Diebold in the News. Again. And Again.

By: Kathy Gerber
Published On: 5/15/2006 11:30:04 AM

On behalf of Diebold and other vendors of electronic voting machines, lobbyist Harris Miller spoke out against against paper verified voting in March 2004. As a candidate for Senate, he has changed his mind now.

Diebold is in the news yet again today: Back Door Found in Diebold Voting Machines


These latest set of flaws are the most serious voting machine flaws yet reported, according to Ed Felten, a professor of computer science at Princeton University, and Avi Rubin, a professor of computer science at Johns Hopkins University.

"The attacks described in Hursti's report would allow anyone who had physical access to a voting machine for a few minutes to install malicious software code on that machine, using simple, widely available tools," they wrote Thursday on the Freedom to Tinker blog. "The malicious code, once installed, would control all of the functions of the voting machine, including the counting of votes."

Also, today in a WAPO Virginia local brief


Diebold of North Canton, Ohio, opened an office in Sterling to expand its presence in the government security market. The company said the facility has an exhibit hall showing biometric access controls and a network-based video recorder.

Just stream-of-consciousness, but this brings to mind an old-school expression about bungling nocturnal emissions.

Comments



The main argument (Eric - 5/15/2006 1:11:10 PM)
against paper audit trails by Miller (and others) seems to be that the efficiency gains due to an electronic voting machine are lost due to the introduction of said paper trail.  He complains that elections will be more costly and time consuming.

Hmmm...  and I thought the most important aspect of the election process was getting it right.



Efficiency. (Kathy Gerber - 5/16/2006 6:54:13 PM)
I read somewhere that our judicial system is extremely inefficient, too.  But consider the alternatives.


Diebold, Diebold (Ingrid - 5/16/2006 6:15:12 PM)
(Tune: Bicycle built for two)

Diebold, Diebold, give me your answer do.
How come you know though it’s just ten to two?
They say that you know the winner four hours before dinner.
I did not know a computer pro
can now program clairvoyance too.

Touch screen, touch screen, you leave no paper trail.
It’s a good thing that you can never fail.
You gave Bush four thousand seven in a town of just eleven.
But you can’t speak, so there’s less to leak,
and we can’t find who programmed you.

Etc....

Courtesy of The Freedom Toast



:) (Kathy Gerber - 5/16/2006 6:55:52 PM)
Tell us, did you make that up yourself?


I wish! (Ingrid - 5/16/2006 8:59:39 PM)
I got this off a CD by The Freedom Toast: Sing Along With The Democrats.  I do write political satire and campaign songs, wrote one for Tim Kaine last year, with my friend Sue.  We wrote one for Jim Webb, which we will debut on Sunday.  I  also have one for the opponent!


Oh, Ingrid, (DemTilDeath - 5/16/2006 9:34:20 PM)
I'm dying to hear your song for the Shiller.  I'm sure it's a blast.


ha ha ha (Kathy Gerber - 5/16/2006 11:00:02 PM)
Wouldn't a little musical be fun? George Allen starts out singing Polk Salad Annie.. 

  Some of y'all never been down South too much..
  Well neither have I.

Then Harris snatches George's hat, and in his best Garth Brooks...

  Well I'm shameless when it comes to conning you
  I'll do anything I gotta do
  I'll say anything at all.

heh - there's more..