BBV: Meet Cathy Diebold

http://americanpolitics.com/20040524Wright.html

Meet Cathy Diebold
by Denis Wright

May 23, 2004 (apj.us) -- Georgia's Secretary of State, Cathy Cox, could easily be considered the official Poster Girl for Diebold Election Systems, Inc.

Her photo appears on their website alongside a glowing quotation praising them to the skies. She also loaned them the Georgia State Seal, for that "official" look. And she is defending the implementation of Direct Record Electronic (DRE) voting machines, more commonly known as touch screen voting, in the face of overwhelming evidence of security flaws and unreliable performance.

There have now been at least five major studies regarding problems with DRE devices, all of them are severely critical of Diebold. Maryland even hired an independent group to investigate; they hacked into the system and were changing votes within ten minutes. Thousands of computer experts have signed a petition, sponsored by Dr. David Dill of Stanford University, demanding a voter verified paper ballot. There is currently legislation winding its way through Capitol Hill that will mandate back-up paper ballots on every DRE machine. And California's Secretary of State recently decertified Diebold's DRE machines in that state, noting that the company was "banned", "decertified", "fraudulent", "despicable", and "deceitful" in their dealings with the state.

What has been the response from Cathy Cox? We don't know. She and her office have remained virtually silent on the subject -- except for actively lobbying the State Houses in opposition to a voter-verified paper ballot.

And welcome to DU ....

I can see you will be a wonderful addition to the BBV group here at DU ....

We ARE blessed ....

Thanks for the welcome! I lurk more than I post, usually. But wanted to get this wider exposure.

It is published at American Political Journal... here:

http://americanpolitics.com/20040524Wright.html

I've been trying to get one of Georgia's papers to print it. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is hopeless. They are trying to protect Cathy Cox. I had hopes for Creative Loafing, our biggest Indy paper but they won't respond...

Videotape yourself reading it and send it to the public access stations.

Good idea. Thanks, AP!

I think Creative Loafing might actually print the story if I can just get their attention. They despise the corporate suckups at the Atlanta Journal. I also considered student publications as an option, such as Georgia State University's newspaper...

in the program Fear and Favor in the Newsroom. Actually they talk about an editor that used to work there, and how he tried to do stories that mattered. He was forced to resign, of course.

It's on Link TV sometimes. Worth watching.

http://www.linktv.com/programming/programDescription.php4?code=fearfavor

Per DU copyright rules
please post only four
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DU Moderator

Just edited down... was unaware of that rule.

I think you're able to post it all.

Don't want to step on any toes. But I did write the piece.

If you don't know, look it up.

Coincidence? I think not!

:hi:

But they repealed it... AFTER the 2002 election. First of all, why was it repealed? Secondly, the 2002 provided NO paper ballot, as we all know. THIS WAS REQUIRED BY LAW.

Here is the Legislation referred to in my article:

During committee hearings on SB-500 this spring, Senator Tate recalled that floor debate on the original legislation for DRE voting included the promise that the machines would require voter verified paper ballots. Our research shows this was the case:
21-2-301.

(a) The Secretary of State is authorized to conduct a pilot project to test and evaluate the use of electronic recording voting systems during the 2001 municipal elections. The Secretary of State in his or her discretion may select a number of municipalities to participate in such pilot program.

(b) Electronic recording voting systems used in the pilot program shall meet the requirements contained in Part 5 of Article 9 of this chapter and shall have been certified by the Secretary of State as provided in Code Section 21-2-379.2. Such voting systems shall be required to have an independent audit trail for each vote cast.

http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2001_02/fulltext/sb213.htm

Sadly, 21-2-301 was repealed effective July 1, 2003. Was this a classic bait and switch by the parties involved?

Perhaps, the Secretary of State of Georgia will one day be forced to answer these questions.