Discussion of all things related to Public Domain

[tom poe <tompoe AT amihost.com>]

Hi:  Not sure if this is going to get to the show producers, but maybe
you could help, unless you're the right folks.  I think what we've found
in the state of Nevada, is going to be exactly the same in all 50
states.  There is no "certification" of the software used in DRE voting
systems in existence, today, yesterday, or tomorrow.  It looks like the
entire United States has been taken for a ride off the "big cliff".  We
can all say goodby to our Right To Vote.  Hope you look into this
further.
Thanks,
Tom Poe
Open Studios
Reno, NV
http://www.studioforrecording.org/

-----Forwarded Message-----

> From: tom poe <tompoe AT amihost.com>
> To: Richard Siegel <siegel AT unr.edu>
> Cc: Community Studios <community_studios AT lists.ibiblio.org>
> Subject: [Fwd: [Fwd: [Fwd: RE:  NV Cert. Reports]]]
> Date: 13 Sep 2003 09:52:19 -0700
> 
> Hi, Mr. Siegel:  As President of the ACLU of Nevada, you should be aware
> that it appears that all of your hard work to ensure the issue of
> provisional voting for Nevada residents may indeed be for naught, unless
> the state acts quickly to first undo the harm done by using voting
> equipment that does not even meet the voluntary guidelines of 1990, let
> alone meet the minimum standards for assuring public scrutiny in the
> 2004 elections.  Please share this email with the other members of the
> elections commission, and point out to them that there are presently no
> "certification" reports from Nichols Laboratories (the only ITA that
> used to certify software until they ceased doing business in 2000), or
> any other ITA that would "certify" software for DRE's.  Unless Dan Burk
> gets his act together, and is forthcoming about the depth of the problem
> facing our state, there will be one big disaster for all voters in
> Nevada in November of 2004.  Bamboozled is one term that comes to mind,
> for each of the members.  Mr. Burk should be ashamed of himself, and
> apologize personally, to each one of you.
> Respectfully,
> Tom Poe
> Open Studios
> Reno, NV
> http://www.studioforrecording.org/
> 
> -----Forwarded Message-----
> 
> > From: tom poe <tompoe AT amihost.com>
> > To: fmullen AT rgj.com
> > Cc: Community Studios <community_studios AT lists.ibiblio.org>
> > Subject: [Fwd: [Fwd: RE:  NV Cert. Reports]]
> > Date: 13 Sep 2003 08:47:45 -0700
> > 
> > Hi, Mr. Mullen:  Not sure what the department, "investigations/general
> > assignment" means, but you might see if this is of interest, or know who
> > might find it interesting.
> > 
> > There are no guidelines and regulations that are required for Direct
> > Recording Election (DRE) voting systems, federal, state, or local from
> > my understanding of the situation.  However, there are voluntary
> > guidelines and regulations? for voting systems that date to 1990 that
> > all states abide by.  The Help America Vote Act of 2002, lays out the
> > "Plan" to implement new guidelines and regulations that must be
> > followed, in order to comply with the Act.  Any state that does not
> > follow either the 1990 guidelines and regulations, or the 2002
> > guidelines and regulations (not existant at the moment), should be held
> > up to the bright light of day, and admit such.
> > 
> > My discussions with Dan Burk, Registrar for Nevada, leads me to believe
> > that we are as far removed from "legitimizing" the voting systems in use
> > in Nevada, and specifically, in Washoe county as you can get.  For
> > example, the only "certification" that seems to be available for the
> > Diebold voting system used, is one that comes from a company that
> > "certifies" hardware only.  They do not do software testing, auditing,
> > or "certification".  Nichols Labs, which was referenced specifically by
> > Dan Burk, closed their doors a couple three years ago.  I doubt whether
> > the voting systems provided by Diebold are up to date with regard to
> > even the 1990 guidelines and regulations.
> > 
> > Seems like we should be looking at this very serious problem, and soon. 
> > What do you think?
> > Thanks,
> > Tom Poe
> > Open Studios
> > Reno, NV
> > http://www.studioforrecording.org/
> > 
> > -----Forwarded Message-----
> > 
> > > From: tom poe <tompoe AT amihost.com>
> > > To: Lynn Landes <lynnlandes AT earthlink.net>
> > > Cc: Community Studios <community_studios AT lists.ibiblio.org>
> > > Subject: [Fwd: RE:  NV Cert. Reports]
> > > Date: 12 Sep 2003 18:07:42 -0700
> > > 
> > > Hi, Lynn:  Well, if we make some assumptions, here.  First, is that it
> > > appears there's no certification report for Diebold voting systems used
> > > in Nevada elections addressing the software, eh?  What do you think the
> > > next step should be?
> > > Thanks, Tom
> > > 
> > > -----Forwarded Message-----
> > > 
> > > > From: Lindy Johnson <lindyj AT sosmail.state.nv.us>
> > > > To: tompoe AT amihost.com
> > > > Subject: RE:  NV Cert. Reports
> > > > Date: 12 Sep 2003 16:52:13 -0700
> > > > 
> > > > Hi Mr. Poe,
> > > > Washoe County is the only Nevada County that has purchased and used a 
> > > > Diebold (f/k/a Global Election Systems) election system.  The test 
> > > > report that this office has on file is for voting system Accuvote- 
> > > > Touchscreen R6 from Wyle Laboritories .  This report is 204 pages, 
> > > > doublesided, for a total charge of $51.00.  To obtain a copy of this 
> > > > report, you may submit payment via credit card or send a check to the 
> > > > following address:
> > > > 
> > > > Nevada Secretary of State 
> > > > Attention:  Elections Division
> > > > 101 North Carson Street, Suite 3
> > > > Carson City, Nevada  89701-4786 
> > > > 
> > > > Below I have provided Diebold's contact information, in case you 
> > > > would like to contact them for their fees for copies:
> > > > 
> > > > Diebold Election Systems
> > > > 1611 Wilmeth Road
> > > > McKinney, TX  75069
> > > > Phone:  (972) 542-6000
> > > > 
> > > > If you have any questions (or would like to pay via telephone), 
> > > > please contact me at (775) 684-7126.  Unfortunately, I am only in the 
> > > > office part-time, the best time to reach me is in the afternoons.
> > > > 
> > > > Sincerely,
> > > > Lindy Johnson, Archive Officer
> > > > Nevada Secretary of State Elections Division
> > > > 
> > > > 
> > > > 
> > > > >>> tom poe <tompoe AT amihost.com> 09/11/03 09:11PM >>>
> > > > Hi, Ms. Johnson:  My request is for reports for DRE systems that are
> > > > used by Nevada in elections.  I specifically am interested in 
> > > > obtaining
> > > > a copy of certification reports for Diebold systems that are actively
> > > > used in Nevada elections.  The reports may be from ITA Nichols
> > > > Laboratories or from some other ITA that attests to the certification 
> > > > of
> > > > the software used in the voting systems purchased by the State of 
> > > > Nevada
> > > > in elections.  Mr. Dan Burk, Registrar of Nevada, indicates that 
> > > > Nichols
> > > > Laboratories certifies the DRE systems for Diebold.  Is there a report
> > > > from your office that matches his claim?
> > > > Thanks,
> > > > Tom Poe
> > > > 
> > > > On Wed, 2003-09-10 at 14:17, Lindy Johnson wrote:
> > > > > Hello again Mr. Poe,
> > > > > The attached document contains a full list of the voting systems 
> > > > > that have been certified in Nevada.  Please be aware, however, that 
> > > > > not all of these systems have been purchased and used by the 
> > > > > Election Officials.
> > > > > 
> > > > > I thought this document might help you in determining which ITA 
> > > > > reports you would like a copy of.  
> > > > > 
> > > > > Please feel free to contact me at (775) 684-7126 if you have any 
> > > > > questions, or need further information.
> > > > > 
> > > > > Sincerely,
> > > > > Lindy Johnson, Archive Officer
> > > > > Nevada Secretary of State Elections Division
> > > > > 
> > > > 
> > > > 
> > > 
> > 
>