DIEBOLD HACKED IN FLORIDA, CEO QUITS

ACT NOW -- TO SECURE PAPER BALLOTS
for MARYLAND'S VOTING SYSTEM in 2006

TrueVoteMD.org is in its third year of working for voter-verified paper ballots in elections in Maryland. It is now evident even to most naysayers that a voter verified paper ballot is essential to ensuring the accuracy and transparency of our elections.

Make a Difference, in less than 5 Minutes.

Take the following three steps:

1.   SEND A LETTER to State Legislators and Governor Ehrlich. With our 'click and send' letters this takes just a few minutes.

2.   FORWARD THIS EMAIL to everyone you know in Maryland and tell them to write the legislature and Governor. If they need to be convinced that paperless voting machines can be trusted tell them to read the stories below. They can also visit TrueVoteMD.org for in-depth information.

3.   MAKE ONE PHONECALL, to the Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, Sheila Hixson. Tell her to support voter verified paper ballots this session to ensure that Maryland has a recountable, transparent voting system in time for the 2006 elections. Help her keep her promise to the public that this year she will take leadership instead of block this bill. Her toll free number is 1-800-492-7122, ext. 3469.

Want to do more?? Contact Alex at Alex@TrueVoteMD.org or 301-270-6150.

NEWS THIS WEEK!! December 19th, 2005

Diebold Machines Easily Hacked in FL

Stockholders Sue as Diebold Stock Plummets
CEO Quits Under Pressure

This week shattered any remaining confidence in Diebold Elections Systems, and makes it clear that Maryland should quickly replace the Diebold boondoggle with a voting system voters can trust.

“Diebold Easily Hacked,” says The Miami Herald and media sources across the nation reporting that hackers can change the election results on Diebold machines and not leave a trace. A Leon County, Florida election official, Mr. Ion Sancho, and two computer experts working with BlackBoxVoting.Org were successful in changing the results in a mock election on the county's Diebold optical-scan machines. A second test showed that the memory cards can be tampered to change the election outcome -- using a Diebold touchscreen machine. The results convinced the County Council to dump the Diebold voting system. Also this week, Volusia County, Florida replaced Diebold with a voter- verified, auditable and recountable election system including precinct-based optical scans (preferred by a growing number of voting activists.)

Diebold CEO Quits Under Pressure: Walden O'Dell, who during the 2004 election said, “I'm committed to helping Ohio deliver its electoral votes for the president,” quit under pressure. In addition the company's executives made political donations (all to the GOP) - against corporate policy. The stock had dropped to $37.00, in the last year it had been as high as $57.81.

Security Fraud Suit Filed by Diebold Shareholders: Diebold was sued by shareholders over claims they have made about contracts and profits. The suit could make Diebold the next Enron.

Maryland News

Paper Ballot Coalition asks for Governor Support

A coalition of political organizations sent a letter to Governor Robert L. Ehrlich, asking him to fund and sign legislation requiring a Voter-Verified Paper Ballot and Audit Trail. The Governor has said that he is “receptive” to paper trails. The Coalition in addition to TrueVoteMD, included Sierra Club, MD NOW, Common Cause, ACLU, MaryPIRG, and Maryland Council for the Blind.

To read letter click below.
Read more...

TrueVoters Testify in Hearing Held on Paper Ballot for Electronic Voting

On Wednesday, November 30th in Annapolis, TrueVoters testified before the House Ways and Means Committee an 'omnibus election reform bill' that is expected to include paper ballot language.