A Dialog with the Iowa Secretary of State's office.

http://www.equalccw.com/iowadialog.html

now here's an interesting read... This is why iowa doesn't use Diebold machines I believe..

#1. FACT: In Polk County (Des Moines) if we were to change to touchscreens we would need about 1000 units. Prior to the election, the county auditor (the county commissioner of elections) will program the ballot to the machine, then disperse the machines to the various precincts. On election night, once the polls close, all machines will tabulate their individual totals and print out a "totals report"....keep in mind that these machines are not connected to any modem, phone line or wireless transmission device, then the individual PCMCIA removable hard drives are removed from each machine (There are usually 4 redundant hard drive systems on most of these machines) and placed in a security envelope, then the tabulations are combined and transmitted via CDMA digital encryption (the same transmission that the military uses in battle for its inability to be hacked into by any enemy).....but keep in mind that these transmitted numbers are only for election night reporting, the TRUE results are from the paper receipts and the PCMCIA cards from the precinct that are sealed by the election judge in the security envelope at the precinct then signed across the seal by the judge and the election workers, then taken directly to the courthouse for the canvassing board to open and verify. <<

Well, on a *Diebold* system, the huge gaping hole is that the results at each precinct aren't "accumulated" until the machine makes contact with the home-base GEMS computer at county HQ. Via a two-way modem link that Diebold has all the pieces necessary to hack into, encryption or no encryption.

Well, on a *Diebold* system, the huge gaping hole is that the results at each precinct aren't "accumulated" until the machine makes contact with the home-base GEMS computer at county HQ. Via a two-way modem link that Diebold has all the pieces necessary to hack into, encryption or no encryption.

It's my understanding (from research and info re Georgia, which has Diebold statewide) that the votes are "accumulated" on one Diebold machine in each precinct and then the results are sent on to the county. Of course, what was said about the county GEMS computer is true enough -- it has to accumulate all the precinct totals.

....at dKos:

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2004/11/24/115048/86#115

Important stuff! and adds even more urgency to the plea "Prove My Vote Counts, Now"

Happy Thanksgiving