Simply Politics & News

[AKvetch]

now the left is just setting up their usual disenfranchised excuse if they lose again

I think elections need to be perceived as fair by the electorate (that means left AND right). It's articles like this that give me pause about all-electronic systems without paper trails...

Confidential Voting Information Leaked; FBI To Investigate

POSTED: 8:59 pm EDT October 20, 2006
UPDATED: 9:13 pm EDT October 20, 2006

HOWARD CO., Md. -- The security and integrity of the voting process is being questioned after a longtime critic of the state Board of Elections said she received confidential codes that are key to hacking into the computers.

Former state Delegate Cheryl Kagan said she was surprised to see three computer disks labeled Diebold in the mail. She said she also wondered if other people had received them and if it might compromise the election.

She said she considered the disks she received a serious security breach in Maryland's election process.

"Maryland stepped forward in going electronic several years before I think it was wise. These machines are still not adequately tested and secure, and as we see today, we don't know who has access to possibly messing with our systems," Kagan said.

The new concerns come two weeks after election officials tested the electronic voting system being used at the polling places following problems during the primary.

Kagan said she also received a note critical of the state Board of Elections. The note said the disks were picked up accidentally while at the board.

The FBI was contacted, and it said it is looking into how the disks got to Kagan.

"I contacted the attorney general's office. I did nothing to solicit this. It was left for me, and I have no idea who would have sent this. There's nothing I did wrong. I think the public has the right to know. At the same time, I'm a good American and I will be cooperating with any federal investigation," Kagan said.

Diebold Elections Systems, the company that makes the electronic voting machines Maryland will use in the upcoming elections, called the information on the disks dated and said it wasn't in use.

The company president said the availability of the software poses no threat to the safety, security and accuracy of elections in any jurisdiction using its voting machines.

However, others are still skeptical.

"There's a difference between safe and working. It's possible to test the machines so they won't crash like they did in the primary, but that doesn't mean that these machines are secure," said Avi Rubin, a computer scientist.

Ross Goldstein of the state Board of Elections said, given the new security features, testing and control of the software, the board has a high level of confidence in the accuracy and security of the system.

http://www.thewbalchannel.com/news/10124941/detail.html