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Florida Dems ready for another âstolen electionâ

Critics warned Monday that computer error or outright fraud easily could alter the outcome of elections conducted on Palm Beach Countyâs electronic voting machines. Vincent J. Lipsio, a software design engineer from Gainesville, said he was not a "conspiracy theorist," but expressed concern about the voting equipment put in use in the aftermath of the 2000 presidential election. For example, he said, it would be easy for a beginning computer science student to rig the devices so that 57 percent of all votes next fall go to President Bush — regardless of who the voters actually select.
So if the margin of victory is close to 57% then he is vindicated?

But it would be impossible for a beginning computer science student to rig the devices so the votes would go to a Dem?

Thereâs a lot of history in American politics of ballot box stuffing," he said. "A few deft keystrokes and all the ballot boxes in a county get stuffed at once."
'ballot box stuffingâ usually occurs in Democrat strongholds, Chicago: Vote early, Vote often.
Lipsio, who volunteers to work on voting issues for the Institute of Electrical & Electronic Engineers, said there are so many potential problems with the computer voting equipment "we will have no way of knowing how the election really went."
Unless our guy wins.
U.S. Rep. Robert Wexler, D-Boca Raton, appeared with Lipsio before 200 people at a Democratic event, the Committee to Defeat Bush gathering at Florida Atlantic University.
No Bias to this group!
"Iâm not a paranoid person," Wexler said. "I donât operate from a paranoid point of view." But, he said, the potential for problems is great. Both a purposeful attack on the computer system or just a computer malfunction will put our whole democratic process in chaos."

"So we've started bitching before it happens..."

County Supervisor of Elections Theresa LePore said their analysis was deeply flawed. "Itâs just a bunch of lies," she said.
What she really meant to say is: âDamn they found out about our plan.â
LePore said it would be impossible to rig the machines. Someone would have to break into a secure warehouse and tamper individually with 5,000 machines because they arenât connected. They have no modems, so a hacker could not meddle with them remotely.
Kind of puts a damper on the theory.

Yeah, but those beginning computer science students are smart. They can't really be trusted. We should probably lock them up...

LePore said there are extensive safeguards to ensure the accuracy of votes cast on the electronic machines. They are recorded in three places, and a diagnostic test is performed after each voter uses the machine. Whatâs more, she added, there is so much testing of the machines and software, starting before the state certifies them through public tests before each election, that any problems would be detected.

That sounds like over-confidence, but as long as they're not on-line h@ackerb0y can't get into them.

Wexler said a simple solution would eliminate doubt. He wants all voting machines retrofitted so that a paper printout spits out each time an electronic vote is cast. That would allow voters to check the accuracy of the machines and provide a backup that could be used if a recount is necessary.

"...which we're determined it's gonna be!"

LePore said thatâs not a simple fix. "Itâs not as easy as they think where you go to Office Depot and buy a printer off the shelf." Equipment and software compatible with the voting machines has to be developed, go through testing and get state certification. If that ultimately happens, she said, it might cost $600 to $1,000 for each of Palm Beach Countyâs 5,000 voting machines. Thatâs $3 million to $5 million.
And, she said, paper printouts would create all sorts of problems. If they had to be counted, it would be a messy process with 500,000 pieces of paper. "Youâre injecting humans in the process again, just like they did with the punch cards," she said.
All together now: âHanging Chad!â
The decision is up to the state. No one from the Secretary of Stateâs Office, which oversees elections, could be reached for comment Monday afternoon. Ruth Pleva, chairwoman of The Committee to Defeat Bush, is among the Democrats who think Bush and the Republicans stole the 2000 election.
And also believes aliens landed in her backyard.
"They would like to steal it once more using the corruptible electronic voting machines," said Pleva, who lives west of Delray Beach.

"We much prefer hanging chads, that we can argue about..."

LePore has become a lightning rod for Democrats since the recount that followed the 2000 presidential elections. Some party members think her strict interpretation of election law helped Bush over Democrat Al Gore in the recount process. Pleva didnât invite LePore. "I donât have enemies at my parties," she said.
Man I canât wait until after the election night! I give it until the morning before we hear from Florida charges of voter fraud and stolen elections. Can you imagine âHowlingâ Howard after the election night? âFoul! Haliburton, Enron, Disney, and Fox news all colluded to steal my rightful Presidency!â We might have to find a straight jacket for Dr. Dean next November. Well now that they know about our secret plan, how can we rig the election next year?
Posted by: Cyber Sarge (VRWC CA Chapter) 2003-12-31

http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=23623