Jim:
An excellent letter in all aspects. I consider vendors and election
officials who deliberately subvert the electoral system, either by
overt or covert actions, to be domestic terrorists. Those public
agencies whose duty it is to protect the interests of the citizens of
this country, and abdicate that role for any reason, are aiding and
abetting this attack upon our form of government (giving material
support).
I consider the RoV from Napa County, and the other RoV's who took part in the attack upon Secretary Bowen at Monday's hearing, to be complicit in that attack. I will no longer give them the benefit of the doubt. What they do they do with knowledge and by choice.
Here is a copy of my comments at the hearing yesterday. First though
is the statement made by the Napa County RoV:
Video time stamp:
05:15:00:
I'm John Tuteur, the Napa County Assessor Recorder County Clerk and
Registrar of Voters.
The top to bottom review has no relevance to the real world conduct of elections within the framework I have just discussed and has wasted almost one million dollars of scarce federal funds. This top to bottom review deserves the same admonition that I gave to former Secretary Kevin Shelley after his decertification fiasco [Since when is upholding the law a fiasco?].
Secretary Bowen, you should know better than to erode the public's confidence in California's fair and accurate elections process for crass political purposes. [He turns to face Secretary Bowen] Shame on you.
His contact information is:
Napa County
John Tuteur, Registrar of Voters
900 Coombs Street, #256
Napa, CA 94559
Phone: 707-253-4321
Email: elections@co.napa.ca.us
My comment:
CALIFORNIA SECRETARY OF STATE
HEARING
SACRAMENTO, CA
July 30, 2007
President Eisenhower warned us of the dangers of the military-industrial complex. After four years of activism and research I can say the election industry presents an even greater danger to our republic, for it puts at risk the very foundation of our form of government: the right of the people to choose who shall govern them.
Today our elections have become captured by vendors that care more about their bottom line than about the accuracy or security of our elections, and too many local election officials that care more about expediency and convenience, and their self-interest, than their duty to the voter.
This review has shown just how fearful the election industry is of scrutiny, and how incestuous the relationship is between vendors and election officials. The orchestrated campaign by both the vendors and local election officials attacking the Secretary’s review is not just revealing, but outrageous. Those election officials who have participated in those attacks should be ashamed.
During the last four years we have repeatedly seen deliberate efforts by election officials to obstruct public oversight of our elections. That must end.
While I welcome this review, it is not a top-to-bottom review. A top-to-bottom review would include unannounced forensic inspections of actual deployed systems. This would determine what firmware and software are actually installed, what lines are actually connected, and what communication links and drivers are activated. It would include a review of recent election event and audit logs.
I am very disturbed that LA County’s voting system was not examined. That county alone can determine the outcome of any statewide race or proposition.
After what I have experienced and observed over the last several years
involving election officials and vendors, I do not trust the election industry. It is as self-serving as the military-industrial complex.
Electronic voting is inherently vulnerable. No amount of procedures,seals, or locks can provide the degree of confidence that we as citizens demand. We must know that we are being governed by the will of the majority, not the will of some hacker, fanatic, or incompetent programmer. Procedures are no better than implemented.
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