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the politics of voting management systems

Date: July 10, 2003 | 10 Jumada al-Awwal 1424 Hijriah
Blog: veiled4allah
Subjects: elections
If you're an avid reader of blogs, you may have seen the Scoop article about a security hole in the computerized voting management systems sold by Diebold. Is the story true? I have no idea.

But I was curious about what voting management system is used in my area. In 1998, King County (which covers Seattle and vicinity) switched from punch-card voting to optical scan. It's just like taking a standardized test, you mark the ovals on your ballot and then slide it into the optical scan machine. The system is called Accu-Vote (King County page on Accu-Vote).

Guess who makes Accu-Vote. If you guessed Diebold, you're absolutely right. Diebold's page on Accu-Vote even touts the GEMS database software that Scoop alleges has the security hole. It's based on Microsoft Access (given the propensity of Microsoft products to have security holes you could drive a truck through, maybe Scoop's claim isn't so outlandish).

According to the Diebold Election Systems page, some 33,000 Diebold voting systems are currently being used in the U.S. (Diebold also offers currency processing, electronic security, and architectural and engineering services; election systems are only part of what they do).

While searching for more information on Diebold, I found this BartCop article, which mentioned that Diebold executives have been consistent donors to the Republican party. So I went on over to Open Secrets and ran a search. I can't figure out how to get a permalink URL for my search results, so I've copied and pasted them in the extended entry section of this blog post. Here's how you can verify them for yourself: go to Donor Lookup and enter "Diebold Inc" for the occupation/employer of the donor and select all the possible election cycles, then run the search.

The results speak for themselves. Does this mean anything? I have no idea. But it's good to know about.

Added: Oh, and here's Diebold's "soft money" donations.
Contributor Occupation Date Amount Recipient
MAHONEY, ROBERT W
CANTON, OH 44708		 DIEBOLD INC 6/30/2000 $15,000 Republican National Cmte 
O'DELL, WALDEN W
NEW CANTON, OH 44720		 DIEBOLD INC 1/30/2001 $3,950 RNC/Repub National State Elections Cmte 
O'DELL, WALDEN W
NEW CANTON, OH 44720		 DIEBOLD INC 2/14/2001 $2,015 RNC/Repub National State Elections Cmte 
BARONE, ROBERT
CANTON, OH 44718		 DIEBOLD INC 2/22/1994 $1,500 Stark County Republican Organization 
BARONE, ROBERT P
CANTON, OH 44718		 DIEBOLD INC 11/22/1995 $1,500 Ohio Republican Central & Exec Cmte 
KOONTZ, RAYMOND
CANTON, OH 44708		 DIEBOLD INC 4/16/1990 $1,500 President's Dinner 1990 
MAHONEY, BOB
NORTH CANTON, OH 44720		 DIEBOLD INC 1/20/2000 $1,500 Republican Party of Stark County 
MAHONEY, ROBERT
CANTON, OH 44708		 DIEBOLD INC 3/17/1993 $1,500 Stark County Republican Organization 
MAHONEY, ROBERT
CANTON, OH 44708		 DIEBOLD INC 1/21/1994 $1,500 Stark County Republican Organization 
MAHONEY, ROBERT
CANTON, OH 44708		 DIEBOLD INC 1/4/1995 $1,500 Stark County Republican Organization 
MAHONEY, ROBERT
CANTON, OH 44708		 DIEBOLD INC 1/4/1995 $1,500 Stark County Republican Organization 
MAHONEY, ROBERT
CANTON, OH 44708		 DIEBOLD INC 12/27/1995 $1,500 Stark County Republican Organization 
MAHONEY, ROBERT
NORTH CANTON, OH 44720		 DIEBOLD INC 1/16/1997 $1,500 Stark County Republican Organization 
MAHONEY, ROBERT W
CANTON, OH 44708		 DIEBOLD INC 11/22/1995 $1,500 Ohio Republican Central & Exec Cmte 
MAHONEY, ROBERT W
CANTON, OH 44708		 DIEBOLD INC 1/19/1998 $1,500 Stark County Republican Organization 
MAHONEY, ROBERT W
CANTON, OH 44708		 DIEBOLD INC 12/22/1998 $1,500 Stark County Republican Organization 
MORRIS, GERALD F
CANTON, OH 44718		 DIEBOLD INC 1/21/1994 $1,500 Stark County Republican Organization 
BARONE, ROBERT P MR
CAIRO, OH 44720		 DIEBOLD INC 4/18/1989 $1,000 Ohio Republican Central & Exec Cmte 
KOONTZ, RAYMOND
CANTON, OH 44708		 DIEBOLD INC 8/24/1995 $1,000 Voinovich, George V 
KOONTZ, RAYMOND
CANTON, OH 44708		 DIEBOLD INC CHARIMAN 5/25/1995 $1,000 Dole, Bob 
KOONTZ, RAYMOND C
CANTON, OH 44708		 DIEBOLD INC 4/20/1992 $1,000 Bush, George 
MAHONEY, ROBERT W
CANTON, OH 44708		 DIEBOLD INC 5/11/1992 $1,000 Republican Leadership Fund 
MAHONEY, ROBERT W
CANTON, OH 44708		 DIEBOLD INC 9/17/1992 $1,000 DeWine, Mike 
MAHONEY, ROBERT W
CANTON, OH 44708		 DIEBOLD INC 6/10/1996 $1,000 Ohio Republican Central & Exec Cmte 
MAHONEY, ROBERT W
CANTON, OH 44708		 DIEBOLD INC 1/30/1997 $1,000 DeWine, Mike 
MAHONEY, ROBERT W
CANTON, OH 44708		 DIEBOLD INC 11/18/1997 $1,000 Faircloth, Lauch 
MAHONEY, ROBERT W
CANTON, OH 44708		 DIEBOLD INC 4/8/1999 $1,000 DeWine, Mike 
MAHONEY, ROBERT W
CANTON, OH 44708		 DIEBOLD INC 9/3/1999 $1,000 Bush, George W 
ROTUNDI, RALPH J
FOUNTAIN VALLEY, CA 92708		 DIEBOLD INC 5/26/2000 $1,000 Lazio, Rick A 
ROTUNDI, RALPH J
FOUNTAIN VALLEY, CA 92708		 DIEBOLD INC 11/17/2000 $1,000 Lazio, Rick A 
SEARLE, GREGG A
HUDSON, OH 44236		 DIEBOLD INC 9/10/1997 $1,000 Voinovich, George V 
SEARLE, GREGG A
HUDSON, OH 44236		 DIEBOLD INC 12/18/1997 $1,000 Voinovich, George V 
MAHONEY, ROBERT W
CANTON, OH 44708		 DIEBOLD INC 11/19/1997 $800 Faircloth, Lauch 
MAHONEY, ROBERT W
CANTON, OH 44708		 DIEBOLD INC 12/5/1997 $800 Faircloth, Lauch 
BARONE, ROBERT P
NORTH CANTON, OH 44720		 DIEBOLD INC 6/8/1992 $500 Bush, George 
BUCCI, DAVID
HUDSON, OH 44236		 DIEBOLD INC 11/18/1997 $500 Faircloth, Lauch 
KOONTZ, RAYMOND
CANTON, OH 44708		 DIEBOLD INC 7/27/1993 $500 Hatch, Orrin G 
KOONTZ, RAYMOND
CANTON, OH 44708		 DIEBOLD INC 11/26/1993 $500 Hatch, Orrin G 
KOONTZ, RAYMOND
CANTON, OH 44708		 DIEBOLD INC 8/11/1994 $500 National Republican Senatorial Cmte 
KOONTZ, RAYMOND
CANTON, OH 44708		 DIEBOLD INC 9/1/1994 $500 Ohio Republican Central & Exec Cmte 
MAHONEY, ROBERT
CANTON, OH 44708		 DIEBOLD INC 3/28/1992 $500 DeWine, Mike 
MAHONEY, ROBERT
CANTON, OH 44708		 DIEBOLD INC 7/21/1994 $500 DeWine, Mike 
MAHONEY, ROBERT W
CANTON, OH 44708		 DIEBOLD INC 9/13/1995 $500 Voinovich, George V 
MAHONEY, ROBERT W
CANTON, OH 44708		 DIEBOLD INC 9/2/1997 $500 Voinovich, George V 
MAHONEY, ROBERT W
CANTON, OH 44708		 DIEBOLD INC 9/2/1997 $500 Voinovich, George V 
MAHONEY, ROBERT W
CANTON, OH 44708		 DIEBOLD INC 10/9/1998 $500 Voinovich, George V 
MAHONEY, ROBERT W
CANTON, OH 44708		 DIEBOLD INC 2/10/2000 $500 DeWine, Mike 
MORRIS, GERALD
CANTON, OH 44718		 DIEBOLD INC 5/2/1995 $500 Stark County Republican Organization 
O'DELL, WALDEN W
COLUMBUS, OH 43221		 DIEBOLD INC 8/16/2001 $500 Voinovich, George V 
SEARLE, GREGG A
HUDSON, OH 44236		 DIEBOLD INC 11/18/1997 $500 Faircloth, Lauch 
VANCE, WESLEY B
COLUMBUS, IN 47201		 DIEBOLD INC 8/16/2001 $500 Voinovich, George V 
MAHONEY, ROBERT
CANTON, OH 44708		 DIEBOLD INC 4/12/1994 $400 DeWine, Mike 
PETIT, JAMES
BENSENVILLE, IL 60106		 DIEBOLD INCORPORATED 8/18/1994 $400 Illinois Bankers Assn 
DETTINGER, WARREN W
CANTON, OH 44708		 DIEBOLD INC 11/18/1997 $300 Faircloth, Lauch 
EAGON, DONALD E JR
CANTON, OH 44718		 DIEBOLD INC 11/18/1997 $300 Faircloth, Lauch 
FINEFROCK, JACK
LINCOLNSHIRE, IL 60069		 DIEBOLD INC 11/18/1997 $300 Faircloth, Lauch 
FRAZZITTO, BARTHOLOMEW
AKRON, OH 44333		 DIEBOLD INC 11/18/1997 $300 Faircloth, Lauch 
INGRAM, LARRY D
CANTON, OH 44718		 DIEBOLD INC 11/18/1997 $300 Faircloth, Lauch 
MORIARTY, DENNIS M MRS
PENNINGTON, NJ 08534		 DIEBOLD INC 11/18/1997 $300 Faircloth, Lauch 
PORTMANN, TONI J
DALLAS, TX 75240		 DIEBOLD INC 11/18/1997 $300 Faircloth, Lauch 
REHO, ROBERT W
CANTON, OH 44720		 DIEBOLD INC 11/18/1997 $300 Faircloth, Lauch 
SCHEURER, CHARLES B
CANTON, OH 44708		 DIEBOLD INC 11/18/1997 $300 Faircloth, Lauch 
SEARLE, GREGG A
HUDSON, OH 44236		 DIEBOLD INC 6/5/2000 $300 DeWine, Mike 
UHANUE, ERNESTO
DUNEDIN, FL 34698		 DIEBOLD INC 11/18/1997 $300 Faircloth, Lauch 
WARREN, ROBERT J
CANTON, OH 44720		 DIEBOLD INC 11/18/1997 $300 Faircloth, Lauch 
WINN, PHILLIP A
HUDSON, OH 44236		 DIEBOLD INC 11/18/1997 $300 Faircloth, Lauch 
COYLE, JOHN
ROCKVILLE CENTRE, NY 11570		 DIEBOLD INC 8/7/1998 $250 D'Amato, Alfonse M 
D'ANGELO, FRANK
NORTH CANTON, OH 44720		 DIEBOLD INC 1/30/1997 $250 DeWine, Mike 
DETTINGER, WARREN W
CANTON, OH 44708		 DIEBOLD INC 1/30/1997 $250 DeWine, Mike 
INGRAM, LARRY D
CANTON, OH 44718		 DIEBOLD INC 1/30/1997 $250 DeWine, Mike 
KOONTZ, RAYMOND C
CANTON, OH 44708		 DIEBOLD INCORP 8/20/1990 $250 National Republican Congressonal Cmte 
KOONTZ, RAYMOND C
CANTON, OH 44708		 DIEBOLD INCORP 6/24/1991 $250 National Republican Congressional Cmte 
MAHONEY, ROBERT
CANTON, OH 44708		 DIEBOLD INC 6/29/1994 $250 DeWine, Mike 
MAHONEY, ROBERT
CANTON, OH 44711		 DIEBOLD INC 1/7/1994 $250 Republican National Committee 
MAHONEY, ROBERT W
CANTON, OH 44708		 DIEBOLD INC 1/6/1995 $250 National Republican Congressional Cmte 
MAHONEY, ROBERT W
CANTON, OH 44708		 DIEBOLD INCORPORATED 6/30/1995 $250 Regula, Ralph 
SEARLE, GREGG A
HUDSON, OH 44236		 DIEBOLD INC 1/30/1997 $250 DeWine, Mike 
STANKUNAS, RAYMOND J
CANTON, OH 44708		 DIEBOLD INC 6/19/1996 $250 Ohio Republican Central & Exec Cmte 
WARF, ALBEN W
MASSILLON, OH 44646		 DIEBOLD INC 6/26/1996 $250 Ohio Republican Central & Exec Cmte 
WARF, ALBEN W
MASSILLON, OH 44646		 DIEBOLD INC 1/30/1997 $250 DeWine, Mike 
ZIEGLER, JOHN F
NORTH CANTON, OH 44720		 DIEBOLD INC 1/30/1997 $250 DeWine, Mike 
MAHONEY, ROBERT W
CANTON, OH 44708		 DIEBOLD INC 9/23/1998 $201 National Republican Congressional Cmte 
KOONTZ, RAYMOND
CANTON, OH 44708		 DIEBOLD INC 5/15/1990 $200 Gillmor, Paul E 
LANG, CHARLES
CANTON, OH 44708		 DIEBOLD INC 9/9/1991 $200 Democratic National Cmte 
MAHONEY, ROBERT
CANTON, OH 44708		 DIEBOLD INC 6/6/1992 $200 DeWine, Mike 
MAHONEY, ROBERT
CANTON, OH 44708		 DIEBOLD INC 10/25/1994 $200 DeWine, Mike 
MAHONEY, ROBERT
CANTON, OH 44708		 DIEBOLD INC 6/27/1996 $200 George, Joyce 
MAHONEY, ROBERT W
CANTON, OH 44708		 DIEBOLD INC 12/5/1997 -$800 Faircloth, Lauch 

~ Posted by Al-Muhajabah, a member of the reality-based community, at 10:25 PM

Comments

J. Puma said: Total comments: 10   gold star

Subject: Re: the politics of voting management systems

Wow, this is really scary. Makes me wonder if it's even worth voting.

~ Posted at July 11, 2003 10:55 AM | Comment Permalink
moderator Al-Munaqabah said: Total comments: 996   gold stargold stargold stargold stargold star

Subject: Re: the politics of voting management systems

I don't know that any votes have actually been tampered with, what's scary is that they could be. The health of our democracy rests on the integrity of our elections. Even if no one has ever exploited the security hole, if it exists that system should not be used. Now that we King County voters know that it's a concern for us personally, we can be active in following up on this story and trying to get King County to look into this.

~ Posted at July 11, 2003 02:15 PM | Comment Permalink

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