In spite of claims to the contrary, Wisconsin is NOT all hand counted paper ballots

[Matariki]

http://wcmcoop.com/members/wi-counties-and-municipalities-that-employ-hand-counted-paper-ballots-touchscreen-system/

Paper Ballots provide a verifiable paper trail in case there is need for a recount or ballot impoundment. Voters can be more confident that their votes are counted as cast if they are counted by hand rather than by a machine. Even though there is slim chance of getting 100% voters to use paper ballots in this election, any increase is positive change, as more voters are made aware of the dangers of touchscreen voting. An increase in the number of people requesting paper ballots will also let the clerks know that citizens are paying attention, and remind them of whom they are supposed to be serving.

In April 2011, voting machine vendor Command Central of St Cloud, MN sent flyers to Wisconsin clerks advertising discounted prices on refurbished AVC Edge touchscreen (DRE) machines and Optech Insight (optical scan) voting machines. In August, municipal clerks in Oneida County were asked to trade in their existing ES&S AutoMark machines for AVC Edge touchscreens (more expensive), “at no extra charge.” By late summer, Command Central was making “Two for One” offers, proposing that clerks exchange their existing Optech Insight machine for two AVC Edge touchscreen machines.

Command Central made many successful transactions with Wisconsin clerks in the past year, though the full range and scope of their dealings have not yet been determined. Investigators discovered that municipalities around the state, and entire counties, such as Grant and Barron, have added AVC Edge II touchscreen machines into their systems, in many cases to replace their optical scan (paper ballot) machines. This is alarming, as optical scan machines provide at least the potential for a verifiable paper trail, while touchscreen machines do not (despite what the GAB and Command Central claim).

What hasn’t been widely reported or discussed is that a surprisingly large number of Wisconsin counties have been using AVC Edge touchscreen machines, without optical scan machines, since before the 2011 Command Central transactions. A review of the 2010 GAB voting equipment database clearly reveals that it has not been updated to reflect the changes made to the Wisconsin voting system in the past year. At this point it appears those revisions will not take place before June 5, 2012 recall election.

(more at the link)

[Dr Fate]

1. I guess Obama's DOJ better start investigating all this.

Oh wait- I forgot-the executive branch and the party leadership should just ignore WI.