On Diebold's website they seem to infer they manufacture their machines here in the US. " .... Diebold has the unique capability to meet your election system requirements through expandable, tiered manufacturing utilizing our own US based facilities,... "

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Diebold's TSx motherboard "Made in China"

I am not sure what Diebold is claiming to jurisdictions where the TSx

is manufactured. I do know the motherboard is manufactured in China.

It arrives here with the CPU and flash memories already installed.

Those more technically knowledgeable can let us know whether or not

that is a potential security problem or not.

On Diebold's website they seem to infer they manufacture their

machines here in the US.

" .... Diebold has the unique capability to meet your election system

requirements through expandable, tiered manufacturing utilizing our

own US based facilities,... "

To obtain a jpeg picture showing that the Diebold motherboard is "Made

in China" go to the following URL.

http://www.openvoting.us/tsx/images/DSC_0045.JPG

What is interesting is the Made in China mark is underneath the top

layer of plastic, and on the secondary side of the motherboard that

normally cannot be looked at or read when the back of the TSx is

opened up for servicing or repair. Contrast this picture with what is

printed clearly on the primary side of the motherboard listing the

model, serial number and other important information. That picture can

be seen here:

http://www.openvoting.us/tsx/images/DSC_0051.JPG

While looking at this picture notice that to the right of the

identifying information is the modem connection (labeled "phone

line"), which has two circuits (wires) running from it to the

"daughterboard" modem controller directly below the identifying

numbers (it is the raised mini-circuit board). Of note is that

directly above that are two female plugs, a 9-pin and a 4-pin, Items

U51A and U51B. Of note is the 4-pin (U51A) only has two wires

connected to it, and those two wires are connected directly to the two

wires connecting the "phone line" to the "daughterboard" modem

controller.

To the right of the "daughterboard" is power switch S3 (labeled as

"battery test"). It is identically the same as the power switch that

is labeled "power switch" at location S2. It is an on/off switch and

must be hit twice to turn it off.

If anyone wants to look at more TSx motherboard pictures you can go

here:

http://www.openvoting.us/tsx/all-files.php

Some pictures are more clear than others. These are raw pictures and

have not been edited or cropped.

Also go to Black Box Voting.org and compare this motherboard to the

pictures taken in Emery County of the supposedly new motherboard. This

motherboard was shipped in November 2005 and carries a 2004 copywrite.

The motherboard delivered to Emery County, Utah in early spring has a

copywrite of 2001.

I would urge those more technically inclined to examine the

motherboard pictures carefully. There is also a hardware list

available that gives a description of the various item numbers, as

well as some other information that describes the ability of hooking a

PC up to the Smart Card port with a special Smart Card serial

connector. Also, a particular election and the ballot definitions are

normally downloaded into the memory card while it is already installed

in the unit through alternative ports. A security seal over the one

PCMCIA door does not secure the memory card within it from alteration.

Jody

Authors Bio:
Jody Holder is a California voting activist.