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January 8, 2008 at 02:55:05
ALL Diebold ALL the Time - It's the New Hampshire Primary by Michael Collins Page 2 of 2 page(s) |
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By Nancy Tobi 81% of New Hampshire ballots are counted in secret by a private corporation named Diebold Election Systems (now known as "Premier"). The elections run on these machines are programmed by one company, LHS Associates, based in Methuen, MA. We know nothing about the people programming these machines, and we know even less about LHS Associates. We know even less about the secret vote counting software used to tabulate 81% of our ballots. People like to say "but we use paper ballots! They can always be counted by hand!" But they're not. They're counted by Diebold. Only a candidate can request a hand recount, and most never do so. And a rigged election can easily become a rigged recount, as we learned in Ohio 2004, where two election officials were convicted of rigging their recount. (Is it just a funny coincidence that Diebold spokesman is named Mr. Riggall?) We need to get the count right on election night. Right now, nobody in New Hampshire, except the programmers at LHS Associates and Diebold Election Systems, knows if we are getting it right or wrong. Our state officials and representatives know this. They learned all about it when computer security specialists Harri Hursti and Bruce Odell testified before the legislative subcommittee on e-voting in September 2007 (Hursti's testimony is shown in this video). Scientific reports about the vulnerabilities and risks with Diebold optical scanners have been available since 2003.
Democracy for NH Article
We love our state. It takes courage and strength to admit where we are going wrong and to fix it. May our state officials and representatives find that courage and strength soon. Before we lose the other 19% of our votes.
END
This article may be reproduced in whole or part with attribution of authorship and a link to this article.
Appendix 1:
Citizens Gone Wild: Taking Control of Our Democracy
PowerPoint File
Nancy Tobi, Democracy for New Hampshire
Election Defense Alliance
Appendix 2: Recount Triggers
Below find a summary of the electionline.org survey (p. 3) on recounts across the country.
Candidate-initiated recounts: Losing candidates: 14 states, recounts only if race is very close; 25 states, requests allowed whatever outcome, usually with a cost per ballot.
Voter-initiated recounts: In 11 states, voter requests honored for candidates or ballot initiatives. In 7 states, voter requested recounts for ballot initiatives only.
Close election: 16 states have automatic recounts when the race is within 1%.
Automatic recounts: California, Kentucky, New York and West Virginia sample a small percent of ballots to check voting machines.
No recount provisions: Hawaii and Mississippi. Depends on litigation.
Appendix 3: Voter Attitudes Toward Electronic Voting and Honest Elections
New Zogby Poll on Electronic Voting Attitudes
Scoop: Zogby - Voters Question Outcome Of '04 Election
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Voter Fraud
Ron Paul supporters are very concerned, there has already been protests and police coming to Ron Paul rally's calming "rabid" supporters down that are screaming "Fraud!". Several Ron Paul bloggers have boards for volunteers to work on at polls on fraud, and while Diabold may be a friend to the neocons and neocliberals, it is not a friend to Ron Paul, who does not give corporations more rights than the individual. by Jeanette Doney (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 6 diaries, 307 comments [1 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Tuesday, Jan 8, 2008 at 8:18:45 AM  (0+)
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Reply: Skepticism of governent is a good stance
In the case of the Paul campaign, there could be nothing more essential in these primaries. The Republican Party is clearly hostile to his mere presence in the debates; in the campaign, for that matter. Probably because he's speaking the truth on Iraq and an imperial foreign policy. What are the Republicans without that? There are any number of resources that they can go to for help, groups just interested in clean elections - for everybody. Good luck and nice work with "Sean of the Dead." What a great day for the truth;) by Michael Collins (130 articles, 20 quicklinks, 7 diaries, 484 comments [42 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Tuesday, Jan 8, 2008 at 3:31:37 PM (0+)
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Why
I wonder why the candidates themselves are not complaining? by Michael Chavers (53 articles, 0 quicklinks, 15 diaries, 198 comments [5 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Tuesday, Jan 8, 2008 at 1:25:36 PM (0+)
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Reply: Why? Because the candidates know the truth
They are not complaining because they know it's a non-issue. The more imporatnt question is "why" don't the people with a solution in search of a problem know the same? by Tom Murphy (3 articles, 5 quicklinks, 16 diaries, 2103 comments [55 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Tuesday, Jan 8, 2008 at 1:53:56 PM (0+)
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Reply: Oddly enough, they rarely do complain
The "conspiracy theory" defamation used to tar those who exercise critical thinking and their rights has been effectively established. Cadidates don't want to look like they're crying foul. In NH and many states, the candidates is the only party allowed to request a recount. Silly isn't it. These are our elections - we have a right to review every step of the process before, during and after any election. Sorry to the "rulers" if this is inconvenient. Very good question you asked. by Michael Collins (130 articles, 20 quicklinks, 7 diaries, 484 comments [42 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Tuesday, Jan 8, 2008 at 3:27:58 PM (0+)
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Reply: Politicians have a different top priority than the public
The vast majority of voters want the real winner to prevail. It just makes sense. Who participates in a rigged game? It would be like betting on professional wrestling. The vast majority of the candidates think of their future in politics. To complain about an election forcloses the future, to a large degree, because you're called a spoiled sport, cry baby, etc., just like Gore was. Not much future in that. Look at Paul Hackett's (D) special election in OH in 2005 against Jean Schmid (R). It was a total mess. Hackett kept quiet and ran for Senate a few months later. As for "they know the truth" - that's faith based and incorrect syntax. Truth is simple in elections. How many ballots to how many candidates - verifiable from the primary data. With the optical scan system, the paper forms voters mark are not 'official.' The official results are from the computerized optical scan tally machines. If we had a tight chain of custody and full public access to the forms voters marked and if we were able to recount those voter marked paper forms, the result would be the truth. In NH and almost every other state, this is not a right at all and in some, it's against the law. When secrecy is built into a process, the question is why? Part of the answer: to keep whatever is going on a secret, the province of the "rulers" who don't have to bother proving that they were actually elected. It's bipartisan and it's anti democratic and anti intellectual. by Michael Collins (130 articles, 20 quicklinks, 7 diaries, 484 comments [42 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Wednesday, Jan 9, 2008 at 12:26:15 PM (0+)
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Voter Fraud
If this were any other country than the USA we would be screaming that the elections were rigged. When the vote count is secretly held under the auspices of a private corporation, it stinks worse than a dead fish under the summer sun. Whatever is actually going on, the set-up reeks of impropriety and has no place in a democracy. (If, indeed one can still call this a democracy...) by memary (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 70 comments) on Tuesday, Jan 8, 2008 at 5:26:33 PM (0+)
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WHO PICKS THE NEXT PRESIDENT ?
THIS IS A FIXED GAME AND THE MEDIA DECEPTION AND MISINFORMATION LETS THE AMERICA VOTER"( THINK)" THEY CAN PLAY. IT ALL OVER BUT THE TALKING ABOUT IT. THE END MY FRIEND. by RICHARD SHADE (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 460 comments) on Wednesday, Jan 9, 2008 at 3:03:58 AM (0+)
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Reply: ...and Hillary weeped.
We're getting very close. This was such bad theater and such an absurd outcome, there is always the small risk that it will blow up in their faces. One can hope, still, I think. They are relentless, aren't they... by Michael Collins (130 articles, 20 quicklinks, 7 diaries, 484 comments [42 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Wednesday, Jan 9, 2008 at 12:28:22 PM (0+)
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Reply: We snabbed them!
Ron Paul rEVOLution has found voter fraud in NH...1500 supporters are mobilied on www. Daily Paul alone...the bloggs are running wild with organizing. It's great. Check it out, offer services. ;)) by Jeanette Doney (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 6 diaries, 307 comments [1 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Wednesday, Jan 9, 2008 at 2:38:30 PM (0+)
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ALL Diebold ALL
The reason America is still using the E vote is that somone in the State is selling the results to a candidate for money ,he / she guarantees the win by dave stanley (5 articles, 1 quicklinks, 7 diaries, 286 comments) on Wednesday, Jan 9, 2008 at 6:25:45 PM (0+)
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Crime Syndicate
Dear Ladies and Gentleman, You need to ask yourself, why hasn't Gore, Kerry or even Max Cleeland never asked for a recount. The answer is there are part of this crime synidicate. Both parties are conspiring against the United States, (not of America). You can bett the farm that Senator Obama would request a recount. It's time to exterminate these coachroaches from our political system. by gerard styles (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 8 comments) on Friday, Jan 11, 2008 at 3:54:50 AM (0+)
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