Reply #88: ES&S "Former Employee" accessed rural OH BOE Computer in Oct. [View All]

Found this story in today's local rag:
http://www.theeveningleader.com/articles/2004/11/06/news/news.01.txt

Saturday, November 6, 2004
Board awaits state followup
By ERIN MILLER

WAPAKONETA -- Auglaize County Board of Election members say they have not heard any more from the state regarding a possible investigation after receiving notice of being placed on administrative oversight last week.

(snip)

In a letter dated Oct. 21, Ken Nuss, former deputy director of the Auglaize County Board of Elections, claimed that Joe McGinnis, a former employee of Election Systems and Software (ES&S), the company that provides the voting system in Auglaize County, was on the main computer that is used to create the ballot and compile election results, which would go against election protocol. Nuss claimed in the letter that McGinnis was allowed to use the computer the weekend of Oct. 16.

Nuss, who resigned from his job Oct. 21 after being suspended for a day, was responsible for overseeing the computerized programming of election software, according to his job description. His resignation is effective Nov. 11.
(snip)
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This is a county where I *thought* they had stopped the purchase of the machines, otherwise I would have considered being a plaintiff -- so I did check. Surprised to find an ES&S machine waiting to eat my vote. All the precincts (St. Marys) I watched the next day had ES&S as well -- one was a bellweather precinct that had been manipulated shortly before the election (3 precincts merged to 2 -- all low income -- and polling place merged with another 6 precincts). Maybe screwed with Kerry's projected numbers?

Plenty of other weirdness here as well -- the BOE moved prior to last November, but all their info on their own web site and all local directories still list at the old address and phone -- no signs at old address (perhaps so only those who paid attention to local Wapak news would know where to go?) When I complained about that, this BOE Director was extremely defensive.

Also, our local Dem Chair endorsed w, was forced to resign, and we only got an HQ 2 weeks before the election -- they knew this county was gonna go under the radar...

Sent the article to BBV crew and posted in the Auglaize County Forum on BBV-- Any other ideas what I should do with this?

My polling place was DESIGNED to screw with people just as much as any urban center, and I really wonder about why that was -- emailed and spoke with other rural area voters, no lines, no problems (so far).