2-17-06: BREAKING: Calif. Sec. State certifies entire Diebold product line

[Higans]

This is a very important news post, with national implications because -- with YOUR help -- today's miscarriage of democracy will give you the first good shot at subpoena-induced sworn testimony from voting machine makers and testing labs. Vendors and voting machine examiners: Enjoy the reprieve that McPherson just handed you, because the American citizenry -- with the help of some California senators -- is about to make sure it stops right now.

Citizens: Instructions are provided in this article.

Red flag: Meet bull

THE RED FLAG: Today California Secretary of State Bruce McPherson certified Diebold's entire product line, including the TSx touchscreen machine with its "toilet paper roll" paper trail -- you know, the design that removes the privacy of your vote. He also approved the Diebold optical scan system, knowing it can be hacked, and he approved the Diebold GEMS system, knowing it can be hacked, and all accessories and accompaniments.

The system was approved despite 100 percent public opposition and despite not having the ITA report back. (Welcome to Black Box America.)

YOU'RE THE BULL: It's time for you and everyone you know to make phone calls for subpoenas!

We are seeing a pattern of obfuscation and cover-up. YOUR help will be needed to get to the bottom of it all.

The Feb. 16 California Senate Elections Committee hearing on certification was hit with no-shows by ALL FOUR major vendors (Diebold, ES&S, Sequoia and Hart Intercivic).

Representatives from Wyle and Ciber testing labs declined to appear. Both the technical staff and the PR flaks for the California Secretary of State's office blew off the Senate Elections Committee.

The Secretary of State's office is now "legally late" on a series of public records requests made by California Elections Committee Chairperson Debra Bowen.

This lack of response to a California Senate hearing is a potential disaster in the making. With no election insiders willing to answer questions, the vendors as a whole (and Diebold in particular) along with the now-infamously inadequate test labs start looking like they're coated with non-stick Teflon.

It's not nice to blow off democracy, and we are asking you, the taxpayer, to refuse to allow testers and vendors to thumb their noses at the California Senate. It's your tax dollars that are paying for this equipment, which you have asked NOT to be purchased at all.

That Senate hearing on 16th could end up doing more harm than good, because if subpoenas don't happen, it tells American citizens that they are impotent and that laws, federal regulations and standards don't matter. That is, unless you and your friends make some phone calls to gouge that Teflon.

This is your best shot to drag the right people to the questioning table, kicking and screaming if necessary.

(MORE)

http://www.bbvforums.org/cgi-bin/forums/board-auth.cgi?file=/1954/19353.html

[Jim Sagle]

1. K & R.

[Proud_Lefty]

2. Yes we know

Many of our members went to recent local supervisor hearings. It was so obvious it was pre-decided. As usual these days, nothing fits with laws and everyone seems to skate. Understand we can submit requests to our AIG to investigate and pursue criminal charges if necessary. Drafts of complaints are being prepared. When we see injustices, there are things we can do. Unfortunately, too many of us aren't being told what those actions can be.

[rumpel]

3. and our AG will probably act.

[951-Riverside]

4. Is BBVForums associated with Bev Harris?

[BrotherBuzz]

12. Yes - Bev is .org and not to be confused with the original .com site

http://blackboxvoting.com/s9/

[autorank]

5. Maybe McPherson should have read his own staff report.

http://www.ss.ca.gov/elections/ks_dre_papers/diebold_report_april20_final.pdf

Showing unauthorized modifications to Diebold machines in up to 17 counties.

The Democrats run the Legislature, both houses. They can shut this down immediately.

If they don't, they we're screwed.

Raise Hell! Now!

[EVDebs]

23. McPherson's antiterrorism background....leads you to think...

Also, check McPherson's background. Who is he trying to please ? Bio below:

http://www.ss.ca.gov/executive/bio.htm

who pays for his campaigns etc. ?

Here is a more extensive bio

http://www.smartvoter.org/2002/11/05/ca/state/vote/mcpherson_b/bio.html

showing us that he's got a bias toward law enforcement and anything Bush

""As Chairman of the Senate Public Safety Committee and the Senate Select Committee on Anti-Terrorism Policy, Senator McPherson looks forward to the opportunity to continue his hard work towards securing public safety in an increasingly tumultuous time. He is especially proud of his support of legislation aimed at assisting victims of violence, empowering law enforcement, and keeping dangerous weapons out of school and off the streets. ""

Despite his personal loss of his son, Hunter, to street crime, he leans toward giving the police anything they want. This is strange due to law enforcement at all levels having 'intelligence units' who now in Santa Cruz are directly targetting students demonstrating legally, along with vegetarians in GA and Quakers in FL !

[autorank]

29. Bio....

This guy is a bit difficult to figure out because occasionally he does what appears to be the right thing. Ultimately, he made a decision that is as far from election integrity as you can get. There are a number of variables. One is the cost factor. 17 counties have Diebold. What does it mean if they're out, beau coup $$$'s on replacements. I think this stinks and I think that he is a stooge for the next theft. I also think that someone in CA should look at the special election out there in the Diebold counties. While Gov. Roids lost, he seemed to do better than expected. Hmmm...

The real smoking gun is in Leon and the Jacksonville Counties in Florida, both of which challenged Diebold's security and both of which wanted to buy ESS. ESS turned them both down. Now what the Hell does that mean? They said they were to busy to provide the type of service needed. Bull shit! They collude with Diebold is the answer.

Massive activism, the same people who did the work against the propositions, is what it will take.

[fooj]

31. You know...my dad knows him personally.

He used to teach at the local JC that my dad helped start up in the early 60's! He's always had a decent reputation around these parts. I've known him to be fairly reasonable...

I have to say that I was stunned to hear Ahnuld chose him...THAT in itself worries me.

Peace.

[autorank]

37. You never know...did you see Erlich signed the MD voter law...

I think he knows something because he's been Mr. Diebold, fixer up, and now he signs the voter protection legislation that he'd threatened to veto. He's a pro on the Bush Co team so you never know.

We'll see if Bruce survives. He's swing the wrong way now but ya never know2.

;)Make him "brownies" Give him some cool MP3's. Tell him, relax, do the right thing, Arnie won't notice;)

[EVDebs]

34. Where it all leads up to is the convergence of Plamegate and NSA spying

domestically

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=2466336

the 'policy shift' pre-9-11 is the smoking gun that takes them all down; without rigged elections they couldn't get elected dogcatcher...and without a Democratic Congress to investigate, a bull dog media to investigate, and so far only Fitz to do the job, we see why '06 is the R's only hope to hang onto power AND keep from being tarred and feathered.

[autorank]

36. Sadly, some of our folks make it hard to take the issue on..

Chris Dodd, D, CT is a co sponsor of HAVA. He's the guy the Dems ask about electronic voting. The problem is pervasive. It's up to us to make the changes happen. The big opportunity is in CA with the high handed change based on pure lunacy. Keep on kicking ass Debs, you're living up to your name, which is saying something!

[EVDebs]

38. What about a mass vote-by-mail in protest ? Avoid the Diebold machines

that way, as Oregon does ? Does that mean that absentee ballots get counted differently than the computerized Diebold machines and could xerox'ed copies of stubs then be collected by Dems/Progressives/Greens and tallied that way to make a verifiable exit poll of sorts ?

This could be done and privacy issues maintained, I believe.

Let's follow Oregon's way EN MASSE if it's feasible in all states.

[Fiendish Thingy]

6. K&R n/t

[BrotherBuzz]

7. Debra Bowen (California State Senator) responds...

FROM DEBRA BOWEN:

I have just learned that Secretary of State Bruce McPherson has
conditionally certified the use of Diebold electronic voting machines
in California's 2006 elections.

Secretary of State McPherson's release of bad news late on a Friday
afternoon before a holiday weekend is a blatant attempt to prevent us
from learning about this decision. We were in a similar position the Friday
before Christmas last year when the AP ran a story disclosing voting
problems from last November's special election.

But, try as he might, Secretary of State McPherson is not going to
succeed in burying this story from the people of California -- this is too
critical an issue to go away quietly.

With the many problems that have plagued Diebold machines, as well as
the complete lack of transparency into this certification process,
McPherson's decision certainly does nothing to restore confidence in California's
elections.

I'll have much more to say about this Diebold certification in the next
few days, and I'll be inviting you to do your part as well, but for now I
just wanted to share this information with you.

Thanks for your continued support.

Have a happy and safe Presidents' Day weekend!

Sincerely,


Debra Bowen
California State Senator

Visit Debra Bowen.com http://ga3.org/ct/x1SPkH11Nzgt/home

[lovuian]

8. If the Democrats allow this then California is lost...

but I don't think it will stand... but its now up to the Democrats to fight this and the people of California...

The republicans want and need California...

[cyclezealot]

11. A similiar thread was posted elsewhere the last 24 hours.

Cvalifornian's are great at initiating refenderums. Fight this once and for all or else loose forever. Seems California refenderums suspends the law up and until it is voted up or down.
We will win this and it is too important to end this threat to California democracy.

[Paradise]

13. Thanks. Just signed all 3 of her petitions. n/t

[autorank]

9. Here's what you do...Call the Cops on Diebold...it's been done!

GuvWurld, Dave Berman, said it loud and clear on Christmas Day, "Call the Cops on Diebold." Do it, go after them at the local level, go after them in court, go after them any way you can. This is so blatant.

And don't expect party leaders, politicians to do it. It's the citizens job to protected the franchise. It's your number one right and priority. Politicians have their own thing, which may or may not include election integrity. Bless Bowen and the fighters but you are the force that will overturn this total garbage.

It's a rigged game, fix it and make it work right. There is no better place to start the Velvet Revolution in earnest than California.

Get this link around. It's a great battle call

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0512/S00246.htm

California Activists Call the Cops on Diebold:
The Campaign to Unite California Election Reformers

Movement for legal action against officials who allowed
unauthorized software changes to voting machines starts in
Northern California. Strong local support.

Special Report by for "Scoop"
Michael Collins
(permission to quote liberally
granted by the author, me)

December, 25, 2005

Humboldt Co., CA. A major challenge to election equipment maker Diebold Corporation began in California last week. Dave Berman is a nationally known internet activist who blogs under the name GuvWurld. He is calling on all Californians to ensure election integrity by holding public officials accountable for what he argues are gaping security holes and illegal alterations of Diebold voting machines. One part of the plan asks local activists to demand investigations of unauthorized changes to voting machines by the beleaguered election systems company. The plan has strong local support in a major Diebold territory, Humboldt County. Humboldt County includes Eureka, Arcata and Humboldt State University and is at the very top of the California coastline.

Concerns about Diebold practices in California

Berman cites multiple concerns about Diebold business practices but focuses on the combination of unauthorized installations of Diebold software patches in as many as 17 California counties and the acquiescence of local election officials to that practice, clearly barred by California code. Berman asked the following pointed questions:

Who allowed Humboldt's voting machines to have uncertified software installed in them? Was someone in the Humboldt county elections department complicit in this crime or merely negligent? Is this person still employed by the elections department, and if so, why?

Prior to the March 2004 California presidential primary, Diebold was scrambling to make its machines meet the needs of some large county customers. In this process, Diebold wrote several letters to then California Secretary of State Kevin Shelley. The letters claimed that Diebold was about to get approval for new voting machine software from the Federal government. Diebold used this to request provisional certification allowing their equipment to be used in the primary.

The "Staff Report on the investigation of Diebold Election Systems, Inc" outlines deception and unauthorized changes in software. The deception was noted when the report stated "…the vendor had abandoned, if not undermined attempts to seek federal qualification at almost precisely the same time it assured the VSPP (Voting Systems and Procedures Panel through it's letters) that approval was imminent." Worse, the report found that Dieobld "installed uncertified software on election machines in 17 (California) counties." The exact nature of the software installation cannot be verified. Diebold routinely seeks "confidentiality agreements" with customers, barring them from inspecting machines or "seeing inside" through access to computer "source" code, the basis for machine operation.

<snip>

"When elections are conducted under conditions that prevent conclusive outcomes, the Consent of the Governed is not being sought. Absent this self-evident source of legitimacy, such Consent is not to be assumed or taken for granted."

"The conditions that prevent conclusive outcomes" are exemplified in the current effort to unite California election reformers. Since Florida 2000 a national movement has emerged to challenge the conduct of elections. The movement focuses on weak software and methods associated with voting machines and vote tabulators, partisan manipulation of election practices by Secretaries of State who also actively campaign for those running in elections they supervise, and the right wing bias of election machine companies.

<snip>

The GuvWurld campaign against Diebold and quiescent election officials represents a new aggressive, proactive stance. Dan Ashby of the Voting Rights Task Force (VRTF) told us, "Our most recent meeting concluded with recognition that instead of always reacting defensively to further inroads on electoral integrity, we need to come up with some full time proactive strategies."

This realign or resign campaign directed at election officials in the Diebold counties seems to me a very good place to start." Activist groups like the CPEN and VRTF are now determining if and how they will participate with the GuvWurld campaign. Ashby is hoping that activist pressure will convince Secretary of State McPherson to refuse to recertify Diebold's DRE touch screens in California. He argues that,"To reward this worst-of-class, repeat offender by granting an extended franchise in the nation's largest voting market - after all the Diebold dirt that has floated to the surface these past few years - is just unthinkable."

[Nothing Without Hope]

10. ***Other threads on this issue - LINKS***

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x413258
thread title (2-17-06 Election Reform): SHIT!!! Diebold to be certified in CA ... with yet-unstated conditions.
Comment/excerpt: Report from an email from CA State Senator Debra Bowen’s office “Apparently the SOS announced in a conference call with county elections officials today that he’s going to certify the Diebold machines for 2006 “with conditions,” but he didn’t lay out the conditions just yet.” Reply #10 has a link to the CA SOS’s press release: http://ss.ca.gov/executive/press_releases/2006/06_021.pdf

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x458237
thread title (2-17-06 GD): Well, it seems Rove & Republicans have succeeded-They now have California!
Comment/excerpt: Cites SF Chronicle article: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/news/archive/2006/02/17/state/n175845S67.DTL “California Secretary of State Bruce McPherson gave conditional approval Friday for counties to use two voting machines produced by Diebold Election Systems that he had previously questioned.”

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=141x19244
thread title (2-17-06 State of California Forum): McPherson WILL TRY TO CERTIFY DIEBOLD FOR 2006
Comment/excerpt: sfexpat2000 cites the info in the first thread in this list and says “My dear neighbor DUers: I'm still collecting facts -- like, when is he fixing to do that and does the plan include a recountable paper ballot? Please, please, check this forum starting Monday night. Please put your networks on "alert". I just sent two emails to the L.A. and SF Greens to be looking for an action. If you have a group of more than one, put THEM on alert. We will need them next week. WE WILL NOT BECOME OHIO. WE FIGHT THIS BS! Please check in and let me know you are on board. THEY ARE TRYING TO TAKE CALIFORIA. WE WON'T LET THEM...."

Note that the last of these posts, by sfexpat in the California forum, is calling for activist action.

[Paradise]

14. fyi, du'ers can go to:

debra bowen's website:

http://ga3.org/ct/x1SPkH11Nzgt/home

and sign all three of her easy-to-do petitions (only a name and email address required.).

(once she thanks you for signing the first one, you can scroll down to click on the second, and the same for the third...)

This matter is VITAL, and we have the POWER to provide a MAJOR impact...

[NuttyFluffers]

32. thx. done, done, and done. n/t

[EFerrari]

15. Kick

[Junkdrawer]

16. The Battle of California...

If this goes down, California voters "say" anything the Republicans think they can get away with.

And, as we've seen, they think they can get away with A LOT.

[helderheid]

17. K & R - no taxation without representation - no representation without

transparent voting!

[hunter]

18. McPherson's News Release here:

http://www.ss.ca.gov/executive/press_releases/2006/06_021.pdf

“As the State’s chief elections official, the decision to certify voting systems is a
very serious responsibility, and a number of factors must be carefully weighed before I
determine whether to grant certification,” said Secretary McPherson. “This is precisely
why I created 10 strict standards that must be met for a voting system to be certified,
making California’s process the most stringent in the nation. We have applied these
standards and after rigorous scrutiny, I have determined that these Diebold systems can
be used for the 2006 elections.”

This stinks.

[EVDebs]

24. McPherson's 'anti-terrorism policy' background gives me the willies

His obvious ties to BushCo's agenda deserve a more active media look that didn't take place when Ahnold appointed him.

[glitch]

19. The whole Friday night release before a holiday weekend weasel trick

just doesn't work like it used to. :dem:

[sellitman]

20. They will try this in every state they can. Bet on it.

We need to be on guard.

[EFerrari]

21. kick

[Nikki Stone 1]

22. Hey Higans: Next time, put the names of the people to contact in the OP

Otherwise, some of us might think you're just trying to up the numbers of visitors at your site.

Contact list:

Senator Don Perata (Chair)
[phone]

Senator Jim Battin (Vice-Chair)
[phone]

Senator Roy Ashburn
[phone]

Senator Debra Bowen
[phone] (Yes, call her too so she can log the support calls, it's important since it allows her to back her position from the grassroots.)

Senator Gilbert Cedillo
[phone]

Black Box Voting Inc. seldom puts out calls for grassroots pressure, as we feel this powerful tool can be diluted with over-use. But now is the time.

How to deliver your message

Be quick, be polite, be professional. Here's your message: ask for "Rules Committee support for subpoenas of election industry and certification insiders who won't otherwise inform the Elections Committee as to what's going on".

http://www.bbvforums.org/cgi-bin/forums/board-auth.cgi?file=/1954/19353.html

[Higans]

30. It's not my site.

but your right, I should have included the full article.

I'm not even a member at BBV, but the isue of Election Hacking is very important to me. thanks for the heads up.

[Paradise]

25. kick. n/t

[Eric J in MN]

26. Is there anything we can do?

nt

[Paradise]

27. see my reply # 14... n/t

[Panda1]

28. K & R

Thanks for the post, Higans.
We've got our work cut out for us.

Slight thread drift due to cranky fatigue:
Why was this moved out of LBN? LBN posting rules I'm confused. CA has 55 electoral votes at stake.
A search revealed no other Diebold CA threads in LBN. Did I miss another thread? Had I not run across the locked link in LBN I wouldn't have seen this thread. I usually check LBN first. Soon it will be off the front page. I've never ever questioned an admin decision in my time here, but DIEBOLD in BIG BLUE isn't LBN? The whole country should be concerned.

Needless to say, this action by our puke SoS has me rattled so I apologize in advance if I'm overreacting. (I knew it was coming, but still...the reality is too much, it's been a bizzy and disgusting news week.)
Of the many lines in the sand we've drawn, (SC nominees etc.) this is the big one in terms of ever having our votes count again.



From your link...Done but I'll be contacting again on Tues.

Senator Don Perata (Chair) (Left a message)
[phone]

Senator Jim Battin (Vice-Chair)(Left a message...sent a FAX [phone])
[phone]

Senator Roy Ashburn (Left a message)
[phone]

Senator Debra Bowen (No answer, no message pu, signed up at site))
[phone]

Senator Gilbert Cedillo (Left a message)
[phone]

Onward ho....
Okay, back to contacting everyone under the sun and state legislators

[Steve A Play]

33. Also contact the California Elections Division directly

Voter Complaint Form

This complaint form should be used if you have information that a violation of the California Elections Code has occurred. Include dates, times and specific occurrences of any alleged violations which you have personal knowledge of. Mail this form to the address provided.

Voter Complaint Form PDF
Voter Complaint Form - Espanol PDF
Voter Complaint Form - Tagalog PDF
Voter Complaint Form - Chinese PDF
Voter Complaint Form - Japanese PDF
Voter Complaint Form - Korean PDF
Voter Complaint Form - Vietnamese PDF

If you use this form please check the "Other Federal Law violation" box and be sure to have it notarized before mailing it back!

Elections and Voter Information

Elections Division Contacts

General Information - Elections Division
Secretary of State's Office
1500 11th Street, 5th Floor
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
E-Mail: [e-mail]

TDD Only - No Charge To Calling Party: [phone]
# Voter Fraud Hotline: [phone] / (800) 345-VOTE Telephone and Address Information

On-Line Contact Form http://www.ss.ca.gov/cgi-bin/print_form.cgi

The names of our key professional staff follow:

Chief
* Assistant Secretary of State, Elections - Brad Clark
* Division Chief - Caren Daniels-Meade

Candidates and Elections
* Associate Elections Analyst - Catherine Ingram-Kelly
* Associate Elections Analyst - Evelyn Mendez

Calvoter
* Elections Analyst - Brad Mello
* Elections Analyst - Richard Cuny

Election Information

* Program Manager - Jana Lean
* Elections Specialist - Irene Capps

Fraud and Investigations

* To contact the Fraud and Investigations Unit, please call [phone] or you can lodge a recorded complaint by calling 1-800-345-VOTE.

Front Office/800#

* Supervising Program Technician, Front Office/800# - Edlynn Cardenas
* Program Technician, Front Office/800# - Darlene Guthrie
* Program Technician, Front Office/800# - Michelle Brown
* Program Technician, Front Office/800# - Carla Shulz

Initiative and Ballot Pamphlet

* Program Manager - Joanna Southard
* Elections Analyst - Katherine Montgomery

Legal

* Staff Counsel - Michael Kanotz
* Staff Counsel - Judith Carlson

Voter Education

* Program Manager - John Mott-Smith
* Election Specialist - Ed Cuellar
* Elections Analyst - Susete Machado

Web Design and Development

* Associate Elections Analyst - Evelyn Mendez

Voter Services/Registration

* Program Manager, Voter Services - Deirdre Avent

Office of Voting Systems Testing Assessment

* Program Manager, Voting Systems - Bruce McDannold



Steven P. :kick:

[marions ghost]

40. excellent

:kick:

[Paradise]

35. kick. n/t

[JPZenger]

39. My PA. County About to Buy Diebold with no paper trail

I live in an urbanized county in PA. that has just signed a contract to buy Diebold machines with no paper trail. Part of the problem is that PA. was so late in certifying machines, that the counties were only given a couple choices.

Also, the way some of the competing paper trail machines were supposedly set up, you could track each vote by number - the first voter voted for x and y, the second voter voted for a and b, etc. Of course, there are ways to avoid that.

[EFerrari]

41. kick