vote early w/diebold? you are the candidate. what

[mopinko]

do you advise your voters? this came up at a volunteer meeting with christine cegelis
illinois is instituting early voting statewide, and in dupage county, it is only on the newly acquired diebold machines. (i think they have a paper trail, sorry, i can't find it right now.)
she feels like she has got to get votes, and also sees no reason for a dem primary to be hacked. so, she is pushing early voting.
i am horrified, AND i cannot think of a stronger way to point out republican corruption than to make an issue of these machines. i would make it a point to tell my voters NOT to vote early if they can help it. but that's why she is on her way to congress, and i am sitting here blogging.
if you have followed this race, you may know that the dccc has been up to some pretty shitty moves, trying to shove her out of the race. i told her that all D's are not her friends, which, of course, she knows.
so, what would you do, in her shoes? and what can be done to watch these suckers? i know that some of us feel that republicans are not the only ones who steal votes. i sure don't think rahm can be trusted.
any other candidates out there with good strategies?

[Boredtodeath]

1. Start by setting up a pollwatching team

http://countthevote.org/pollwatching.htm

[mopinko]

2. to clarify

this refers to early voting only. this is a shoestring campaign, battling the dccc. the extended period covers crunch time for the campaign. so, they would need to divert essential energies to watch over a few, far flung votes. not something that they think they can do. even on election day, it will be a hard choice.
the question was more one of, do you advise people to vote early (otherwise a smart strategy), or do you make a point of warning people not to use the machines?
i am a lowly volunteer, with no say so. just curious what people thought about this. i am very worried about the integrity of this election in general. we know that the dccc will do whatever is in it's power to win. and i, for one, want to know what IS in their power.

[Wilms]

3. I've read here that early voting is even more fraud prone.

Yes, I'd be scared.

And I'd want someone who knows what they're doing to look over the GEMS Ballot Definition Settings.

[Boredtodeath]

4. Early voting is the LEAST secure

DREs have no security to begin with and you're giving them at least a WEEK to move your vote wherever they need it.

There is no way to secure the cards containing the votes (the PCMCIA cards) during the entire week of early voting. During that entire period, all one has to do is open the tables in MSAccess and change whatever they want to change.

[hedda_foil]

9. Absolutely NOT!

The Diebold DREs (paper or no paper) are even worse when used for early voting. There's no reason for Christine to devote resources to getting out the vote early. The early voting centers are unlikely to get much traffic in DuPage in any case, since Illinois has never had early voting or no excuse absenttee before and the centers aren't exactly convenient.

[mopinko]

10. let's hope.

i hope that tight resources work to just keep their mouths shut.
i am just disappointed. if there is a candidate out there that could address this issue, it is christine.
i will keep trying.

[Wilms]

5. IL: Early voting raises concerns about ballot security

Posted Online: February 13, 2006

Early voting raises concerns about ballot security

Heather Gach

SPRINGFIELD -- A new state law gives voters in Illinois more time to vote, and has candidates rethinking campaign strategies.

Voters may now cast their ballot prior to Election Day without having to provide a reason or excuse for voting early. The current absentee ballot system, which allows physically disabled individuals and persons who will be out of their place of residence on Election Day to vote early by mail after providing a reason, will still be available.

Early voting in the March 21 primary election in Illinois will take place from Feb. 27 to March 16, according to the State Board of Elections. Local jurisdictions determine where people can vote early and during what hours.

snip

http://mywebtimes.com/ottnews/archives/ottawa/sections.cgi?prcss=display&id=242141

[mopinko]

6. extra locks on the ballot boxes! bwahahahahaha

oh, man, we are so screwed. i need to go to sleep now. oy.
thanks wilms.

[garybeck]

7. "do you advise your voters? "

tell them to write to their SoS, picket the polling place, demand paper ballots and verified results.

[mopinko]

8. that's what i would do.

but then again, i could run, fight the good fight, tell the truth, and be fine with going home a loser.
she is in a tough spot. she is in a longtime red district, with a dccc fight in the primary. she is a good progressive, and i do not think she will take any guff once elected. but she has to walk that tightrope first. but she will not get there is they get to count the votes, so.......