Paper Trail Bill scheduled for Senate Vote Tomorrow

Written by: Robert Lanza on Apr 5, 2006 9:28 PM EDT

Linked to groups: Democracy for Montgomery County

All: SB 713 is scheduled to reach the Senate Floor tomorrow.

The revised version of Senate Bill SB 713 is unacceptable. The revised bill passed by Senator Hollinger's committee should be better known as the Diebold Contract Protection Act of 2006. The revised bill would allow the State Board to continue to use defective and insecure Diebold equipment and would not provide for meaningful audits or recounts of election results.

TrueVoteMD urges the Senate to pass a bill that contains the exact same language as House Bill HB 244, which passed the House Unanimously earlier this month, NOT the version of SB 713 that was passed by Senator Hollinger's Committee this past week.

The revised SB 713 would allow the State Board to immediately purchase Diebold TSX touchscreen machines with defective Diebold printers that cannot be relied upon for use in manual audits and recounts.

The revised SB 713 would not require the paper ballot to be the official ballot of record. It would allow the State Board of Elections to decide whether to accept the Diebold touchscreen-produced ballots or the paper ballots as the official ballot if a discrepancy occurred during an audit or recount. Yes, in the event of a discrepancy the State Board of Elections would decide which results to use to determine who won the election.

In addition, there is nothing in the revised bill that would require the use of "manual or "hand-counted" audits or recounts. Diebold could scan the paper record with yet another insecure computer system and call that an audit.

TrueVoteMD opposes the revised bill SB 713 in its current form. Senators should instead insist that the Senate bill be amended back to its original version, which mirrored House bill HB 244 that passed that body unanimously, along with a requirement to use an optical scan voting system for the 2006 elections. Otherwise there will be NO paper trail for the 2006 elections.

TrueVoteMD is standing firm for the best voting system for Maryland. If the Senate passes the exact version that the House passed, the Governor has promised to sign it and has already put full funding for it in the state budget. If not we'll be using free fall voting again this fall. No paper trail, no recounts, no audits.

Action Item: It is imperative that you call your Senator and tell them that the current version of SB 713 is unacceptable and that they should amend it to use the same language HB 244 as passed by the House of Delegates.

Senators need to support the following:

* The paper ballot must be THE official ballot of record in manual audits and recounts.

* Paper ballots must be printed on durable paper with permanent ink on separate pieces of paper, so they can reliably be used for manual "hand-eye" audits and recounts.

* Strong audit language from the original HB 244 bill with 5% random audits, informing the public of audit results, and listing actions taken when the audit results don't add up.

* Transparent recounts: the public viewing of the process and expedient posting of information.

Thank you for working to protect our democracy.


Robert Lanza
TrueVoteMD.org

SB 713 Paper Trail Bill To Reach Senate Floor Tomorrow.

Written by: Robert Lanza on Apr 5, 2006 9:25 PM EDT

Linked to groups: Democracy for Maryland

All: SB 713 is scheduled to reach the Senate Floor tomorrow.

The revised version of Senate Bill SB 713 is unacceptable. The revised bill passed by Senator Hollinger's committee should be better known as the Diebold Contract Protection Act of 2006. The revised bill would allow the State Board to continue to use defective and insecure Diebold equipment and would not provide for meaningful audits or recounts of election results.

TrueVoteMD urges the Senate to pass a bill that contains the exact same language as House Bill HB 244, which passed the House Unanimously earlier this month, NOT the version of SB 713 that was passed by Senator Hollinger's Committee this past week.

The revised SB 713 would allow the State Board to immediately purchase Diebold TSX touchscreen machines with defective Diebold printers that cannot be relied upon for use in manual audits and recounts.

The revised SB 713 would not require the paper ballot to be the official ballot of record. It would allow the State Board of Elections to decide whether to accept the Diebold touchscreen-produced ballots or the paper ballots as the official ballot if a discrepancy occurred during an audit or recount. Yes, in the event of a discrepancy the State Board of Elections would decide which results to use to determine who won the election.

In addition, there is nothing in the revised bill that would require the use of "manual or "hand-counted" audits or recounts. Diebold could scan the paper record with yet another insecure computer system and call that an audit.

TrueVoteMD opposes the revised bill SB 713 in its current form. Senators should instead insist that the Senate bill be amended back to its original version, which mirrored House bill HB 244 that passed that body unanimously, along with a requirement to use an optical scan voting system for the 2006 elections. Otherwise there will be NO paper trail for the 2006 elections.

TrueVoteMD is standing firm for the best voting system for Maryland. If the Senate passes the exact version that the House passed, the Governor has promised to sign it and has already put full funding for it in the state budget. If not we'll be using free fall voting again this fall. No paper trail, no recounts, no audits.

Action Item: It is imperative that you call your Senator and tell them that the current version of SB 713 is unacceptable and that they should amend it to use the same language HB 244 as passed by the House of Delegates.

Senators need to support the following:

* The paper ballot must be THE official ballot of record in manual audits and recounts.

* Paper ballots must be printed on durable paper with permanent ink on separate pieces of paper, so they can reliably be used for manual "hand-eye" audits and recounts.

* Strong audit language from the original HB 244 bill with 5% random audits, informing the public of audit results, and listing actions taken when the audit results don't add up.

* Transparent recounts: the public viewing of the process and expedient posting of information.

Thank you for working to protect our democracy.


Robert Lanza
TrueVoteMD.org

Senate President Miller is blocking SB 713 paper audit bill

Written by: Robert Lanza on Mar 22, 2006 8:54 PM EST

Linked to groups: Democracy for Montgomery County

All: TrueVoteMD has heard from State Senators both Democrat and Republican that Senate President Mike Miller is personally blocking SB 713, the Paper Audit Trail bill. We are trying to generate a lot of telephone calls and letters to his office asking him to change his position and to support SB 713, with the provision that the State of Maryland lease optical scan machines for the upcoming 2006 primary and general elections, i,e., Senator Miller should support the exact language of HB 244, as amended, that passed the House of Delegates 137-0. Senate President Miller's contact information is below.

You should be aware that Senator Miller's former aide now works for Diebold, and that Diebold's lobbyists are mounting a full court press in Annapolis to try to save their multi million dollar contract. Unfortunately, Diebold has NOTHING to offer for the 2006 primary and general elections that will provide a paper audit trail and allow EVERY vote to be audited and recounted. Saving Diebold's contract means that your vote may not be recorded, or counted, accurately.

We are also hearing that Senator Hollinger is still not clear on the fact that leasing optical scan machines and using paper ballots is the ONLY way to establish a paper audit trail for ALL of the votes cast in the upcoming 2006 primary and general elections. The half-meaures that have been proposed that continue to use Diebold equipment in the 2006 elections are not going to protect your vote. So please call Senator Miller and Senator Hollinger and tell them that you want ALL of the votes cast protected in 2006, and tell them that despite the State Board of Election's assertions to the contrary, paper audit trail CAN be implemented in time for the 2006 elections.

And if you happen to meet Mayor O'Malley or County Executive Duncan on the campaign trail, you might want to mention to them that Senator Miller is blocking the bill that would ensure that the votes cast for THEM in the upcoming primary election will be auditible and recountable.

The legislative session has only a few weeks left. Senator Miller can either listen to Diebold's lobbyists and block SB 713, or he can listen to his constituents, and to the unanimous vote in the House of Delegates, and pass SB 713. But Senator Miller needs to hear from A LOT of people, from all over the state, if he is going to change his position.

Thanks all...

Robert Lanza
www.TrueVoteMD.org


THOMAS V. MIKE MILLER, JR., President of Senate
Democrat, District 27, Calvert & Prince George's Counties

State House, H-107 Annapolis, MD 21401 - 1991 (410) 841-3700, (301) 858-3700 1-800-492-7122, ext. 3700 (toll free) e-mail: thomas.v.mike.miller@senate.state.md.us fax: (410) 841-3910, (301) 858-3910
8808 Old Branch Ave., Clinton, MD 20735 (301) 868-6931; fax: (301) 856-4029

Senate President Miller is blocking SB 713 paper audit bill

Written by: Robert Lanza on Mar 22, 2006 8:51 PM EST

Linked to groups: Democracy for Maryland

All: TrueVoteMD has heard from State Senators both Democrat and Republican that Senate President Mike Miller is personally blocking SB 713, the Paper Audit Trail bill. We are trying to generate a lot of telephone calls and letters to his office asking him to change his position and to support SB 713, with the provision that the State of Maryland lease optical scan machines for the upcoming 2006 primary and general elections, i,e., Senator Miller should support the exact language of HB 244, as amended, that passed the House of Delegates 137-0. Senate President Miller's contact information is below.

You should be aware that Senator Miller's former aide now works for Diebold, and that Diebold's lobbyists are mounting a full court press in Annapolis to try to save their multi million dollar contract. Unfortunately, Diebold has NOTHING to offer for the 2006 primary and general elections that will provide a paper audit trail and allow EVERY vote to be audited and recounted. Saving Diebold's contract means that your vote may not be recorded, or counted, accurately.

We are also hearing that Senator Hollinger is still not clear on the fact that leasing optical scan machines and using paper ballots is the ONLY way to establish a paper audit trail for ALL of the votes cast in the upcoming 2006 primary and general elections. The half-meaures that have been proposed that continue to use Diebold equipment in the 2006 elections are not going to protect your vote. So please call Senator Miller and Senator Hollinger and tell them that you want ALL of the votes cast protected in 2006, and tell them that despite the State Board of Election's assertions to the contrary, paper audit trail CAN be implemented in time for the 2006 elections.

And if you happen to meet Mayor O'Malley or County Executive Duncan on the campaign trail, you might want to mention to them that Senator Miller is blocking the bill that would ensure that the votes cast for THEM in the upcoming primary election will be auditible and recountable.

The legislative session has only a few weeks left. Senator Miller can either listen to Diebold's lobbyists and block SB 713, or he can listen to his constituents, and to the unanimous vote in the House of Delegates, and pass SB 713. But Senator Miller needs to hear from A LOT of people, from all over the state, if he is going to change his position.

Thanks all...

Robert Lanza
www.TrueVoteMD.org


THOMAS V. MIKE MILLER, JR., President of Senate
Democrat, District 27, Calvert & Prince George's Counties

State House, H-107 Annapolis, MD 21401 - 1991 (410) 841-3700, (301) 858-3700 1-800-492-7122, ext. 3700 (toll free) e-mail: thomas.v.mike.miller@senate.state.md.us fax: (410) 841-3910, (301) 858-3910
8808 Old Branch Ave., Clinton, MD 20735 (301) 868-6931; fax: (301) 856-4029

Please Attend 3rd Congressional District Candidates Forum Tuesday 3/14 7-9 PM

Written by: Robert Lanza on Mar 12, 2006 8:35 AM EST

Linked to groups: Democracy for Maryland

All: Please attend the Third Congressional District Candidates Forum on Tuesday March 14 at Towson University. See the announcement below. Senator Hollinger will be among the participants and we are planning to have people there to distribute flyers to attendees concerning Senator Hollinger's recent opposition to HB 244 paper trail legislation that passed the House 137-0 last week [see my previous post.] If you have the opportunity, please ask Senator Hollinger some pointed questions during the forum concering her opposition to HB 244. Senator Hollinger is now THE obstacle to providing paper trail for ALL of the votes for the 2006 elections. We need to have A LOT of people at the forum, particularly Senator Hollinger's constituents. Also, if you know any of the other candidates, contacting them before hand and letting them know that Senator Hollinger's opposition to HB 244 is a BIG issue for you as a voter would be helpful.

Robert Lanza

Announcement

Candidates running for the seat vacated by Ben Cardin in the 3rd Congressional District will participate in a debate and Q&A at the University Union at Towson University on Tuesday, March 14 from 7-9 pm. Participants will include Mishonda Baldwin, Andy Barth, Paula Hollinger, Oz Bengur, Kevin O'Keefe and John Sarbanes.

Senator Hollinger now OPPOSES HB 244 VVPAT Bill

Written by: Robert Lanza on Mar 12, 2006 8:23 AM EST

Linked to groups: Democracy for Maryland

All: Senator Hollinger has become THE obstacle to ensuring that your vote is counted in the 2006 elections. Senator Hollinger now opposes HB 244, the paper trail bill that passed the House of Delegates 137-0 last week. Yes, NOT ONE Delegate voted against the bill, but now Senator Hollinger is now proposing to spend $5 million to buy Diebold TSx machines with printers for only 5 percent of the precincts for the 2006 election. Yes, Senator Hollinger is proposing that only 5 percent of the votes should be auditable and recountable. The rest of the votes ... The Governor and Delegates have figured out that providing paper trail for five percent of the votes is ridiculous:

"The governor believes we need a solution that protects every vote, not 5 percent of the votes."

Unfortunately, Diebold's lobbyists have been providing false infommation to Senator Hollinger to try to rescue their multi-million dollar Maryland contract from HB 244. Now is the time to call Senator Hollinger's office and tell her that you read the Baltimore Sun article. You should tell her that she needs to stop listening to Diebold's lobbyists, get behind HB 244, and protect EVERY vote for the 2006 elections, not just 5 percent of the votes. Please call her office MONDAY and also write handwritten letters, and please forward the Baltimore Sun Article to anyone you know who lives in Maryland District 3 where Senator Hollinger is running for Congress.

Thanks ...

Robert Lanza

How to contact Senator Hollinger:
Senator Paula Hollinger
Miller Senate Office Building, 2 West Wing
11 Bladen St.
Annapolis, MD 21401- 1991
paula.colodny.hollinger@senate.state.md.us,
(410) 841-3131, (301) 858-3131


Lawmakers debate paper versus electronic votingBy Kelly Brewington
Sun reporter
March 11, 2006

Three days after House lawmakers unanimously passed a bill to abandon Maryland's electronic-voting system in favor of paper ballots, the manufacturer of the touch-screen machines offered a plan it said would provide the confidence of a paper record at a fraction of the costs required by the proposed legislation.

Diebold Election Systems said it could replace 5 percent of Maryland's electronic voting machines with models attached to a printer. Swapping out about 1,000 of Maryland's voting machines with the printer-equipped version would cost about $5 million, a fraction of the estimated $12 million to $16 million for a one-year lease of a paper-ballot system required by the House bill, company representatives said.

But Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. and House lawmakers criticized the Diebold plan, saying it doesn't promise a secure and accurate election.

"The governor does not believe that is even close to a sufficient solution," said Henry Fawell, an Ehrlich spokesman. "The governor believes we need a solution that protects every vote, not 5 percent of the votes."

Board of Elections Chairman Gilles W. Burger called the new proposal "an interesting option," but said he is concerned that it might violate a state law that requires a uniform elections system.

Del. Elizabeth Bobo, a Howard County Democrat who supports the House's proposed optical-scan system, said Diebold's option does nothing to fix machines that she said are riddled with flaws.

"It doesn't matter if we have printers for these Diebold machines; they are inherently insecure," she said. "If something were to go wrong, we would never know it"

Representatives for Diebold said the new models would offer a large enough sample size to determine if any Election Day glitches occur.

"We are very confident there will be no anomalies," said Michael Morrill, a representative for Diebold and former communications secretary for former Gov. Parris N. Glendening. "But this would build confidence in the veracity of the machine and give the public an opportunity to test whether paper trails add to that confidence."

Morrill said switching to an optical-scan system six months before an election is a "recipe for chaos."

Diebold, which has consistently defended its machines, which resemble automatic tellers, demonstrated the old and new models yesterday for a Senate committee that is considering the paper-trail bill. The equipment was used in nearly every jurisdiction in the 2004 elections.

Supporters of an optical-scan system -- the technology that would be leased under the House plan -- said the Senate's demonstration was an indication that the upper chamber is reluctant to go with the House proposal.

Sen. Paula C. Hollinger, a Baltimore County Democrat, who sponsored a paper-trail bill similar to the one in the House, said yesterday that she was eager to see the Diebold demonstration to understand all the available options.

"We are considering everything," she said.

The Diebold offer is the latest development in an increasingly political battle, which will determine whether voters use pens and sturdy paper or computers this fall to cast their ballots.

Ehrlich entered the dispute three weeks ago when he said he no longer had faith in the State Board of Election's ability to conduct an accurate and tamper-free vote this fall.

Democrats accused him of trying to confuse voters as a political ploy and attacking Elections Administrator Linda H. Lamone, whom he has tried to remove.

Meanwhile, some lawmakers have said the paper-trail bill could have a tough time in the Senate because Sen. Thomas V. Mike Miller is considered an ally of Lamone's.

The State Board of Elections has stood by its estimated $90 million investment in Diebold machines, saying they are sound and secure. Replacing the system would require testing and certification of new machines in addition to educating voters and elections personnel.

But advocates have been pressing the legislature for years to ditch the Diebold system, which they say is vulnerable to hackers. Maryland should replace them before it's too late, they say.

"The rallying cry now is: 'Diebold out of Maryland,'" said Linda Schade with Takoma Park-based TrueVoteMD. "It's unbelievable. They should not be signing any more contracts with Diebold, they should be suing Diebold."

Burger stressed that whatever the system, Maryland must come up with a final plan for this fall's election as soon as possible. Local election supervisors are concerned they may not have enough time to prepare, he said.

"They are stressed out," he said. "When the rubber meets the road it will be the local elections directors and their staffs that implement the election.."

kelly.brewington@baltsun.com


Copyright © 2006, The Baltimore Sun |

Link to the article: www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/...,0,313044.story

Senator Hollinger now OPPOSES HB 244 VVPAT Bill

Written by: Robert Lanza on Mar 12, 2006 8:22 AM EST

Linked to groups: Democracy for Montgomery County

All: Senator Hollinger has become THE obstacle to ensuring that your vote is counted in the 2006 elections. Senator Hollinger now opposes HB 244, the paper trail bill that passed the House of Delegates 137-0 last week. Yes, NOT ONE Delegate voted against the bill, but now Senator Hollinger is now proposing to spend $5 million to buy Diebold TSx machines with printers for only 5 percent of the precincts for the 2006 election. Yes, Senator Hollinger is proposing that only 5 percent of the votes should be auditable and recountable. The rest of the votes ... The Governor and Delegates have figured out that providing paper trail for five percent of the votes is ridiculous:

"The governor believes we need a solution that protects every vote, not 5 percent of the votes."

Unfortunately, Diebold's lobbyists have been providing false infommation to Senator Hollinger to try to rescue their multi-million dollar Maryland contract from HB 244. Now is the time to call Senator Hollinger's office and tell her that you read the Baltimore Sun article. You should tell her that she needs to stop listening to Diebold's lobbyists, get behind HB 244, and protect EVERY vote for the 2006 elections, not just 5 percent of the votes. Please call her office MONDAY and also write handwritten letters, and please forward the Baltimore Sun Article to anyone you know who lives in Maryland District 3 where Senator Hollinger is running for Congress.

Thanks ...

Robert Lanza

How to contact Senator Hollinger:
Senator Paula Hollinger
Miller Senate Office Building, 2 West Wing
11 Bladen St.
Annapolis, MD 21401- 1991
paula.colodny.hollinger@senate.state.md.us,
(410) 841-3131, (301) 858-3131


Lawmakers debate paper versus electronic votingBy Kelly Brewington
Sun reporter
March 11, 2006

Three days after House lawmakers unanimously passed a bill to abandon Maryland's electronic-voting system in favor of paper ballots, the manufacturer of the touch-screen machines offered a plan it said would provide the confidence of a paper record at a fraction of the costs required by the proposed legislation.

Diebold Election Systems said it could replace 5 percent of Maryland's electronic voting machines with models attached to a printer. Swapping out about 1,000 of Maryland's voting machines with the printer-equipped version would cost about $5 million, a fraction of the estimated $12 million to $16 million for a one-year lease of a paper-ballot system required by the House bill, company representatives said.

But Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. and House lawmakers criticized the Diebold plan, saying it doesn't promise a secure and accurate election.

"The governor does not believe that is even close to a sufficient solution," said Henry Fawell, an Ehrlich spokesman. "The governor believes we need a solution that protects every vote, not 5 percent of the votes."

Board of Elections Chairman Gilles W. Burger called the new proposal "an interesting option," but said he is concerned that it might violate a state law that requires a uniform elections system.

Del. Elizabeth Bobo, a Howard County Democrat who supports the House's proposed optical-scan system, said Diebold's option does nothing to fix machines that she said are riddled with flaws.

"It doesn't matter if we have printers for these Diebold machines; they are inherently insecure," she said. "If something were to go wrong, we would never know it"

Representatives for Diebold said the new models would offer a large enough sample size to determine if any Election Day glitches occur.

"We are very confident there will be no anomalies," said Michael Morrill, a representative for Diebold and former communications secretary for former Gov. Parris N. Glendening. "But this would build confidence in the veracity of the machine and give the public an opportunity to test whether paper trails add to that confidence."

Morrill said switching to an optical-scan system six months before an election is a "recipe for chaos."

Diebold, which has consistently defended its machines, which resemble automatic tellers, demonstrated the old and new models yesterday for a Senate committee that is considering the paper-trail bill. The equipment was used in nearly every jurisdiction in the 2004 elections.

Supporters of an optical-scan system -- the technology that would be leased under the House plan -- said the Senate's demonstration was an indication that the upper chamber is reluctant to go with the House proposal.

Sen. Paula C. Hollinger, a Baltimore County Democrat, who sponsored a paper-trail bill similar to the one in the House, said yesterday that she was eager to see the Diebold demonstration to understand all the available options.

"We are considering everything," she said.

The Diebold offer is the latest development in an increasingly political battle, which will determine whether voters use pens and sturdy paper or computers this fall to cast their ballots.

Ehrlich entered the dispute three weeks ago when he said he no longer had faith in the State Board of Election's ability to conduct an accurate and tamper-free vote this fall.

Democrats accused him of trying to confuse voters as a political ploy and attacking Elections Administrator Linda H. Lamone, whom he has tried to remove.

Meanwhile, some lawmakers have said the paper-trail bill could have a tough time in the Senate because Sen. Thomas V. Mike Miller is considered an ally of Lamone's.

The State Board of Elections has stood by its estimated $90 million investment in Diebold machines, saying they are sound and secure. Replacing the system would require testing and certification of new machines in addition to educating voters and elections personnel.

But advocates have been pressing the legislature for years to ditch the Diebold system, which they say is vulnerable to hackers. Maryland should replace them before it's too late, they say.

"The rallying cry now is: 'Diebold out of Maryland,'" said Linda Schade with Takoma Park-based TrueVoteMD. "It's unbelievable. They should not be signing any more contracts with Diebold, they should be suing Diebold."

Burger stressed that whatever the system, Maryland must come up with a final plan for this fall's election as soon as possible. Local election supervisors are concerned they may not have enough time to prepare, he said.

"They are stressed out," he said. "When the rubber meets the road it will be the local elections directors and their staffs that implement the election.."

kelly.brewington@baltsun.com


Copyright © 2006, The Baltimore Sun |

Link to the article: www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/...,0,313044.story

Annapolis Lobby Night Monday March 13 for VVPAT Bill.

Written by: Robert Lanza on Mar 9, 2006 9:32 PM EST

Linked to groups: Democracy for Montgomery County

Annapolis Lobby Night Monday March 13.

Talk with voters in Senator Miller's District March 11-12.

HB 244, the Paper Trail Bill, passed the House of Delegates with a vote of 137-0 today. www.wjla.com/news/stories/0360/309170.html That's right, NOT ONE Delegate voted against the bill. NOW, we have to get the bill through the State Senate, no easy task, since Senate President Mike Miller is not yet on board. YOU can help by getting out to Senator Miller's District this weekend and talking to his constituents [contact Joyce Dowling at jdowling@drix.net or at 301-782-9922], attending Lobby Night in Annapolis on Monday evening [see www.TrueVoteMD.org website for directions and email Alex@TrueVoteMD.org if you can attend], and/or writing a letter to Senator Miller asking him to support the bill. This is the most important vote that the State Senate will cast this legislative session. Diebold's lobbyists are trying to get Senate Bill 713 amemded to save their multimilion dollar contract and keep Diebold's insecure electronic voting machines in Maryland. Our task is to get Senator Miller and other Maryland Senators to stop listening to State Elections Administrator Linda Lamone and to Diebold's lobbyists, start listening to their constituents, and to the unanimous House of Delegates vote, and oppose Diebold's hostile amendments. So please do whatever you can this do week.

Robert Lanza
www.TrueVoteMD.org

Governor Ehrlich's concerns about voting system persist

Written by: Robert Lanza on Mar 4, 2006 12:35 PM EST

Linked to groups: Democracy for Maryland

Governor Ehrlich's concerns about voting system persist

Folks, Governor Ehrlich's office says that the State Board of Elections is being "evasive" concerning his questions about the security of our voting system. This is not an "election-year ploy" as some people have charged. Governor Ehrlich has the same concerns about our voting system as computer security experts who have testified on the issue before the State Legislature. It is clear from these security concerns that State Elections Administrator Lamone and the SBE can no longer legitimately defend our voting system. Fortunately, there is a bill moving through the Legislature [SB713/HB244] sponsored by Delegates Hixson, Bobo, and Montgomery and Senator Hollinger and others that would replace our voting system with a new system by the September 2006 Primary that would use paper ballots and that would be auditable and recountable.

We need to get every Maryland Legislator behind these bills and we need to have a statement from the Governor saying that he intends to fund the bill if it is passed. Short written letters to the Governor supporting his position and inquiring about his intent to fund the bill if passed would be really helpful at this point, as well as short written letters to your legislators, especially your State Senator, with your letters copied to Senate President Mike Miller, Senate Commitee Chair Paula Hollinger, and House Commitee Chair Sheila Hixson. Be aware that Admistrator Lamone and Diebold's lobbyists are even now conducting secret meetings in Annapolis and crafting hostile amendments to try to preserve Diebold's multimillion dollar contract and derail the bill. The bottom line is that not one of Diebold's insecure electronic voting machines should be used in the 2006 elections. We should be telling Legislators to listen to their constituents, computer security experts, and the Governor, and not to listen to Administrator Lamone and Diebold's lobbyists and their hostile amendments. So please all get those letters out this week supporting the Governor's position and supporting SB 713/HB 244.

thanks all...

Robert Lanza


http://www.baltimoresun....,0,181972.story?coll=bal-mdpolitics-headlines

Ehrlich's concerns about voting persist

Governor says elections board has failed to address his questions regarding Diebold devices

By Kelly Brewington
Sun reporter
Originally published March 2, 2006

Two weeks ago, Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. said he no longer had faith in Maryland's ability to conduct a fair and tamper-free election, and asked the State Board of Elections for a written response to his concerns about electronic voting machines.

Yesterday, a spokesman for Ehrlich called the Board of Elections' reply - received this week - "completely unsatisfactory and evasive."



"After reading this letter, we have even less confidence in the board's ability to conduct a fair election than we did two weeks ago," said Henry Fawell, an Ehrlich spokesman.

An official with the board defended Maryland's voting system yesterday, saying the letter provides the requested facts.

Ehrlich's letter to State Board of Elections Chairman Gilles W. Burger, a Republican, requested answers about recent controversies in other states over Diebold Elections Systems, the Ohio-based manufacturer of Maryland's voting machines. The governor said he wanted the state to adopt a voter-verified paper trail for its touch-screen machines, an issue that has been debated in the legislature for several years.

The governor's letter added a political dimension to the long-standing debate over the security and accuracy of Diebold machines. Some Democrats charged the governor with attempting to cast doubt on the state's voting system as an election-year ploy and attacking elections Administrator Linda H. Lamone, with whom he has clashed in the past.

Debate over Diebold intensified this year when California ordered testing of the company's machines after a much-publicized incident in which a computer expert hacked into the equipment during a mock election in Leon County, Fla.

Ehrlich's letter asked whether the testing in California had any bearing on Maryland's system.

Burger responded that California's software, specifically its memory card codes, are the same as those used in Maryland's system.

Joseph M. Getty, the governor's policy and legislative director, said that answer does not explain whether Maryland's machines are secure.

"What does all that mean?" Getty said. "The letter doesn't explain that at all."

Getty said the letter suggests to him that Maryland's system, particularly the software, has not been properly tested.

"It's all evasive statements without providing any facts to the governor," Getty said. "The response is blather."

Advocates for a new voting system say Burger's response is evidence that the state's system is not secure and violates federal guidelines.

"The same hackable software is on the voting machines we have," said Linda Schade of TrueVoteMD, which has criticized the Diebold machines for years. "Basically, somebody can go in and have the machines report a different election result."

Ross Goldstein, deputy administrator at the State Board of Elections, disputes that, saying its machines are secure and accurate. Burger's letter notes that although a report is pending in California, that state's secretary of state issued a news release certifying the use of Diebold machines, with certain recommendations.

"I think it's laid out pretty clearly in the letter," he said. "The information tested was reviewed by the [Independent Testing Authority], and the advisory board in California was still satisfied with it."

Maryland was one of the first states to implement electronic voting devices in 2003. The state spent an initial $55.6 million to buy the automated teller-like machines, abandoning in many areas optical-scan ballots, which provide paper verification. Critics have since complained of security flaws, though Lamone has defended the machines and observers have said they worked well in the 2004 election.


Go to the web site for more facts, for more ways to get involved, and to make a donation: http://www.truevotemd.or...

Governor Ehrlich's concerns about voting system persist

Written by: Robert Lanza on Mar 2, 2006 10:02 PM EST

Linked to groups: Democracy for Montgomery County

Folks, Governor Ehrlich's office says that the State Board of Elections is being "evasive" concerning his questions about the security of our voting system. This is not an "election-year ploy" as some people have charged. Governor Ehrlich has the same concerns about our voting system as computer security experts who have testified on the issue before the State Legislature. It is clear from these security concerns that State Elections Administrator Lamone and the SBE can no longer legitimately defend our voting system. Fortunately, there is a bill moving through the Legislature [SB713/HB244] sponsored by Delegates Hixson, Bobo, and Montgomery and Senator Hollinger and others that would replace our voting system with a new system by the September 2006 Primary that would use paper ballots and that would be auditable and recountable.

We need to get every Maryland Legislator behind these bills and we need to have a statement from the Governor saying that he intends to fund the bill if it is passed. Short written letters to the Governor supporting his position and inquiring about his intent to fund the bill if passed would be really helpful at this point, as well as short written letters to your legislators, especially your State Senator, with your letters copied to Senate President Mike Miller, Senate Commitee Chair Paula Hollinger, and House Commitee Chair Sheila Hixson. Be aware that Admistrator Lamone and Diebold's lobbyists are even now conducting secret meetings in Annapolis and crafting hostile amendments to try to preserve Diebold's multimillion dollar contract and derail the bill. The bottom line is that not one of Diebold's insecure electronic voting machines should be used in the 2006 elections. We should be telling Legislators to listen to their constituents, computer security experts, and the Governor, and not to listen to Administrator Lamone and Diebold's lobbyists and their hostile amendments. So please all get those letters out this week supporting the Governor's position and supporting SB 713/HB 244.

thanks all...

Robert Lanza


http://www.baltimoresun....,0,181972.story?coll=bal-mdpolitics-headlines

Ehrlich's concerns about voting persist

Governor says elections board has failed to address his questions regarding Diebold devices

By Kelly Brewington
Sun reporter
Originally published March 2, 2006

Two weeks ago, Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. said he no longer had faith in Maryland's ability to conduct a fair and tamper-free election, and asked the State Board of Elections for a written response to his concerns about electronic voting machines.

Yesterday, a spokesman for Ehrlich called the Board of Elections' reply - received this week - "completely unsatisfactory and evasive."



"After reading this letter, we have even less confidence in the board's ability to conduct a fair election than we did two weeks ago," said Henry Fawell, an Ehrlich spokesman.

An official with the board defended Maryland's voting system yesterday, saying the letter provides the requested facts.

Ehrlich's letter to State Board of Elections Chairman Gilles W. Burger, a Republican, requested answers about recent controversies in other states over Diebold Elections Systems, the Ohio-based manufacturer of Maryland's voting machines. The governor said he wanted the state to adopt a voter-verified paper trail for its touch-screen machines, an issue that has been debated in the legislature for several years.

The governor's letter added a political dimension to the long-standing debate over the security and accuracy of Diebold machines. Some Democrats charged the governor with attempting to cast doubt on the state's voting system as an election-year ploy and attacking elections Administrator Linda H. Lamone, with whom he has clashed in the past.

Debate over Diebold intensified this year when California ordered testing of the company's machines after a much-publicized incident in which a computer expert hacked into the equipment during a mock election in Leon County, Fla.

Ehrlich's letter asked whether the testing in California had any bearing on Maryland's system.

Burger responded that California's software, specifically its memory card codes, are the same as those used in Maryland's system.

Joseph M. Getty, the governor's policy and legislative director, said that answer does not explain whether Maryland's machines are secure.

"What does all that mean?" Getty said. "The letter doesn't explain that at all."

Getty said the letter suggests to him that Maryland's system, particularly the software, has not been properly tested.

"It's all evasive statements without providing any facts to the governor," Getty said. "The response is blather."

Advocates for a new voting system say Burger's response is evidence that the state's system is not secure and violates federal guidelines.

"The same hackable software is on the voting machines we have," said Linda Schade of TrueVoteMD, which has criticized the Diebold machines for years. "Basically, somebody can go in and have the machines report a different election result."

Ross Goldstein, deputy administrator at the State Board of Elections, disputes that, saying its machines are secure and accurate. Burger's letter notes that although a report is pending in California, that state's secretary of state issued a news release certifying the use of Diebold machines, with certain recommendations.

"I think it's laid out pretty clearly in the letter," he said. "The information tested was reviewed by the [Independent Testing Authority], and the advisory board in California was still satisfied with it."

Maryland was one of the first states to implement electronic voting devices in 2003. The state spent an initial $55.6 million to buy the automated teller-like machines, abandoning in many areas optical-scan ballots, which provide paper verification. Critics have since complained of security flaws, though Lamone has defended the machines and observers have said they worked well in the 2004 election.


Go to the web site for more facts, for more ways to get involved, and to make a donation: http://www.truevotemd.or...