E-Voting Companies give more Money to Republicans

[Joanne98]

WASHINGTON, DC (PRWEB) August 13, 2004 -- Electionline.org today announced the release of the first nonpartisan and non-advocacy look at the political campaign contributions and lobbying activities of the largest producers of e-voting machines.

The report found that voting machine manufacturers have been mostly pragmatic in their political activities, giving money to each party and largely staying out of campaigns in key states considering the purchase of their wares -- with two significant exceptions.

Early funding efforts focused on passing an initiative in support of a California bond to fund the local purchase of e-voting machines. Similarly, executives from Ohio-based Diebold Inc. gave generously to national and state Republican candidates.

The report also found, however, that manufacturers have not made significant campaign contributions in states such as Florida, Georgia and Maryland where lucrative contracts were rewarded in 2001 and 2002. Research also indicated no significant home-field advantage for companies seeking contracts with their state or local governments.


http://www.prweb.com/releases/2004/8/prweb149382.htm

[HysteryDiagnosis]

1. So....

Then... this site "IS" relevant.

www.whitehouseforsale.org

Tracking the influence of private money in the presidential campaigns. So far, donors have given: Bush $228,000,000 / Kerry $186,000,000

[Dufaeth]

2. Total BS

The headline is totally misleading. You have to get to the bottom to find that out of $650,000 only $45,000 was given to Dems.

[Joanne98]

4. I changed it

:)

[Dufaeth]

6. lol!!

.

[ParanoidPat]

7. That's not quite what is says......

......but it is interesting! :evilgrin:

Since 2001, the major election machine manufacturers - Diebold, Election Systems & Software, Sequoia Voting Systems and Hart InterCivic - have combined to contribute just over $650,000 to candidates, political parties or, public initiative campaigns. The largest share - $411,320 from 2001 to 2003 - came from Diebold, given to Republican candidates and party coffers.

The report noted Diebold and its board members gave mostly to Ohio candidates and office holders, and President George W. Bush. The report notes that Diebold, unlike other election system companies, generates far more revenue from other segments, including banking. But it raised eyebrows when CEO Walden O'Dell vowed in a fundraising letter last year to "deliver" Ohio's electoral votes to Bush.

They don't seem to give a total for how much went to the Democrats. Just a slanted line about how the 3 remaining smaller companies gave more to them ($45,550 compared to just under $30,000 to Republicans.) :)

[Nambe]

3. Great!..."Johns" counting our votes.

And I would need to follow the money myself to the GOP.

[shraby]

5. It should be against the law

for the companies who make e-voting machines to give to any party.