Voting Machine Study Divides Md. Officials, Experts |WP

[Rose Siding]

Voting Machine Study Divides Md. Officials, Experts

For some in Maryland, the report yesterday by Johns Hopkins University computer security experts that electronic voting machines could easily be hacked into set off alarm bells. But for others, including the state officials who recently signed a $55.6 million agreement to put the units in every voting precinct by March, the report is one more example of "technological hysteria."

"The study should be setting off alarm bells," said Del. William A. Bronrott (D-Montgomery). "We need to be 100 percent sure that there is no chance that our machines can be tampered with."

"Even if was completely impossible that would ever happen, the reality that it could happen should be enough to concern us," said Cheryl C. Kagan, a former delegate who opposed using electronic voting machines. "If the system can't be used with confidence, it shouldn't be used at all."

more....................

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A48092-2003Jul25.html

[Mel]

1. tsk tsk

from this guys bio, it seems he has NO education whatsoever in a technical field.

quote-The push was championed by then-Secretary of State John T. Willis, who dismissed the Hopkins report as "technological hysteria."



Yet as we can see the Experts they asked to advice the state where ignored.

<snip>But not everyone is so sure. In 2001, four out of the five members of the technical group that was asked to recommend to the state which electronic voting system to buy instead recommended against buying any at all. The state ignored the advice.


"They didn't take us very seriously then," said Tom Iler, director of Information Technology for Baltimore County who served on the group. "I suppose it's not very surprising that they're not taking this study very seriously now." </snip>


quote-Margaret A. Jurgensen, director of elections in Montgomery County, said that voters loved the machines. "The general election went off perfectly," she said.

Okay now check this out Margaret A. Jurgensen contradicts what this article says about their elections with the touch screen machines. Also, if you read the whole article you will get to read the racist remarks made by a chief judge....disgusting!

http://www.kioskcom.com/articles_detail.php?ident=1573
<snip>10-22-2002 -- By Annie Gowen
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, October 22, 2002; Page B01

Montgomery County residents may face long lines at the polls on Election Day and access for Spanish-speaking voters could be hampered, despite hasty fixes made since the fiasco debut of computerized voting machines last month, according to a report released yesterday.

Confusion over the new touch-screen machines, poorly trained workers, staffing shortages and communication breakdowns caused the Sept. 10 primary day meltdown that delayed Montgomery ballot results until after 2 a.m.</snip>


Article headline below says the general went smoothly BUT if you read the article you will see there is reason to ask questions.
Also, Repukes better pay attention to this it concerns all voters not just Democrats this faulty system has a double edged sword.

http://www.gazette.net/200245/montgomerycty/county/129584-1.html
Despite mishaps, officials say vote smooth, turnout high
by Joseph C. Anselmo
Staff Writer
Nov. 5, 2002

<snip>In central Montgomery County's District 19, voters found the word "Democrat" slashed across the top of electronic voting machine screens -- even if they were Republicans.

At Rachel Carson Elementary School in Gaithersburg, election judges trying to reach the county Board of Elections to verify voters who were not on their lists encountered busy signals for more than an hour, despite more than 30 new phone lines.</snip>

[salin]

2. Nice work

pulling together additional available news items. If I ran AP, you would be hired! Now how do we get your additional information - synthesized - to the right people?

[Mel]

3. think of what I

could dig up if I had lexus nexis :evilgrin:

getting it to the right people I leave that up to the evil DU'ers

I know one journalist I did send him the links to the Bev Harris research/articles ect.
If he writes anything I'll post it here. Keep your fingers crossed. He didn't ignore me since he knows me if I'd of had to depend on my writing skills I think I may of been ignored. I took the less is better approach- give him a compliment and the links :-)

[aquart]

4. WHY were they ignored?

Is there a money/crony trail?

[tomp]

6. "The general election went off perfectly," she said.

besides the points mentioned where the election did not go "perfectly", ms. jurgensen completely misses the point of the problem with the machines. how does she know the election went off perfectly? how does she know the machines tallied the votes properly? she doesn't. even if there were no lines or complaints and everything SEEMED to go smoothly, the entire point is about the VOTE COUNT, not ease of use.

if i ran the world people would go to jail for statemants like that.

[Mel]

7. yes she does

and this journalist didn't really give us all the facts
here's Ms. Jurgensen's email if anyone would like to ask her a question or tell her what you think
[e-mail]

Tom Iler this is about all I could find on him
http://www.baltimore.aitp.org/meetings/2002_05din.htm#tom%20iler

Found this link also
http://www.baltimorecountyonline.info/agencies/infotech/index.html

here's his emai address- [e-mail]


if there are any journalist out there this guy is someone I'd be trying to interview. The reporter of this article didn't do such a good job on getting much out of him.
Like a link to a report as to why this group of people where against getting ANY of these electronic voting machines H E L L O?

Money connections I haven't found anything out maybe someone out there can if there is any I just don't know?

[FubarFly]

5. Is it time to sue yet?

Seriously.

[Cocoa]

8. they're dismissing this too quickly

Maybe the election officials and Diebold are correct, but they should take the charges seriously and demonstrate how the study is wrong, instead of just so flatly dismissing it.

My guess is that they've been tussling with the activists and are just weary of the fervor. Just a guess. :shrug:

[DrBB]

9. They've already spent $56 million

That's a pretty huge amount of cash to admit you were wrong about.

"Everybody just loves the machines!" Jurgensen chirped brightly. Like that has shit to do with anything. "It's so easy, Madge, you just touch the screen and your vote is counted. Isn't it wonderful!" It must be working--it has a slick user-interface! What more do these cranky nay-sayers want anyway?