Is Diebold Corrupt Or Just Incompetent?

moultano

The article: <a href='http://securityfocus.com/columnists/198' target='_blank'>http://securityfocus.com/columnists/198</a>

Here are some gems from their internal memos.

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"I need some answers! Our department is being audited by the County. I have been waiting for someone to give me an explanation as to why Precinct 216 gave Al Gore a minus 16022 when it was uploaded. Will someone please explain this so that I have the information to give the auditor instead of standing here "looking dumb". I would appreciate an explanation on why the memory cards start giving check sum messages. We had this happen in several precincts ..." (Source: "Memory card checksum errors (was: 2000 November Election)", support.w3archive/200101/msg00061.html, dated 18 January 2001) <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->

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"I hate more than anyone else in the company to bring up a certification issue with this, but a number of jurisdictions require a "system test" before every election. I just helped Knecht yesterday with an RFP from Riverside that required this. That is why the AccuVote displayes the silly ***System Test Passed*** message on boot up instead of "memory test passed", which is all it actually tests. No argument from me that it is pointless. You could probably get away with a batch file that prints "system test passed" for all I know. We will do something along those lines with the new unit after a memory test or whatever." (Source: "RE: AVTS - Diagnostics & Installation", support.w3archive/199907/msg00013.html, dated 6 July 1999) <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->

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"Right now you can open GEMS' .mdb file with MS-Access, and alter its contents. That includes the audit log. This isn't anything new. ... Now, where the perception comes in is that its right now very *easy* to change the contents. Double click the .mdb file. ... It is possible to put a secret password on the .mdb file to prevent Metamor [a consulting company] from opening it with Access. Being able to end-run the database has admittedly got people out of a bind though. Jane (I think it was Jane) did some fancy footwork on the .mdb file in Gaston recently. I know our dealers do it. King County is famous for it. That's why we've never put a password on the file before." (Source: "RE: alteration of Audit Log in Access", support.w3archive/200110/msg00122.html, dated 18 October 2001)<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->

MonsieurEvil

Incompetent. I've done some serial-interface programming for their bank teller minivaults and cash dispensors for banking customers. They sucked complete ponce and their entire engineering staff was slackjawed peanut heads.

Next question.

uranium_235

Monse, next time fix your tags.

[/Pwn]

BathroomMonkey

<a href='http://www.ohio.com/mld/beaconjournal/6646063.htm' target='_blank'>Maybe we should choose our phrasing a bit more carefully?</a>

<!--QuoteBegin--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Walden O'Dell, chief executive of Diebold Inc., told Republicans in an Aug. 14 fund-raising letter that he is ``committed to helping Ohio deliver its electoral votes to the president next year.''
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Apparently, its management is just as incompetent as its developers. I mean, they're more or less <i>asking</i> for people to be suspicious.

Obviously, he didn't mean that he was going to steal votes, but don't you think he could try to at least create the illusion of impartiality?

Spooge

I don't like the idea of digitized or non-hardcopy voting. I'd chisel into a stone tablet if I had to. At least I'd know that I left my mark.

What I don't get is, if the big whoop-de-doo in Florida convinced Washington to spend so much money upgrading, why did they choose to digitize instead of improving on the punchcard technology? (ex. different pape mat'l, better card stamping processes, better punch tools, etc)

BathroomMonkey

<!--QuoteBegin--Spooge+Nov 18 2003, 09:45 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Spooge @ Nov 18 2003, 09:45 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> What I don't get is, if the big whoop-de-doo in Florida convinced Washington to spend so much money upgrading, why did they choose to digitize instead of improving on the punchcard technology?  (ex. different pape mat'l, better card stamping processes, better punch tools, etc) <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
My guess . . . .

<span style='font-size:14pt;line-height:100%'><span style='color:green'>
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
</span></span>

I'm not turning this into any sort of partisan issue-- both parties can be bought and sold, given enough cash. In this case Diebold backed the right horse, and they're certainly expecting (and in America's political arena, 'entitled' to) a return on their investment.

BlackMage

v0t3 h4x anyone?

Phoenix_Six

What's ridiculous is that such a huge problem isn't getting more media coverage - especially given that everyone and their dog nowaday's is supportive of secular democracy as the "most functional" system of government. As it is, I haven't even seen one single "special report" on any news programs, or in the newspapers. <!--emo&:angry:--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/mad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='mad.gif'><!--endemo--> I'm guessing it isn't just America that has this problem.

moultano

<!--QuoteBegin--Phoenix Six+Nov 19 2003, 02:07 AM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Phoenix Six @ Nov 19 2003, 02:07 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> <!--emo&:angry:--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/mad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='mad.gif'><!--endemo--> I'm guessing it isn't just America that has this problem. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
Actually wired ran a story on the Australian equivalent of Diebold, who apparently is doing everything right.
There's been one mention of the problem in a short CNN article, but it portrayed it as exclusively the concern of paranoid techies.
It's certainly not getting nearly the attention it needs.