|
Punchers were often misaligned. Not sure why Linda
would know or not know this, because when supply judges would see it, they were
pulled from service. In the last few years that I was a supply judge I just
started repairing them at the precinct. It wasn’t hard to fix, but it also wasn’t
hard for them to get knocked out of alignment either. They were simply old and
worn. The tabulators had troubles too, but I’m less familiar
with what that was about. Only the result. I believe that all of the problems with the DataVote
system were easily addressable. Our legislature didn’t or were confused between
pre-cut (chad) cards and our system. I think that is highly likely. Despite your “feelings” facts are facts. Colorado
outlawed punch cards. Some counties got extensions on the deadline. Boulder
didn’t ask and therefore didn’t get one. Ivan – call the SoS or email Drew Durham <drew.durham@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
and get the real answers. Maybe I am wrong. It wouldn’t be the first time. Since
you haven’t done this and keep yammer on and on with the people who don’t know
I suspect that you don’t want to know. Also – software/hardware vendors must be certified by
NASED and the SoS. There is a process and from reading your emails and so on, I
don’t think that you’ve looked into this. Please do so. Paul Tiger -----Original
Message----- 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 -----Original Message----- So, was it ever determined whether this was a problem with
the machines, or with the tabulators? I only heard that the machines
didn't work anymore. Margit Margit Johansson 303-442-1668/ margitjo@xxxxxxx In a message dated 4/23/2005 11:58:11 PM Mountain Daylight
Time, outreach@xxxxxxxxxxxxx writes: Ivan, |