose device. You'd have to question why they would add something like that (at extra cost) to a device that's supposed to be secure.

And yeah, I know...I'm just sayin this is what I found out.

Please feel free to prove me wrong if you can.

To Rich Miles and Brad -

I doubt it is that simple with AccuPoll. I would not put complete faith in that company without further investigation. btw, AccuPoll has a marketing agreement with Unisys for its system. Also, doesn't AccuPoll verifi l blslots depend on bar-codes. How transparent is that?

As 2 alternatives, there are also (1) the Avante Opti-Trakker for accessible paper trails, and (2) the AutoMARK made by Automark Technical Systems (ATS) and marketed by ES&S.

A little bit of esoteric trivia about infrared:

During my tenure at Capitol Studios we sometimes had to record to or play back from these awful consumer multitrack recorders called ADATS. They use a fairly common digital interface called "Lightpipe" that uses...wait for it...Infrared. The machines were supposed to have little plugs in the lightpipe ports to prevent the infrared data from doing mischief.

We also had in all our rooms professional DAT (digital audio tape) machines, called Panasonic 3700s, that used infrared remotes, so the engineer could place them into record, etc., using what looked like a modern TV remote.

Often the ADATs came inioithout the little plugs. We typically set these machines on a credenza in front of the rack at the back of the room tht held the DATs. At first we couldn't figure out why the DATs seemed to have a mind of their own. We quickly discovered that the digital Lightpipe data was sending bogus signals to the remote port of the DATs, which they interpreted as commands: Start, Stop, Record, etc.

Bottom line is, infrared can easily be hacked and corrupted without even trying hard.

The point is, if what Kathy has told me via message is correct.....this new loophole will bring yet another final nail into Diebold's coffin. When it comes to shutting down both the election offices, and going straight to the supreme courts on their machines.

The system can be dismantled piece by piece now if, as intended it is accurate that there is no place in the constitution that would allow for the kind of tampering/illegal loophole that is in their enrpre product line....infra red ports & e-feed.

Doug E.

This illustrates why the source code for these devices must be disclosed, accurately and publicly. This is a pedestrian application of a mature technology. There are no secrets to keep by these companies. It is plainly reasonable that the workings of these devices must be publicly inspectable.

I would opine, in short, that these machines are the greatest scam/fraud since the beginning of electricity.

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"This illustrates why the source code for these devices must be disclosed, accurately and publicl