Thursday, October 26, 2006
THE '06 ELECTION FIX!!
Electronic voting machines "hack" off Democrat Jim Webb's name from November ballot
By Frank J. Ranelli
Oct 26, 2006, 00:48
Hacks, hackers and hacking off! How the right-wing machine and its "machines of voter mayhem" intend to steal your vote again by hacking off the Democratic candidate's last name from the ballot!
As being reported by the AP wire service, Jim Webb, Democratic challenger for U.S. Senator in Virginia to Republican incumbent, George "Macaca" Allen, has had his (Webb's) last name chopped off or "hacked" off by electronic voting touch-screen machines.
What is being called a "glitch" by Hart InterCivic spokespersons, three cities in Virginia -- Alexandria, Falls Church and Charlottesville -- will not properly display Jim Webb's name on the November ballot summary screen. Voters will only see 'James H. "Jim"' on the ballot, instead of James H. "Jim" Webb.
To make matters worse, the candidates will have "their party affiliations . . . cut off" even after navigating through the summary screen nearly blind. To put some perspective and clarity to this, in Alexandria, Falls Church and Charlottesville, Virginia, voters will not be able to recognize Jim Webb by his full name OR by his party's affiliation!
The AP is also reporting, "Jean Jensen, secretary of the Virginia State Board of Elections, pledged to have the issue fixed by the 2007 statewide elections." How generous of her, to have the "issue" fixed by next year! In the meantime, unsuspecting voters, in these three cities, will show up on Election Day and not even find the name "Webb" on the ballot summary screen or be able to find Jim Webb's party affiliation -- Democrat -- once they do find Mr. Webb's full name.
That is correct; the vote stealing "black boxes" of 2004 are back with a new trick! Not only are the people designing and operating these machines "hacks," not only do they allow their machines to be "hacked" into for political gain, now they program these dubious devices to "hack off" candidates names and party affiliations. Somehow, we are all supposed to believe -- after all the deception in 2004 -- that it is just another coincidence that it happened to a Democrat -- again!
Whether it's just another "oversight" by the Republican-owned and controlled electronic voting machine companies, or further proof of the malicious attempts by the GOP to suppress voter information and perpetrate election fraud, it is another glaring example of why these machines must be banned immediately.
That pungent odor now filling the air is some good ol' hometown, Republican-cooked "thuggery" that is being dished up right under our noses. The same kind of mob-like voter suppression, disenfranchisement and strong-arm tactics used in 2004 by the rapid Grand Old Party and their pack of hyenas in Ohio to deliver the vote to George W. Bush.
Besides the rancid smell of foul play, that sound you hear is a crunching noise; the crunching on the bones of Virginian Democratic voters by these hounds from hell hoping to chew up and spit out a win for Allen and his radical right agenda!
If the pen is truly mightier than the sword, then we should all write-off the failed experiment of neoconservative government, demand paper and pencil to vote and etch a valuable lesson into the consciousness of the American public -- never underestimate your opponent, especially Republican ones!Frank J. Ranelli is a freelance political writer, researcher and author. In addition, he is an activist and advocate for the progression of peace and the advancement of the Democratic Party. He currently focuses his journalism on educating people of the dangers of the Bush administration, election reform issues, how the war in Iraq is immoral and why the impeachment of President George W. Bush is necessary to restore our democracy. His writing has been well received and widely published in a variety of news outlets and across the Internet. His "smartly-written and imagery invoking" articles have earned him such praise as, "Written with directness, strength, passion . . . It's great when it smacks, glares, grabs one!" -Ms. Joyce Benedict, Park Guide for FDR Historic Site.
Electronic voting machines "hack" off Democrat Jim Webb's name from November ballot
By Frank J. Ranelli
Oct 26, 2006, 00:48
Hacks, hackers and hacking off! How the right-wing machine and its "machines of voter mayhem" intend to steal your vote again by hacking off the Democratic candidate's last name from the ballot!
As being reported by the AP wire service, Jim Webb, Democratic challenger for U.S. Senator in Virginia to Republican incumbent, George "Macaca" Allen, has had his (Webb's) last name chopped off or "hacked" off by electronic voting touch-screen machines.
What is being called a "glitch" by Hart InterCivic spokespersons, three cities in Virginia -- Alexandria, Falls Church and Charlottesville -- will not properly display Jim Webb's name on the November ballot summary screen. Voters will only see 'James H. "Jim"' on the ballot, instead of James H. "Jim" Webb.
To make matters worse, the candidates will have "their party affiliations . . . cut off" even after navigating through the summary screen nearly blind. To put some perspective and clarity to this, in Alexandria, Falls Church and Charlottesville, Virginia, voters will not be able to recognize Jim Webb by his full name OR by his party's affiliation!
The AP is also reporting, "Jean Jensen, secretary of the Virginia State Board of Elections, pledged to have the issue fixed by the 2007 statewide elections." How generous of her, to have the "issue" fixed by next year! In the meantime, unsuspecting voters, in these three cities, will show up on Election Day and not even find the name "Webb" on the ballot summary screen or be able to find Jim Webb's party affiliation -- Democrat -- once they do find Mr. Webb's full name.
That is correct; the vote stealing "black boxes" of 2004 are back with a new trick! Not only are the people designing and operating these machines "hacks," not only do they allow their machines to be "hacked" into for political gain, now they program these dubious devices to "hack off" candidates names and party affiliations. Somehow, we are all supposed to believe -- after all the deception in 2004 -- that it is just another coincidence that it happened to a Democrat -- again!
Whether it's just another "oversight" by the Republican-owned and controlled electronic voting machine companies, or further proof of the malicious attempts by the GOP to suppress voter information and perpetrate election fraud, it is another glaring example of why these machines must be banned immediately.
That pungent odor now filling the air is some good ol' hometown, Republican-cooked "thuggery" that is being dished up right under our noses. The same kind of mob-like voter suppression, disenfranchisement and strong-arm tactics used in 2004 by the rapid Grand Old Party and their pack of hyenas in Ohio to deliver the vote to George W. Bush.
Besides the rancid smell of foul play, that sound you hear is a crunching noise; the crunching on the bones of Virginian Democratic voters by these hounds from hell hoping to chew up and spit out a win for Allen and his radical right agenda!
If the pen is truly mightier than the sword, then we should all write-off the failed experiment of neoconservative government, demand paper and pencil to vote and etch a valuable lesson into the consciousness of the American public -- never underestimate your opponent, especially Republican ones!Frank J. Ranelli is a freelance political writer, researcher and author. In addition, he is an activist and advocate for the progression of peace and the advancement of the Democratic Party. He currently focuses his journalism on educating people of the dangers of the Bush administration, election reform issues, how the war in Iraq is immoral and why the impeachment of President George W. Bush is necessary to restore our democracy. His writing has been well received and widely published in a variety of news outlets and across the Internet. His "smartly-written and imagery invoking" articles have earned him such praise as, "Written with directness, strength, passion . . . It's great when it smacks, glares, grabs one!" -Ms. Joyce Benedict, Park Guide for FDR Historic Site.
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
www.yahoo.com
Potential problems loom in election voting
By Randall Mikkelsen 2 hours, 10 minutes ago
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Long lines and long counts threaten to mar next month's U.S. congressional elections as millions of Americans put new voting machines and rules to the test, election officials and experts say.
ADVERTISEMENT
The result could be delays in knowing whether Democrats capture one or both houses of the U.S. Congress, or whether
President George W. Bush's Republicans keep control.
"In close elections, it may be days and weeks before a winner is known in a particular race," said Paul DeGregorio, chairman of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, created to oversee a 2002 election law overhaul.
He forecast, however, an improvement over previous elections and said, "I think voters can trust the system."
The election overhaul was passed after the 2000 vote, in which problems deciphering paper ballots in Florida helped fuel a five-week recount fight in which the
U.S. Supreme Court handed the presidency to Bush.
The law mandated electronic voting machines with a "paper trail" backup, statewide voter registries and opportunities to cast a "provisional" ballot when a voter's eligibility is in question.
Many of the changes take effect this year, when one-third of voters will cast their ballots on new electronic machines, whose reliability in a national election is unproven.
Ohio, where Democratic voters in 2004 complained that long lines in their neighborhoods kept them from voting, and Pennsylvania are two states with major races where the voting process will be closely watched on November 7.
Other states include Maryland, which had problems with its September primary election, and Georgia and Missouri, where courts threw out new voter identification requirements and experts see a potential for disputes.
"We don't know about the security flaws, we don't know about the error rates," said the Rev. DeForest Soaries, former chairman of the Election Assistance Commission.
172 MILLION AMERICANS
About 172 million Americans are so far registered to vote; 175 million registered for the 2004 presidential election, according to the Election Data Services consulting firm. A smaller share will cast ballots, in 183,000 voting precincts.
In some states there may be confusion after court battles over new state identification requirements. Voters whose eligibility is in dispute can cast provisional ballots, which could add to counting delays in close races.
Election officials also expect more absentee ballots, which take longer to count, cast by voters distrustful of the new machines. In Maryland, for example, the state's Republican governor has encouraged absentee ballots.
There is also a shortage of trained poll workers.
"There's a rather combustible confluence of events taking place in our elections right now," said Century Foundation researcher Tova Wang.
"Where we may find ourselves at the end of Election Day is actually with stacks of paper and long, drawn-out, possibly contentious vote counting," she said. Any delays could spur concerns over the legitimacy of the outcome, she added.
The largest U.S. civil rights group, the
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, said it would monitor voting in 10 states.
In a predominantly black neighborhood of Columbus, Ohio, Democrats have pushed hard to ensure people like Melvin Steward, 72, can vote. Steward said he stood in the rain for four hours in 2004 trying to vote but eventually gave up.
"In my district they shorted us on voting booths. It bothered me because I never missed voting before," Steward said. This time he applied for an absentee ballot.
"I've already turned my papers in," he said.
Potential problems loom in election voting
By Randall Mikkelsen 2 hours, 10 minutes ago
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Long lines and long counts threaten to mar next month's U.S. congressional elections as millions of Americans put new voting machines and rules to the test, election officials and experts say.
ADVERTISEMENT
The result could be delays in knowing whether Democrats capture one or both houses of the U.S. Congress, or whether
President George W. Bush's Republicans keep control.
"In close elections, it may be days and weeks before a winner is known in a particular race," said Paul DeGregorio, chairman of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, created to oversee a 2002 election law overhaul.
He forecast, however, an improvement over previous elections and said, "I think voters can trust the system."
The election overhaul was passed after the 2000 vote, in which problems deciphering paper ballots in Florida helped fuel a five-week recount fight in which the
U.S. Supreme Court handed the presidency to Bush.
The law mandated electronic voting machines with a "paper trail" backup, statewide voter registries and opportunities to cast a "provisional" ballot when a voter's eligibility is in question.
Many of the changes take effect this year, when one-third of voters will cast their ballots on new electronic machines, whose reliability in a national election is unproven.
Ohio, where Democratic voters in 2004 complained that long lines in their neighborhoods kept them from voting, and Pennsylvania are two states with major races where the voting process will be closely watched on November 7.
Other states include Maryland, which had problems with its September primary election, and Georgia and Missouri, where courts threw out new voter identification requirements and experts see a potential for disputes.
"We don't know about the security flaws, we don't know about the error rates," said the Rev. DeForest Soaries, former chairman of the Election Assistance Commission.
172 MILLION AMERICANS
About 172 million Americans are so far registered to vote; 175 million registered for the 2004 presidential election, according to the Election Data Services consulting firm. A smaller share will cast ballots, in 183,000 voting precincts.
In some states there may be confusion after court battles over new state identification requirements. Voters whose eligibility is in dispute can cast provisional ballots, which could add to counting delays in close races.
Election officials also expect more absentee ballots, which take longer to count, cast by voters distrustful of the new machines. In Maryland, for example, the state's Republican governor has encouraged absentee ballots.
There is also a shortage of trained poll workers.
"There's a rather combustible confluence of events taking place in our elections right now," said Century Foundation researcher Tova Wang.
"Where we may find ourselves at the end of Election Day is actually with stacks of paper and long, drawn-out, possibly contentious vote counting," she said. Any delays could spur concerns over the legitimacy of the outcome, she added.
The largest U.S. civil rights group, the
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, said it would monitor voting in 10 states.
In a predominantly black neighborhood of Columbus, Ohio, Democrats have pushed hard to ensure people like Melvin Steward, 72, can vote. Steward said he stood in the rain for four hours in 2004 trying to vote but eventually gave up.
"In my district they shorted us on voting booths. It bothered me because I never missed voting before," Steward said. This time he applied for an absentee ballot.
"I've already turned my papers in," he said.
