Guest Blogged by John Gideon of VotersUnite.org
Today’s news is dominated with reports from Sarasota County and the first day of court hearings to determine the path of action that will be followed in the disputed Buchanan-Jennings congressional race. Yesterday experts for Jennings and the voters testified about why the machines are at fault. The hope is that the judge will allow an expert to spend a couple weeks reviewing the ES&S source code. Of course ES&S is doing all it can to stop anyone from taking a peak under the hood. Today ES&S’s only expert, a political science professor, testified under cross examination that in his opinion if there had been no problems Jennings would have won. ES&S fielded NO computer scientist to testify that there were no problems with the software but that is not unexpected as they wouldn’t really want to expose anyone to the possibility of cross examination where they would probably take a beating. Court is done. Both sides have until noon on Friday to submit their closing statements in writing and then it’s up to the judge whether the experts get to look at the source-code….
NAtional: EFF taps e-voting security guru Ed Felten for board LINK
NAtional: Larger Audits Required to Confirm 2006 US House Races LINK
CA: Riverside County – Tell county you want integrity in your voting LINK
CO: Weld County – Illegal vote casts pall on race
Dacono mayor’s son, a felon, submitted ballot in contest decided by single vote LINK
CT: Voting Machines’ Audit Reported LINK
FL: Touch-screen ballots inspire unease LINK
FL: FL-13 – State backs machines tested in D-13 audit LINK
FL: FL-13 – ACLU sees clear case for a revote in disputed District 13 election LINK
FL: FL-13 – Jennings to protest to Congress
The investigation could take a long time; Buchanan likely to be seated provisionally LINK
FL: FL-13 – Jennings to contest race as fight goes on over voting machines LINK
FL: FL-13 – Jennings finalizes election contest for House filing LINK
FL: FL-13 – Jennings asks Congress for investigation and possibly a revote LINK
FL: FL-13 – Democratic candidate files appeal asking Congress to investigate Sarasota voting problems LINK
FL: FL-13 – Congress asked to intervene in Fla. race LINK
FL: Sarasota County – Voting Machine Glitch Likely, Expert Testifies LINK
FL: Sarasota County – MIT professor says machine error explains missing votes LINK
FL: Sarasota County – Suit asks to see inside vote machine LINK
FL: Sarasota County – Disputed Sarasota election case goes back to court LINK
FL: Sarasota County – Expert: Machine setup caused Sarasota `undervote’ LINK
FL: Sarasota County – Jennings, Buchanan camps spar over voting machine source codes LINK
FL: Sarasota County – Academics argue for review of voting machine source code LINK
FL: Sarasota County – Jennings presents case for review of voting machines LINK
FL: Sarasota County – Sarasota election contest continues LINK
GA: Public Hearing On Paper Trail Machines LINK
GA: Voting officials evaluate paper-trail machines LINK
KS: Sedgwick County – A Close Election Race Headed For a Recount LINK
KS: Sedgwick County – Recount ordered in state representative race LINK
MD: Lawmakers focus on voting issues LINK
NJ: Atlantic County – Absentee ballots abused LINK
NY: Opinion – Vote of no confidence
N.Y.’s reluctance to certify new machines can minimize future election problems. LINK
NY: An Alternative Plan for New York State’s Voting Machines LINK
OH: Voting law made few big waves LINK
PA: Chester County – The Count in Chester County LINK
PA: Chester County – Royer leading in Chesco recount
The endgame for control of the state House is nearing. Almost half of the ballots were hand-counted yesterday. LINK
UT: Paper vote may return to towns LINK
**”Daily Voting News” is meant as a comprehensive listing of reports each day concerning issues related to election and voting news around the country regardless of quality or political slant. Therefore, items listed in “Daily Voting News” may not reflect the opinions of VotersUnite.Org or BradBlog.Com**
Today’s news is dominated with reports from Sarasota County and the first day of court hearings to determine the path of action that will be followed in the disputed Buchanan-Jennings congressional race. Yesterday experts for Jennings and the voters testified about why the machines are at fault. The hope is that the judge will allow an expert to spend a couple weeks reviewing the ES&S source code. Of course ES&S is doing all it can to stop anyone from taking a peak under the hood. Today ES&S’s only expert, a political science professor, testified under cross examination that in his opinion if there had been no problems Jennings would have won. ES&S fielded NO computer scientist to testify that there were no problems with the software but that is not unexpected as they wouldn’t really want to expose anyone to the possibility of cross examination where they would probably take a beating. Court is done. Both sides have until noon on Friday to submit their closing statements in writing and then it’s up to the judge whether the experts get to look at the source-code….
What I’m afraid of is that they have had enough time to flop back to un-bugged code in the machines down in Fl 13 (or it flops back automatically)
I mean, will it be a random machine(s) code check or something that ES&S just hands over to them directly (cleaned-up)?
IMO the only way to find anything out is to borrow one of the machines on the eve of an election and see what has been installed as far as malware
In other words, this will do nothing to solve the problem in my eyes
The only thing that MIGHT solve our problem is the prohibitive maintainence costs foisted on the states by the manufacturers
WhatCheck one machine? What’s to stop them from hacking every 3rd or 5th machine? If you’re going to stop all of these shenanigans with voting machines, you’re going to have to give the voter a ballot receipt (that enumerates the vote) that can be taken back to get a vote corrected and checked in a fully-published vote, otherwise, with paper ballots or not, we’re all going to be hostage to the honesty and goodwill of the people managing our elections and anybody who can sneak by them. You need to have openness and honesty at the outset, as nothing guarantees it after the fact.
The fool proof ability for vote recount via paper-trails and/or printout rolls may not be so fool proof after all. The printout/paper-trails are malfunctioning and jamming at an alarming rate rendering a recount or audit of voter intent impossible.
Link to article on EVM paper printer jam ups/malfunctions.
I’m with Dean on this. They need to revote this race. Jennings is going to take this to higher courts if her request is denied.
If this results in verifiable voting Jennings, Dean and the PFAW will get credit.
Rahm Emanuel will get what he deserves. ZIP!