Voting Machines Update

Two items concerning voting machines crossed my screen or desk this week.

The fine folks at the Election Reform Network bring us a story on the latest security tests of voting machines:

The most comprehensive analysis of security and operating issues of electronic vote machines ever performed was released in late July by the State of California, and the results from a series of reports provided a body blow to an industry already on the defensive. Tests were done on systems of three vendors, Sequoia Voting Systems, Diebold, and Hart Intercivic by researchers at the University of California under a $1.8 million contract with the California Secretary of State’s Office.

“I had expected them to find problems – but to be able to replace firmware in all three systems is nothing short of an utter takeover of machines, and that shouldn’t be possible,” declared noted computer security and vote machine expert Avi Rubin, a professor at Johns Hopkins University. “I was shocked by how severe the problems were,” he continued. “What’s even scarier is that the researchers were looking at certified systems that have been already used in an election,” he said in a July 30 TechNewsWorld article.

The complete article, " Sequoia Software Flunks Security Probe in California – Another Blow to Voter Confidence in Montgomery County Vote Machines," is on their website.

In last Friday's Wall Street Journal, a brief note "Diebold lets voting unit run more independently," (8/17), says:

Diebold Inc said it failed to sell its voting-technology business amid criticism that its voting machines -- used across the U.S. -- arent' reliable. Instead, the company said, it will allow the unit to operate more independently, with a new management structure and a separate board that includes independent members.

Think that will help?