Hi Brad I’m on pins and needles to. I’ve called and sent this below.

Dear Lowell Finley:

Please, our country needs leaders, our Election System is broken.

Decertification of all equipment that is not made secure; Optical Scans come back only when meaningful hand counts per the new Brennan Center report

Have you seen the letter to Diebold from the SoS of Florida? I’ve attached.

All e-mail I send now has this on the bottom thanks to you and SOS Bowen.

Before August 2, 2007; Rev. DeForest Soaries, the first Chairman of the Election Assistance Commission said:

“We know more today about how to build a machine to take pictures of rocks on Mars than we know about how to build a voting machine to safeguard the American right to vote."

However that has changed do to the Top-to Bottom Review by California’s Secretary of State Debra Bowen. Link to the documents

Our ADP-EIC Chair - Dr Ted Downing wrote;” Based on the results of your Top to Bottom Review, the Arizona Democratic Party’s Election Integrity Committee supports decertification of all equipment that is not made secure as outlined in your reports."

On Youtube Arizona Election Wars: Pima County: The Gauntlet Is Thrown

Time 6:57 Part 1 of Series: Letter by Tucson Democratic Attorney Bill Risner to the County Manager on what's been going on with elections in Pima County. Set to a powerful song 'MY VOTE DON'T MATTER ANYMORE' Written and performed by VICTORIA PARKS. For over 2 years we have been investigating Pima County Election Department and we don't like what we're have found. They have illegally been printing of election results up to 8 days before the election using the mail in early ballots. This has been going on since the primary of 2004. We know how the backdoor works with the GEMS/Diebold system and how it could be easily hacked using MS-Access. A lawsuit was filed shortly after letter was sent that is basics of this video.

Youtube Arizona Election Wars: Is Our Vote Secure in Pima County?

Part 1 of 2 they’ve known about the backdoor since 1996: Several Pima County bureaucrats from the very top down have known about the backdoor in our voting system. This odd procedure is not found in the 548 page Diebold's User Guide for our voting software, nor does explain that the system is built upon Microsoft Access. Furthermore, by using MS-Access, in less than a minute; a person could switch election by changing two positions in the candidates table (in Access) flipping an election all the way down to the precinct level. This and much more was established in depositions taken by well known Democratic Attorney William 'Bill' Risner in Tucson, Arizona.

Arizona Election Wars: Is Our Vote Secure in Pima County? Part 2

Time 08:00 they’ve known about the backdoor since 1996.
------------------

06.07.2007 Tucson Citizen
Kimble: Does the RTA vote really add up?

It is not what you want to hear about the people entrusted with counting our votes:

• "Less security than I have on my home computer."

• "The appearance isn't good."

• "The facts available match an 'election hacking' incident . . . while matching no legitimate processing procedure."

• "Dismal record in implementing reasonable computer software security measures to protect election data from improper access or change."

Those are the opinions of two computer experts who have carefully examined how Pima County runs its vote-counting operation.

And even if you don't understand the language of computer code - and I don't - there are enough questions to generate a lot of concern about how accurately your votes have been counted.
How bad is all of this? Who knows?

There is a possibility of outright fraud, with vote totals changed or totals for winners and losers flipped. Or the totals may be dead-on accurate with nothing more than unexplained idiosyncrasies in the way computer operators do their job.

The answer may be in computer records that Pima County is refusing to release. Or it may be impossible to ever know with certainty what happened in recent elections.

The poster child for concerns is the May 16, 2006, Regional Transportation Authority election.
Some significant events in the vote-counting for that election are highlighted below in excerpts from a Pima County election report.

The Pima County Democratic Party is suing for access to county databases to try to determine what happened when votes were counted in that and the 2006 fall elections. Among the issues:

• Counting of early ballots started May 10, six days before the election. Votes were counted for about four hours, which probably meant at least 8,000 ballots counted and maybe as many as 12,000.

The tally was saved. Then it was saved again the next morning before counting resumed. Why?

William J. Risner, a lawyer and Democratic activist involved in the lawsuit, asked the county worker under oath why he did that. "He had no explanation for it," Risner said.

James March, a computer expert who has worked on elections systems, outlined one possibility. In a declaration in the Democrats' suit, March said someone could have copied the election data to a disk, taken it to another computer, used widely available software to hack it, then returned the disk with hacked data and overwritten the vote count.

The vote totals could have been changed. Or the counts for "Yes" and "No" could have been reversed.

"The facts available match an 'election hacking' incident of this sort," March's declaration said.

• On May 11, five days before the election, reports were printed that showed early vote totals. If people on either side had known those totals, it would have been invaluable for late campaigning.

Brad Nelson, Pima County elections director, said the reports were printed and "glimpsed at" only to make sure the total number of ballots counted matched the number fed in. The reports then were shredded, Nelson said.

• Early vote total reports also were printed before the 2006 primary election, March wrote. In one race, a "who is winning" report was printed at 3:45 p.m. on the Saturday before the Tuesday election.

At 8:30 p.m. that same Saturday, a "robocall" went out to voters in that race slamming one candidate, March wrote. "We cannot positively link the two actions, but the appearance isn't good," he wrote.

Risner is asking for the county database that shows all activity on the election-counting computer.

But Nelson said he doesn't want to supply that because it would compromise security. "There are passwords and modem numbers in that," he said.

Risner countered that such information has been released elsewhere and is available on the Internet without security being compromised.

So what does all this mean? Have some winners actually lost and losers won? Have invaluable early vote-counting totals been leaked, allowing a campaign to be tailored at the last minute?

Nelson says absolutely not. There is 24-hour video surveillance of election-counting equipment. There are two-part passwords, and each employee knows only one part. "The level of security in the election division is always evolving and always getting better," he said.

Risner has doubts. "I don't know why or where or if," he said. "We're not telling anyone it happened. But the way the software works, you don't see this anywhere else."

It's impossible to know who is right and whether anyone actually did anything untoward. But the county's secrecy - while apparently well-meaning - does nothing to alleviate the concerns.

And when it comes to accurately counting votes, there is no room for any concerns.

Election Summary Report for May 16, 2006 election, with date, time, action and what it means
05/10/06, 08:21:41, Reset election: Ensures that totals are at zero.

05/10/06, 08:22:08, Printing summary report: Report showing vote totals; all should be zero. Vote counting starts.

05/10/06, 012:27:27, Backed up election to D:\Program Files/pimaconsolidated051606 EARLY DAY1.gbf: Early votes have been counted for about four hours. Totals are saved.

05/10/06, 12:27:38, Previewing Cards Cast Report: Indicates how many ballots went through the scanners.

05/10/06, 12:28:05, Closing GEMS: GEMS is the Global Election Management System software. developed by Diebold Election Systems. Vote counting is over for the day.

05/11/06, 09:55:57, User login: GEMS started.

05/11/06, 09:55:57, Open Election: Consolidated Election, May 16, 2006: Ready to start counting votes.

05/11/06, 09:56:30, Backed up election to D:\Program Files/pimaconsolidated 051606 EARLY DAY1.gbf: Appears to indicate vote totals from the previous day were overwritten.

05/11/06, 09:56:49, Printing summary report: A report showing vote totals was printed.

05/11/06, 10:06:21, Printing summary report: Another report showing vote totals was printed.

05/11/06, 12:06:48, Previewing Cards Cast Report: Looking at a report on the number of early ballots cast. Counting begins again.

05/11/06, 15:23:32, Backed up election to D:\Program Files/pimaconsolidated 051606 EARLY DAY2.gbf: Votes have been counted for about three hours. Totals are saved.

05/11/06, 15:23:46, Closing GEMS:Vote counting is over for the day.

Mark Kimble appears at 6:30 p.m. and midnight Fridays on the Roundtable segment of "Arizona Illustrated," KUAT-TV, Channel 6.

I suggest everyone read the long post above. Yeah, I know it's long... Do it anyways.

Listening... Mike Malloy just threatened that Hillary will eat me... ... ... ...

... on the other hand... the "malignorance" spooneologism was worth the price of admission...

Mike Malloy just pissed me off royally...

... Mike, shut the fuck up with the damned quickie sound bites and learn something about the blind and voting...

Brad, I cot ya on the Mike Malloy Show, Cool !!!

California, you must de-certify. Otherwise we can expect a repeat of this in 2008:

In 2004 Bush officially won by 286-251 electoral votes. But who really believes it?

Did Kerry actually win around 367 Electoral votes?
This analysis shows why he may have done just that.

http://us.share.geocitie...FAQResponse.htm#Kerry367

Assumptions:
1- 110.8m Census 2000 votes cast (105.4m recorded)
2- 125.7m Census 2004 votes cast (122.3m recorded)

3- Gore won 75% of the uncounted votes
4- 5% of Gore voters died prior to Election 2004

5- 100% of 2000 election voters turned out to vote in 2004. This is conservative: the lower the turnout, the higher the number of new voters, increasing the Kerry share (he won 57% of new voters).

6- Kerry won 71% of Nader voters (12:22am National Exit Poll).
7- Kerry won 57% of New voters and those who did not vote in 2000.
8- Zero net defection of 2000 Gore and Bush voters. This is conservative: the NEP indicated a net 2% defection of Bush voters to Kerry.

9- Mortality and uncounted vote rates were uniform in all states.

Kerry's True Vote is calculated as:
Kerry True Vote = Gore Recorded vote + (75% of Gore Uncounted votes) + (71%
of Nader voters) - (5% Gore voter Mortality) + (57% of New 2004 voters)

Key Results
-----------
Popular vote:
Kerry Bush
66.6m 58.4m
53.0% 46.4%

Electoral votes:
367 171

Kerry won the following states which were recorded for Bush: AZ, AR, CO, FL, IA, MO, NV, NM, OH, TN, WV

The sensitivity analysis tables display Kerry's popular and electoral vote over a range of the following assumptions: Gore uncounted votes; Kerry's share of Nader and New voters.

tick, tick, tick....BRAD BLOGGERS never sleep...tick, tick, tick...

Thanks for noticing, JoJ. Gotta do something to pass the time here...tick, tick, tick...

just heard you on Mike Malloy. Crossing my fingers she tosses the whole bunch of crooked machines out and we can start over, perhaps honestly.

... some of us are trying to compose ourselves while composing a missive dedicated to educating a certain radio host...

... it's almost 0 hour in CA...

While you guys are waiting,

Have you sent a letter or a fax to the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles on behalf of Troy Davis yet? If not, here's my BRAD BLOG article on his case (posted last night) and here's the webform to send a letter.

It just takes a minute and could help save his life!

bush is coming to Canada (Montreal) August 20. Would you like us to arrest him?

Why is there such a tight time line for her to make the decision?

GWN:

(#13) You have to ask?

Because CA moved its primary up and state law says that the Secretary of State must certify or decertify any systems far enough in advance of an election so that election officials know what they have to work with.

That date is today...

oops... distracted... it's 0 hour locally... left-winger time is off by three hours...

GWN - ZapKitty is correct about the timing. The law says it must be 6 months before an election. Which is today. 6 months prior to the (newly rescheduled, now in) February primary.

So did both parties push for the rescheduling? Any conspiracy to put Bowen in this position?

Thanks Brad and Zapkitty.

This may give you a chuckle while you wait.
[London] Times fashion editor Lisa Armstrong responds to the US media coverage of Hillary's cleavage.
[snip]
"Maybe the fashion editors of the major US news outlets should keep a closer eye on the male members of the US Senate. They might notice that when some of them loosen their ties and undo the top button of their shirts, they're getting a glimpse of foreskin."

http://thegallopingbeave...nator-wearing-today.html

So... will Bowen do the right thing and pull the machines?

... or theoretically Bowen could pass on doing anything serious, anything real, for the primaries and pull the plug afterwards... but the elections would still be at risk.

She could condemn the machines but allow one further use for the primaries while piling hefty safeguards all around them, and then pull the plug... but the elections would still be at risk.

Anything that involves continued use of the machines under any circumstances would mean the corporations have won... again...

sssoooooooooooo--- if she does nothing tonight, it means things continue on as before? is there a chance she may have gotten an extension? perhaps she is going to a secure bunker before making an announcement? a lot of power in the companies that produce the machines.

Bruce - The state house is controlled by Dems. So presumably, it was they who pushed this thing through. Don't know if the R's were for it or against it, but Arnold signed it, so guessing they were for it as well. Doubt it was to put Bowen in this position though.

ZapKitty - Tough to allow use in the primaries, but pull the plug before the general. I'm guessing whatever she does will apply to both primary and general, but perhaps more draconian steps after '08 is over. That's based on nothing but a guess. No inside sources (unfortunately).

Nanz - Can't fathom an "extension". She does it tonight. Or not at all. (Or at least, not in time for the primaries).

10:12 p.m PDT

UPDATE on tonight's Sacramento press conference regarding Secretary of State Debra Bowen's voting system certification decisions...

We have heard a couple of people unaffiliated with the Secretary of State's office passed along some incorrect information earlier today. I wanted to let you know we still do not have an exact time for gathering here for the press conference but, pursuant to Elections Code 19222, Secretary Bowen will announce her decisions tonight. We will send out an advisory with press conference details as soon as they are confirmed.

Thank you again for your patience during these unique circumstances,

Nicole Winger
Deputy Secretary of State, Communications
Office of California Secretary of State Debra Bowen

See the original post for an update from Bowen's office.

What if the bridge collapsing was a "terrorist attack," and they put into action the "plan" that they don't want to tell to congress, and then immediately put some sort of gag order on everything, meaning no one can even tell us that the "plan" is in effect? No I don't think this happened, but think about it...

heheh...Ya beat me to it, Left! Good work!

Chris Hooten - See what comes of all this extra time? Idle hands are the devil's playground

(Though it should be noted that the Republican National Convention is in Minneapolis this year. Just sayin')

Well, California allows for write in candidates for Presidential elections and anyone can be an elector for a write in candidate:
http://www.leginfo.ca.go...&WAISaction=retrieve

I'm getting really sleeeeeeeeeepy.Eighty seven minutes and counting....Unique circumstances indeed.

Wake up, Craft! You got two hours on me out there in CA! We'll have no whining here!

Wondering if KQKE is still going to stream the press conference. Theoretically, there are press folks standing by at Bowen's office. Wish we could get some info about what outlets they're from, so we'd be listening to or watching the right thing.

Anybody have any ideas about how to get that info?

Christine,

Do you know anyone who's at the SOS building prepared to bring us live coverage? Can you go down there? I'll buy you a whole lotta coffee!

buzzflash; Senate passes Bush-backed spy bill

http://www.reuters.com/a...ne/idUSN0328188520070804

(the zapkitty continues his meanderingly paranoid thought trail...)

Then... I think Bowen would have to announce her intention to implement such needed measures before the primary, then, as after things seem to run mysteriously smoothly for a CA e-election in 08 (but still screwed up, of course) the corporate whores will pressure Bowen to give the corporations yet another chance to make the needed changes to assure security (which they won't because they can't) and they'll begin stalling for time in hopes that the bodies they buried during the 08 elections aren't discovered before it's too late too boot the machines out in Bowen's term...

Haven't been on pins and needles like this since the 2004 election, which was, not coincidentally, the event that lead me to discover the Brad Blog as I tried to make sense of an election that just didn't smell right, even in my pre-progressive days.

I'd love to be down there but I caretake a 91 year old in diapers...believe me I'd love to be down there.

christine

zap

I don't think we call that "paranoid" anymore....

11th hour.... local Sacramento Channel 3 News is standing by the podium she will announce from.

Thanks, Christine. I understand. Do you know anyone who's there?

And GR8FulDaniel,

How do you know that? Are you there?

Looks like Sacramento Channel 3 doesn't have live online news, but does have live weather. So we can only hope that what Bowen does makes big enough waves for the Doppler to register it! Then we'll know right away.

http://www.kcra.com/politics/index.html

Maybe gonna get posted here????

;o) Keep your hearts pure. We shall overcome this.

LATE UPDATE COMING. SEE UPDATE ON ORIGINAL ITEM ABOVE.

Tonight at 11:45 P.M. PDT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Nicole Winger
August 3, 2007 (916) 653-6575

MEDIA ADVISORY

Secretary of State Debra Bowen to Announce
Her Decisions on California Voting System Certifications

WHAT: After eight weeks of an unprecedented top-to-bottom review of voting systems currently used in California elections, Secretary of State Debra Bowen has made her decisions about future certifications.

Secretary Bowen’s decisions on system certifications follow her thorough review of detailed academic findings by teams of nationally respected computer experts, as well as extensive input from voters, voting system vendors, and national, state and local elections experts.

Secretary Bowen designed the top-to-bottom review to ensure that California voters are being asked to cast their ballots on machines that are as secure, accurate, reliable and accessible as possible. State law requires that all voting systems used in California be certified by the Secretary of State, and that the Secretary conduct periodic reviews of those voting systems to determine whether they are defective, obsolete or otherwise unacceptable.

For a county-by-county list of voting systems, go to http://www.sos.ca.gov/el.../systemsinuse_110606.pdf

To read expert reports, public comments and more about the top-to-bottom review, visit http://www.sos.ca.gov/el...ctions/elections_vsr.htm.

WHEN: TONIGHT at 11:45 p.m.

WHERE: Secretary of State’s Building

First Floor Multipurpose Room

1500 11th Street

Sacramento

I know how the agencies get slammed in California by the bad guys. The EVM companies are cajoling, screaming, threatening, offering bribes with an army of lawyers and Debra Bowen can't break through the crush to get to the microphones even yet.

I am in Sacramento. The reporter came on leaning against the SoS podium. They panned the camera up to the window where Debra is with the lights on.... I really hate to miss Letterman, but, I will be vigilant.

Thank god, we finally have a patriot for SoS.

Shes got our backs.

My kids have been hanging in there with me all night, waiting and waiting...Wish she'd decertify already. Kids are crawling off to their rooms with their eyes more closed than open, I have Channel 3 out of Sacto tuned in on the tube, I'm glued to my computer screen watching updates from Brad, and have KQKE "the quake" playing over the computer speakers... And I just realized that after all the damned work we went through making sure that Debra got elected (extra kuddos to Gail Work for organizing the grassroots efforts) to do just this, I am forgetting to breathe. There's only 37 minutes left........

Tip off? "about future certifications"

Conditional certification with 'procedures' but announcing decertification of all machines after results from primary are finalized and re-qualification to be required for Nov. 2008 election.

Of course that leaves any other elections to be held using ?

And what if citizen election complaints- based on observation of law or procedures being violated- that are submitted with documentation- are ignored ?

And that still leaves the issue of the machines not meeting the HAVA requirements ; now that's discrimination.

Gr8fuldaniel,
Thanks. Is there a channel there that's doing live coverage?

It will take more cajones to decertify those machines than I have seen in any politician in recent times. I just hope that Debra Bowen is the special politician we thought she could be when we elected her.

Hey guys,
theres a poll on Channel 3 ...middle column... 1/2 way down:
http://www.kcra.com/news/index.html

Should the State of California discontinue use of its electronic voting system?
Choice Votes Percentage of 678 Votes
Yes 434 64%
No 244 36%
(at 11: 28 PM)

Fingers crossed...

We'll move to a new item as soon as we get news. But as I'm not in CA or Sac tonight, hopefully you folks with live coverage (if they run it) will keep us upped with the latest!!!

Have a sneaking suspicion that KQKE isn't gonna break away this late at night (likely nobody in the studio other than computers!)

Just talked to SoS office. They're still wholly mum...

Went and took the poll, then cleaned out my cookies and took the poll again...LMAO....tell me again how they can't rig the election through electronic voting...LOL
Lastest from Channel 3 is that the announcement will be at 11:45 and decision will be posted online at
http://www.kcra.com/index.html

Bruce,

The mandated 6-month lead time again, as Brad indicated... that would mean recert procedure for Nov 08 would have to produce results by May 08.

Toes crossed...

Eileen Left - Too funny. Well done

zapkitty, the recert could begin at any time; for instance Diebold has new federally qualified systems that tout their security.

what kind of government agency waits until almost midnight to make such important announcements? is this the norm for california, or is she really just waiting til the last minute to see if a good bribe will come her way?

ANYTHING YET? Did I miss something....it's 11:50 here, I'm hyperventilating here, damn it!

The fact is that it doesn't have to be announced before midnight. It has to be written and signed by the SOS before midnight.

1:57 here--that's 11:57 there....nothing yet? they must be negotiating furiously. ha!

The decision has been made. We're just waiting to find out what it is.

zap #65--yes, we are, aren't we? i've been lurking, reading, refreshing, reading, waiting. finally got impatient, though.

Is there a story behind the handle ZAP KITTY?

I love cats, but back in the 70's I had a siamese cat (Sam)that got shocked on an lionel electric train set.

Hell I got shocked on that lionel electric train set. I remember those metal christmas tree ornament holders used to cross the tracks and make sparks. That must be why I got interested in electronics...

nothing yet. just shoe week at ross and Cindy Crawford HOME at RC Willey..

I know. Pounding The Bradblog, makes me want to donate.

back to the tonight show... 12:09AM...

Anyone else notice the bias from the CMSM? 3, 10, 13 all biased, all present the EVM Company statements as the more important focus. there was 6:53 minutes recorded, you'd figure they'd run some of what Yolo County ROV said...

Anyway. I promised to not get into it yesterday, but it's a NEW DAY now.

Talk about feeling like a fool! after waiting all evening streaming Quake, not a word on any news on the hour, or on local tv-- I mean no breaking news-- nothing. as if it weren't important, lifr threatening! Did any of you find out any thing more detailed? what is that the grandson says-- you got pooned. g'night i guess.

whoop's 6:53 meant to say TRT 6:53;00

Must be that beer I just slammed.

maybe the MSM didn't think this important enough to cover? maybe they thought no one would be waiting this late? maybe...maybe...maybe someone should have had the decency to make the announcement at a decent hour? ha!

She decertified - then RECERTIFIED every single system.

Something changed,..
http://www.sos.ca.gov/el...ctions/elections_vsr.htm

New pdf

Phil, Please pass one to me...I can't leave the puter to go run for one, but this is enough to drive me to drink.

Barb-Qued Fucking Electronic Voting Machines! for Diebold

Here's what she posted on the site:

http://www.sos.ca.gov/el...systems/ttbr/diebold.pdf

Brad – People in Potrero want to know, if Bowen gives the vendors a chance to fix problems before the February primary, what about the recall election in Potrero? It has to be held within 125 days from when the recall was certified, which means January at the latest.

People there do NOT want to vote on the riggable machines, especially given the shenanigans already going on to thwart the people’s will. This is the recall of an entire town planning board that voted for Blackwater to open a training camp in a national forest!

Call me if you want details on the incredible garbage going on there – intentional delays in declaring some seats vacant (after it was found their appointments were never confirmed by the County) so that they could NOT be recalled, but can now run as candidates in the election…and much more. This in a town that once burned a ballot box. These folks needs armed guards and videotaping of their paper ballots being hand-counted!!!!!

Miriam

Looks like no bar-b-que

The war goes on I guess.

Fuck EM!

Now listening/transcribing DB's press conference here:

https://bradblog.com/?p=4914

Just scanning the decert/conditional recert pdfs, I can tell they've been worse than Dutch Uncles....

Phil,
Fond of cats, avid online gamer when such a thing was possible, needed a string of handles for an online space arcade-style game (beta, long since passed into oblivion), names after ship types... GunKitty, BlastKitty, ZipKitty, BombKitty, Zapkitty... Later on needed a quick name for some account or the other, and zapkitty popped out, followed me around and eventually stuck...

Considering the current (un)civil liberties situation it's probably for the best that bombkitty didn't spring to mind for that one account...

welp.. I'm confused. Looks like a partial Bar-B-Que! heh. Don't be mad at me.. I only have DSL.

She decertified ES&S Inka Vote, decertified Deibold and then said that one per precinct could be allowed for the disabled only. There's much more. She has info on each of the systems on the SOS website. I'm printing out the pdf's and taking them to bed to read, been a long and nerve racking night.
You rock Brad! Keep it up, you are inspiring and reassuring on nights like this!

For those catching up... we won. As in we-the-people WON.

Paper ballots. Opscanned by machines with conditional certifications.

DRE's gone except for one-per-polling place for the disabled. That's to keep the Feds at bay, even though the machines don't meet disabled guidelines anyway.

:-)