NJ: County feels betrayed by Freeholders decision to buy Sequoia

[FogerRox]

County to buy voting machines, rebuffing maker's
critics
By voting for 700 of the paperless devices, Essex
follows other counties' lead
Friday, November 11, 2005
BY JONATHAN CASIANO
Star-Ledger Staff

The Essex County freeholders voted last night to
purchase 700 touch-screen machines from Sequoia Voting
Systems, supplier of voting equipment to a dozen other
counties in New Jersey, after six months of debate
over accuracy and security.


-snip

The decision, however, was not without its detractors.
Freeholders Ralph Caputo, Carol Clark and Muriel Shore
opposed the purchase, saying they had not received
ample time to review the contract with Sequoia of
Oakland, Calif.

There also were dozens of voting-rights advocates who
filled the freeholder chambers to protest the
purchase. Since June, the activists have railed
against the Sequoia machines, claiming they use
software that is susceptible to hackers as well as
everyday computer glitches.

They also object to Sequoia's lack of a voter-verified
paper trail, a printed receipt that would allow each
voter to make sure his or her selections were recorded
accurately.

Jonathan Casiano covers Essex County government. He
may be reached at [e-mail] .


© 2005 The Star Ledger
© 2005 NJ.com All Rights Reserved.

rest of story-

http://www.nj.com/printer/printer.ssf?/base/news-1/1131691162318100.xml

These 5 Freeholders who voted to purchase the Sequoia Advanatge, will be the target of what is called payback. Most of the Essex County Task Force is compsed of DFA members- Who will most likey organize DFA DEM oppenents in the primarys, when these Freeholders run for re-election.

Original thread;
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=203&topic_id=400940&mesg_id=400940

Election Reform, Fraud, & Related News Friday 11/11/05:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x400962

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

1. Rip 'em a new...

Cloacal Vent, Roger.

[bunny planet]

2. Oh this is terrible. This happened under the radar while most New

Jerseyans were still celebrating our victory with Corzine's win in this week's election. This is disgraceful, especially since many of us who were paying attention a few short months ago wrote lots of letters and appeared at the original meeting of the Freeholders when they first wanted to purchase these machines. I just fired off a LTTE to the Star Ledger link that you provided, thanks. Guess it's time to go over to the NJ forum to see what's being planned here to head this one off at the pass. I guess I'll be speaking to the NJ Secretary of State's office a lot in the future, maybe starting today.
:mad:

I'm determined that Tuesday's election will not be the last free and fair election in the state of NJ.

[FogerRox]

3. the only path is seeking relief in Court-- the contract was approved

I have talked to 3 Election Lawyers- WE may be suing - we are allowed under NJ law to seek relief for violations of HAVA title 3 Section 301.

NJ SOS HAS no role in Elections- this duty is handled by the AGs office.
Marcus Green Cheif of staff , Donna Kelly, Deputy AG

[bunny planet]

4. So the Secretary of State has different duties in different states. I

didn't know that, I just assumed because of Cruella de Blackwell's role in Ohio last year that all Sec of States had jurisdiction over elections in their respective states. Thanks for the info.

Any contact info. for Marcus Green, Chief of Staff, and Donna Kelly, Deputy AG?

[FogerRox]

5. see my sig? email me

[Bill Bored]

6. Don't you guys have a law that mandates VVPATs by 2008 or so?

Are they going to retrofit that or what Foger?

[FogerRox]

7. My prediction

they will use the Advantage for about 1 year or 2 then relapce the nearly 7000
Advantages at a non HAVA reimbursement rate of hmmm $10k per-- for a cost of around 70 million state wide

With the 30 year old processor-- the venerable Z-80-- I doubt the Advantage can be up graded to meet the 2002 VVSS when it becomes mandatory-- let alone get a VVPB printer on it-- which Sequoia has quoted us a price tag of $2000.00 per printer