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Vote Fraud a Click Away Geoff Metcalf "Mistrust the man who finds everything good, the man who finds everything evil and still more the man who is indifferent to everything." — Johann K Lavater A team of computer hackers were hired by the state of California to test the security of voting machines in the state. Not surprisingly they were successful in targeting and breaking into machines altering votes with a laptop computer. They also physically broke into an electronic ballot box. Duh! California Secretary of State Debra Bowen said, "It's a big deal for many people in this country. We are a democracy, and our very existence as a democracy is dependent on our having voting systems that are secure, reliable and accurate." Notwithstanding her basic error (we are not a democracy, but a constitutional republic . . . there is a difference) her concern about the reliability of our voting system is correct. The state sponsored hacking test focused on machines by voting-system firms — Diebold, Sequoia and Hart. None of the systems are secure. California spent some $450 million on new voting systems recently, yet the "result is that people have more questions about whether votes are being counted as they are cast." Story Continues Below
The head of the state association of county registrars, Stephen Weir, remains in denial, claiming he is not convinced that a major flaw has been uncovered. Aldous Huxley once observed that "facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored." Weir either never read Huxley or is comfortable ignoring him. This isn't a new problem, and sadly the solution is very very simple. I have talked and written about the systemic problems of voter fraud for over a decade. Interviews with James Collier, Jim Condit and Devvy Kidd and others have focused on the myriad problems beyond mere technical inadequacies. However, the solution (if or when officialdom consents to acknowledge it as reality) is monumentally simple. Paper ballots have been, are, and will remain the most secure means of recording votes. Sure, the use of paper ballots demands scrupulous chain of custody requirements, but given the potential epic disaster of using whiz bang high tech methods (replete with proprietary software) paper ballots is the solution. The reasons smart sophisticated bureaucrats eschew the simple solution is more complex than the solution. State-of-the-art technology is "cool," it provides "modern bling" to the pedestrian task of counting check marks. Also, the letting of contracts to companies like Diebold, Sequoia, Hart and others is big business. There is a lot of money being thrown around…albeit "other people's money" or more precisely, taxpayer money. Paper ballots have worked in large populations with relatively few problems. In the wake of the recent California tests a variety of potential fixes are being discussed. Bowen could move to decertify voting machines she deems unsecure. That would be a good thing if Bowen could marshal the necessary political will to do so. However, this is my no means just a California (or Florida issue); nationwide, abundant questions have been raised about the security of electronic balloting. By way of example, Democrat Christine Jennings (in Florida) demanded an investigation last year into an electronic voting machine that she claims malfunctioned and cost her nearly 18,000 votes in a House of Representatives race that she lost by just 369 votes. And she isn't the Lone Ranger. Several years ago I interviewed Jim Condit http://www.geoffmetcalf.com/qa/19661.html about (among other things) how fraud can easily creep into the electoral process. Before he died in 1998, I spoke with James Collier about his book "Vote Scam" http://www.amazon.com/Votescam-Stealing-James-M-Collier/dp/0963416308. After his death, I spoke with Collier's daughter Victoria http://www.geoffmetcalf.com/qa/21756.html. Vote fraud has been a pet peeve of mine for a very long time. I have periodically discussed it on the air with experts who have investigated it for twice as long. My friend Devvy Kidd has done a wonderful job of picking at the vote fraud scab http://www.newswithviews.com/Devvy/kidd207.htm. This isn't rocket science and a very simple solution to the gaggle of hassles attached with fixing weak links in the voting process is doable. There must be a verifiable paper trail of any vote count for auditing purposes. Those hi-tech companies that have developed slick software to replace the challenge of pen and paper (checking a box) understandably seek to protect their proprietary data. No harm/no foul. However, states also should not use ANY method which cannot be easily verified and audited. The millions of dollars saved on over priced and soon outdated or decertified systems could easily fund any additional personnel staffing requirements. The K.I.S.S. principle should apply here. Keep It Simple Stupid!Chester Bowles once rewrote de Gaulle when he said, "Government is too big and too important to be left to the politicians." -30- Editor's note:
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