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Hi Margit,
I have never found anyone who claimed the
Datavote voting machines failed to reliably mark a ballot. I had two
conversations with Linda Flack, former Boulder County Chief Deputy Clerk.
Linda was deeply involved in Boulder County elections for 16 years. Both
conversations were about the Datavote system. The second conversation was
a follow-up to the first and to confirm my understanding of her experience with
these machines.
I no longer know where my messages have been
forwarded so I will repeat what I said to Paul Tiger earlier. My comments
below were largely based on my conversation with Linda Flack. From my
e-mail with Paul:
"Your comments suggests that the Datavote voting machine failed repeatedly. I do not believe this to be true. In fact, I believe the Datavote is the most reliable voting machine ever made. If you know of ANY case where the Datevote failed to accurately mark a ballot, please give me the details. I know there were a few cases where the ballots were inaccurately printed, misleading voters. I also know that the "tabulators," i.e., the optical scanners, frequently needed to be repaired after they had been used for decades." I also had conversations with election officials in Florida who used the Datavote system. Their experience was also that the tabulators wore out after years of use. As best I can tell there is only one company that fixes them. I believe the same company was used by Boulder County and the Florida county that I contacted. Although I don't remember the exact words of my Florida conversation, I routinely ask if anyone knows of a case of a Datavote voting machine failing to work. I have yet to get an affirmative response. Please note that with a 100% hand count (as we have proposed) to verify the tabulator results, there is little opportunity for either fraud or equipment failure to cause an inaccurate vote tally. The other comments of Paul's about the state law are in response to his claiming that both HAVA and Colorado state law prohibit punch card voting machines. I sent Paul a link to the text of HAVA; he has not responded to that; I don't expect him to. The documents below first refer to a PLAN, not a law, and HB 03-1356. Interestingly, the plan, known as the State HAVA Plan, defines punch card voting machines in a way that exludes the Datavote (and the VotePuncher(TM)) from the definition of a punch card voting machine! Wow! It only includes the type that failed in Florida, e.g., the Votomatic and its cousins. Wow again! Maybe the folks writing that plan actually knew what they were doing! I just scanned HB 03-1356 but I don't believe it prohibits any kind of punch card voting machines. Let me know if you find out anything otherwise. In the meantime, don't believe everything you hear! regards, -ivan
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