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Bev Harris
Board Administrator
Username: Admin
Post Number: 7427
Registered: 12-2004
Best of Black Box? 
Votes: 7 (A keeper?) | | Posted on Wednesday, January 9, 2008 - 5:17 pm: | 
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They program every single voting machine in New Hampshire, Connecticut, almost all of Massachusetts, Vermont, and Maine. But did state officials in five New England states ever do a criminal background check on this company's executives? Do the laws of these five states even ALLOW them to hire convicted criminals for services paid for by the state? What about over 500 local towns and municipalities?
According to my sources, LHS Marketing and Sales Director Ken Hajjar grew up with owner John Silvestro in Lawrence, Massachusetts. They both moved to Londonderry, New Hampshire, where Ken Hajjar was arrested, indicted, and pleaded guilty to "sale / CND" and sentenced to 12 months in the Rockingham County Correctional facility, and fined $2000. As things go for the politically connected, he was then given a deferred sentence and $1000 of his fine was suspended.
Hajjar doesn't limit his involvement in the voting machine business to sales. According to an interview conducted by Dori Smith, as reported here: http://www.bradblog.com/?p=5320, Hajjar totes memory cards around in the trunk of his car and defends the boggling concept of swapping out memory cards during the middle of elections.
Hold onto your hats, there's more. Start with this YouTube video, if you haven't already seen it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PiiaBqwqkXs
Don't miss this BradBlog story:
http://www.bradblog.com/?p=5320
quote:(excerpt)
[from Dori Smith & Bradblog] "Other LHS staff members we spoke with, including Mike Carlson and Tom Burge, provided similar comments. They said they would open machines up during an election and swap memory cards as needed. This is illegal under Connecticut law and Deputy Secretary Mara told us she has since informed LHS that such actions were in violation of Connecticut election laws.
"In 2006, as Hajjar argued in favor of their policy to change cards during elections, I asked him about about the laws which govern chain of custody issues. His response: "I mean, I don't pay attention to every little law. It's just, it's up to the Registrars. All we are is a support organization on Election Day".
He said he had three memory cards in the trunk of his car and, in the event they had to be used, the chain of custody issues wouldn't matter since, "once you run the [pre-election] test deck through, you're golden"."
Black Box Voting has sent out 10 freedom of information requests, called "right to know requests" in New Hampshire, and public records requests elsewhere.
Hajjar's conviction was in 1987, but we have asked also for complaints filed on a threat allegedly made in recent years to a New Hampshire woman, and any other reports for Hajjar or LHS owner John Silvestro.
Until recently, LHS employees were listed on the company Web site. Now the pages identifying who programs New England voting machines have been taken down.
We want to know.
We want to know exactly what the secretaries of state/commonwealth know about LHS Associates.
Did they know of Hajjar's criminal background? If so, why's he toting voting machine cards around in the trunk of his car in case they are "needed" in live elections, and if not, why not?
Link to Kenneth Hajjar criminal record:
http://www.bbvdocs.org/LHS/hajjar.png
VOTING MACHINES - SKILLFULLY MANIPULATED - LEAVE NO EVIDENCE
The famous "Hursti Hack" of the memory card in the voting system version used in New Hampshire preloaded the card with minus and plus votes, passed the "zero test" at the beginning of the day, and after 6 no and 2 yes votes were fed through it, pronounced election totals of 7 yes and 1 no. Yes, these are the cards Hajjar totes in trunk.
Good news for the citizens of Connecticut. According to Brad Friedman, Hajjar was booted out of the state after he posted "You're full of shit" on BradBlog, a liberal political site that does kick-ass voting machine stories.
Whether Hajjar works in Connecticut or not, he works at LHS, and it is inside the Methuen, Massachusetts-based factory that the memory cards are programmed for Connecticut and the rest of New England. |
John Dean
Frequent Voting Rights Forum Participant
Username: Bozosforbush
Post Number: 934
Registered: 12-2004
Best of Black Box? N/A
Votes: 0 (A keeper?) | | Posted on Wednesday, January 9, 2008 - 7:18 pm: |
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Wow, this is one story that ain't going away soon.
Great job Bev!
Deserter, brain is fried, no WMDs, yada yada yada. No wonder we clowns laugh.
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Howard Randall Smith
Voting Rights Forum Participant
Username: Tidalcreek
Post Number: 34
Registered: 2-2007
Best of Black Box? N/A
Votes: 0 (A keeper?) | | Posted on Wednesday, January 9, 2008 - 8:17 pm: |
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Congratulations!!!
Randy
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Fran Fleming
Voting Rights Forum Participant
Username: Iwontbackdown
Post Number: 18
Registered: 12-2007
Best of Black Box? N/A
Votes: 0 (A keeper?) | | Posted on Wednesday, January 9, 2008 - 8:34 pm: |
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Incredulous, wide-eyed shock! Ah, memory card swapping; what a novel idea!
I did get a chuckle out of that second to last comment. |
Russell Novkov
Frequent Voting Rights Forum Participant
Username: Rnovkov
Post Number: 234
Registered: 2-2006
Best of Black Box? N/A
Votes: 0 (A keeper?) | | Posted on Wednesday, January 9, 2008 - 8:44 pm: |
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I would like to see an investigation.
Russell J. Novkov
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joseph tucker
Voting Rights Forum Participant
Username: Ratebeer
Post Number: 3
Registered: 1-2008
Best of Black Box? N/A
Votes: 0 (A keeper?) | | Posted on Thursday, January 10, 2008 - 12:42 am: |
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What is "sale / CND"? |
David Evans
Voting Rights Forum Participant
Username: Maxx
Post Number: 1
Registered: 1-2008
Best of Black Box? N/A
Votes: 0 (A keeper?) | | Posted on Thursday, January 10, 2008 - 2:56 am: |
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I am proud of you Bev. I hope this is not ignored and swept under the rug. It will take someone --- to come forward and make an issue of this. Otherwise....
(From BBV admin): All points of view are welcome; naming a candidate in this context can be viewed as campaigning, which our nonpartisan status doesn't allow, so I kept the good point you made but had to replace candidate name with "---"). There is slightly more leeway in the "Talk Politics" and "General Discussion" areas, but if it could be deemed 'campaigning' we have to moderate it out. Thanks for your understanding on this. |
Chris Jackson
Voting Rights Forum Participant
Username: Bossgator
Post Number: 1
Registered: 1-2008
Best of Black Box? N/A
Votes: 0 (A keeper?) | | Posted on Thursday, January 10, 2008 - 3:50 am: |
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This is an outrage! Citizens need to hold these criminals accountable for their rigging of the election process.
And the MSM needs to be reigned in as well, seeing they are deliberately manipulating the news and polls with the direct intent to sway voters.
People need to be sued, and others should go to jail!
RepublicMedia.tv
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Bev Harris
Board Administrator
Username: Admin
Post Number: 7428
Registered: 12-2004
Best of Black Box? N/A
Votes: 0 (A keeper?) | | Posted on Thursday, January 10, 2008 - 5:41 am: |
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To Jude Jeter, David Evans and Chris Jackson,
Welcome to Black Box Voting! We appreciate your insights and comments. Always a few "cultural" items in joining new forums; Jude, I moved your post to the "Talk Politics" area under discussion of New Hampshire primary because of political content, hope you don't mind. David, I kept your post here but had to strip out "we need a candidate like [name] because it takes a slight step over the line into campaigning, which is something we are not allowed to do as a 501c(3) nonprofit. And Chris, I had to strip out something from your sig line that can be deemed advertising, sorry to be a grinch.
Hope you all can tolerate the moderation; it's common with new members as we all figure each other out. Wonderful to see you here and don't hesitate to jump in with opinions, focused on voting rights and fair elections.
NOTE: If posts are moved, the quickest way to find them is to click the "new today" link in left column. If it was posted in the last 24 hours, it will show up there. |
Bev Harris
Board Administrator
Username: Admin
Post Number: 7429
Registered: 12-2004
Best of Black Box? N/A
Votes: 0 (A keeper?) | | Posted on Thursday, January 10, 2008 - 5:48 am: |
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To Joseph Tucker: I was told that "sale / CND" stands for sale of controlled narcotic drugs |
Mike LaBonte
Voting Rights Forum Participant
Username: Mike_labonte
Post Number: 58
Registered: 12-2005
Best of Black Box? N/A
Votes: 0 (A keeper?) | | Posted on Thursday, January 10, 2008 - 6:21 am: |
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I thought Sale / CND was "Could not deliver".
(Message edited by Mike_LaBonte on January 10, 2008) |
Joel Morine
Voting Rights Forum Participant
Username: Erased
Post Number: 13
Registered: 1-2008
Best of Black Box? N/A
Votes: 0 (A keeper?) | | Posted on Thursday, January 10, 2008 - 6:23 am: |
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As per my comment elsewhere, pls be cautious re: statements like...
"Yes, these are the cards Hajjar totes in trunk."
...which is accurate, but placed where it is it can be taken to mean 'cards programmed as those in the Hursti hack (and Florida fraud)'.
Everything you've done here tells me the ambiguity, the inference it invites, was inadvertent, that you meant they are the same type of memory cards, let's investigate what was on them. That won't matter if yr comment can be used to reinforce the 'hyperactive conspiracy theorist' imagery some elements of media have worked decades to build.
It is very apt to juxtapose the Hursti hack and the cards in the trunk -- to point out the significance of carrying the cards on election day, and the significance of mid-election card-swapping. But at this point we need to be asking/investigating what was on the specific cards in his trunk ... and not (even) seeming to state the cards in his trunk were programmed for fraud.
There are enough big points here without the pt inferred there, and alert folk will ask that question w/o your doing so.
There is an urge out there among those working to falsify elections, and media aiming to protect such, to pounce on, cherry-pick, and spotlight any instance where you can be made to sound as if you over-played anything at all, to discredit you with that (... despite the fact that overplaying false impressions they manufacture is an almost daily activity of their own, where their fortunes are made.) The media will lie about your track record, too few folk will investigate it themselves.
Nor will it matter if those cards WERE programmed for fraud. If they were, the next step will be to not (or ineffectively, or whitewashingly) investigate them. If they weren't fraud cards, they'll be glad to investigate them to 'prove' (inaptly with one example) that all election fraud evidence is equally phony, not worth looking at. They will publicize your work as soon as they can do so in a way that 'proves' (just as inaptly) that it never deserved to be looked at, which will be as soon as they can paint it as just one more example reinforcing all the prior examples of 'hyperactive conspiracy theorists'
As I said, I expect you will be set up for something like that.
Not to be paranoid. These are, historically, JustUsSystem Standard Operating Procedures used over and over again in the past in analagous situations.
Great work (once again!) to get this out where folk willing to can see it.
I second Joseph Tucker's question: "what is 'sale/CND'? |
Barry Snyder
Voting Rights Forum Participant
Username: Mrb398
Post Number: 1
Registered: 1-2008
Best of Black Box? N/A
Votes: 0 (A keeper?) | | Posted on Thursday, January 10, 2008 - 6:37 am: |
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I find it insane that executive of a voting machine company were nto subjected to a background check. I mean, come on... we are suposed to trust these people with handling a part of our electoral process.
(Message edited by MrB398 on January 10, 2008) |
David Evans
Voting Rights Forum Participant
Username: Maxx
Post Number: 2
Registered: 1-2008
Best of Black Box? N/A
Votes: 0 (A keeper?) | | Posted on Thursday, January 10, 2008 - 6:47 am: |
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Bev, I understand and respect your point. I have been posting on boards that are either for a particular candidate or just general message boards. BTW I found out about you yesterday from the Alex Jones show. I was searching on what really happened in New Hampshire as the polling results before the election was wildly off from the "result" of the vote.
Yesterday I got absolutely nothing done. I was in shock by the enormity of what happened and the implication of this going deep into the establishment. I wonder if a class five STORM is about to happen or just a shrug of the shoulders? |
Bev Harris
Board Administrator
Username: Admin
Post Number: 7431
Registered: 12-2004
Best of Black Box? N/A
Votes: 0 (A keeper?) | | Posted on Thursday, January 10, 2008 - 6:56 am: |
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Joel,
quote:But at this point we need to be asking/investigating what was on the specific cards in his trunk ... and not (even) seeming to state the cards in his trunk were programmed for fraud.
No. At this point we need to stop the practice of secret chain of custody. Period.
Anything else puts an ureasonable and unsustainable burden on the citizenry. |
Bev Harris
Board Administrator
Username: Admin
Post Number: 7432
Registered: 12-2004
Best of Black Box? N/A
Votes: 0 (A keeper?) | | Posted on Thursday, January 10, 2008 - 7:01 am: |
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David Evans,
I am still needing a screen shot from the CNN coverage with the Republican pie chart. I saw this myself, and it persisted for the entire night.
That is the single most egregious and documentable instance of journalism fraud I have seen yet. If you can find ANYONE within your circle of influence who can capture some of those CNN images I will run it as a major story.
Understand how serious this is: It is an example of the mainstream press taking aggressive steps to censor a candidate's name out of the results. |
Bev Harris
Board Administrator
Username: Admin
Post Number: 7433
Registered: 12-2004
Best of Black Box? N/A
Votes: 0 (A keeper?) | | Posted on Thursday, January 10, 2008 - 7:26 am: |
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The Rockingham County courthouse offices are now open and they are tracking back what "sale CND" meant in 1990.
Sale of candy, you think?
The statement that it was narcotics-related came from a source I interviewed; I specifically listed this as "sale CND" while awaiting corroboration from the county courthouse, which is not as easy as it sounds because apparently this is not the abbreviation currently in use. Regardless, the specifics of this should have been disclosed to the secretary of state, and the public records requests I've done should elicit what was asked and what was disclosed. |
Trenton Brodie
Voting Rights Forum Participant
Username: Doubledown
Post Number: 2
Registered: 1-2008
Best of Black Box? N/A
Votes: 0 (A keeper?) | | Posted on Thursday, January 10, 2008 - 7:52 am: |
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Boggles the mind, doesn't it?!! 
Convicted felons (you wouldn't get 1 yr sentence for a 1st time misdemeanor) solely responsible for rigging, ***cough cough***, I mean, er, running  the elections in that many states! My guess is CND is narcotics code or something to do with something Canadian.
I haven't made up my mind yet on a candidate, but you have to love how blatant they are when they don't even SAY the words "Ron Paul" on MSM election reporting. They really only talk about who comes in 1st or 2nd, not who gained or lost the most ground. Apparently, he's just a gray pie slice that happens to be beating Rudy Giuliani. What did they label his slice as..."Other"? |
Giuseppe Abatangelo
Voting Rights Forum Participant
Username: Guice
Post Number: 1
Registered: 1-2008
Best of Black Box?
Votes: 1 (A keeper?) | | Posted on Thursday, January 10, 2008 - 9:03 am: |
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To Bev....
For years i have been watching and waiting for issues like this to be broken wide open and instilled in minds of every american in this country. Unfortunately this is not the case and it saddens me deeply. You face these crimes against our constitution, our freedom and even our humanity, and yet it is not mainstream as of yet to the extent that it should be where people will finally realize that they are and have been lied to every time they step foot in a voting booth? I ask you how we stop this madness?
ARe investigations and blogs going to be enough?
Do we have the proper visibility in the public eye to where we can be considred legitimate and not be labeled as conspiracy theories? People actually get offended when i bring up this issue because they take it as an insult to the political system that they beleive in. They have already separated themself from being able to find the truth and it is because of this fact that it might be too late.....so what then? A revolution? I can tell you that if these sort of things occured in countries where the people take pride in government because they actually have power, they would riot in the streets and not allow themselves to be subdued anymore.
You have been fighting for so long bev and i respect you for that in the highest sense. I am a new member to this site and am willing to not only donate my time but my life if that is what it comes down to because liberty, justice, and freedom will prevail. It is important that they do for the good of all humanity and not just US citizens. Let me know what it is a regular 55 hour work week, deep in debt american can do and i will try my best to do it and once i have economic freedom and can detach myself from the grips of corporate america....i would love someday to shake your hand and fight right by your side. |
Rebecca Jones
Voting Rights Forum Participant
Username: Rebecca_jones
Post Number: 1
Registered: 1-2008
Best of Black Box?
Votes: 1 (A keeper?) | | Posted on Thursday, January 10, 2008 - 10:18 am: |
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Bev, a member (joseph tucker) posted a link to a screenshot of the CNN pie chart yesterday.
http://www.bbvforums.org/cgi-bin/forums/show.cgi?tpc=1954&post=39632#POST39632
In addition, I found a Youtube video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgUY6fpV6Nk where the user filmed the chart while viewing it on his televison. He also added a jpg image http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g227/jimohio/DSC02575.jpg of the chart.
The clip shows not only the republican chart, but also the democrat's chart where CNN did include candidates with a lower percentage of votes than the gray portion of the GOP chart.} |
Joel Morine
Voting Rights Forum Participant
Username: Erased
Post Number: 18
Registered: 1-2008
Best of Black Box? N/A
Votes: 0 (A keeper?) | | Posted on Thursday, January 10, 2008 - 10:19 am: |
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Bev,
re: "No. At this point we need to stop the practice of secret chain of custody. Period"
Apologies for my poor phrasing (while urging more cautious phrasing from you, no less). Your focus has been right on target for a long time (nor do I presume to judge or criticize given your track record, of which I'm in awe).
I've no doubt I'll make such errors again; for which apologies in advance. I'd already made a commitment to follow my own advice on subjects I was adressing yesterday; but your point reinforces the need. I don't wish to add distractions.
Hope the spirit of the larger point I was trying to make was apt to your purposes. |
Catherine Ansbro
Frequent Voting Rights Forum Participant
Username: Catherine_a
Post Number: 4300
Registered: 12-2004
Best of Black Box? N/A
Votes: 0 (A keeper?) | | Posted on Thursday, January 10, 2008 - 10:27 am: |
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Rebecca,
Thanks very much for those links. |
Rebecca Jones
Voting Rights Forum Participant
Username: Rebecca_jones
Post Number: 2
Registered: 1-2008
Best of Black Box? N/A
Votes: 0 (A keeper?) | | Posted on Thursday, January 10, 2008 - 10:57 am: |
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Glad I could help. I just found a few more...
http://img167.imageshack.us/my.php?image=nhresultscnnod1.jpg
http://mattstooks.com/?p=1219
(http://mattstooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/demresults010308.jpg
http://mattstooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/repubresults010308.jpg) |
Catherine Ansbro
Frequent Voting Rights Forum Participant
Username: Catherine_a
Post Number: 4303
Registered: 12-2004
Best of Black Box? N/A
Votes: 0 (A keeper?) | | Posted on Thursday, January 10, 2008 - 12:54 pm: |
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Gee, that first one with "Other" 87% sure is interesting. I wonder who that might be?
Thanks for posting these. |
Bev Harris
Board Administrator
Username: Admin
Post Number: 7435
Registered: 12-2004
Best of Black Box? N/A
Votes: 0 (A keeper?) | | Posted on Thursday, January 10, 2008 - 3:04 pm: |
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CITIZENS ROCK. There is now a video at YouTube showing the journalism fraud by CNN.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgUY6fpV6Nk |
Mike LaBonte
Voting Rights Forum Participant
Username: Mike_labonte
Post Number: 61
Registered: 12-2005
Best of Black Box? N/A
Votes: 0 (A keeper?) | | Posted on Thursday, January 10, 2008 - 3:24 pm: |
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Bev, I think that YouTube entry needs a little more text, at least to say that the dark blue slice was Ron Paul and what his percentage was at that time. Some people might not understand the video alone. |
Mike LaBonte
Voting Rights Forum Participant
Username: Mike_labonte
Post Number: 64
Registered: 12-2005
Best of Black Box? N/A
Votes: 0 (A keeper?) | | Posted on Thursday, January 10, 2008 - 8:14 pm: |
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This story has spread to quite a few places. Unfortunately they are passing on the idea that the charges against Hajjar were drug related, which I don't think is substantiated. And some of the stories are combining this with "massive vote fraud in NH", which I think Bev has been pretty careful to avoid claiming. |
Bruce Wood
Voting Rights Forum Participant
Username: Bwoodnz
Post Number: 1
Registered: 1-2008
Best of Black Box? N/A
Votes: 0 (A keeper?) | | Posted on Thursday, January 10, 2008 - 11:43 pm: |
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I think your analysis is based on an erroneous assumption that the distribution of hand-counted votes should be the same as that of machine-counted votes. This is, I believe generally not true. Paper ballots (when used in precincts where machines are used) are frequently absentee ballots and absentee voters historically tend to be more politically "polarised" (committed) than those who vote on election day. |
Bev Harris
Board Administrator
Username: Admin
Post Number: 7438
Registered: 12-2004
Best of Black Box?
Votes: 1 (A keeper?) | | Posted on Thursday, January 10, 2008 - 11:52 pm: |
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Hi Bruce, and welcome to Black Box Voting. Can you point to the analysis pertaining to hand count vs. machine counted here in this thread? It is about inside access and a criminal record. I have avoided conclusions about the hand count vs machine count until more comprehensive analysis is complete. That is well along, and indeed it is indicating that there was a problem, but that's another story.
New Hampshire has hand counted paper ballots in half its towns, and those don't use machines at all. It's not about absentees. |
Bev Harris
Board Administrator
Username: Admin
Post Number: 7449
Registered: 12-2004
Best of Black Box? N/A
Votes: 0 (A keeper?) | | Posted on Friday, January 11, 2008 - 10:45 am: |
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Mike, I do have a confirm on the charge for Ken Hajjar. The offense was distribution of cocaine and the plea was part of a plea bargain -- this is from one source that has provided solid information in the past, and I have not yet got a double confirm on it, though someone called to let me know they've faxed me a document -- haven't found it yet, but I have 2000 emails in my box and many interruptions. |
Joe Knee
Voting Rights Forum Participant
Username: Cheesphht
Post Number: 1
Registered: 1-2008
Best of Black Box? N/A
Votes: 0 (A keeper?) | | Posted on Friday, January 11, 2008 - 12:06 pm: |
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I'm sorry for this obvious question but I have yet to hear how they would run a recount from a black box that would be credible. It seems to me unless it spits out a paper record that the voter can a) get an identifying number that he can match with a chart when the recount happens and b) of course verify in the first place that what/who he voted for actually is on the paper that he can read.
It seems to me that at the very least if these two things aren't done - how can the recount be validated and how can it be certified? I mean who in the world would actually certify something that doesn't meet these criss-cross checks?
It also seems to me that this whole thing is set up to fail or at the very least be rigged. It certainly isn't set up with anyone that has the least idea/care of legitimacy. These elections and primaries that ever have used these boxes should be declared invalid. |
Bev Harris
Board Administrator
Username: Admin
Post Number: 7453
Registered: 12-2004
Best of Black Box? N/A
Votes: 0 (A keeper?) | | Posted on Friday, January 11, 2008 - 12:31 pm: |
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Hi Joe, and welcome to Black Box Voting!
These are optical scan machines which interpret paper ballots. Therefore, the public counting of the paper ballots and the public chain of custody becomes the focus.
In South Carolina, one of the next primaries, we're looking at paperless touch-screens. |
Joe Knee
Voting Rights Forum Participant
Username: Cheesphht
Post Number: 2
Registered: 1-2008
Best of Black Box? N/A
Votes: 0 (A keeper?) | | Posted on Friday, January 11, 2008 - 12:36 pm: |
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ok, I saw the YouTube up on top of this page. They didn't do very well did they?
The touch screens are what I saw on some other video - how do they secure a recount then?
Thanks for all you do. |
Bev Harris
Board Administrator
Username: Admin
Post Number: 7456
Registered: 12-2004
Best of Black Box?
Votes: 1 (A keeper?) | | Posted on Friday, January 11, 2008 - 1:18 pm: |
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[From citizen Steve J. who is helping document information in New Hampshire]
quote:Original Message ----
From: "Brodeur, Paul"
Thursday, January 10, 2008 1:23:44 PM
Subject: LHS Asso.
I am not aware of LHS nor Ken. If you wish to forward the material I will get it to the proper persons.
Paul. E. Brodeur, Chief Investigator
Department of Justice
Office of the Attorney General
33 Capitol Steet
Concord, NH 03301
quote:From: "Brodeur, Paul"
Sent: Thursday, January 10, 2008 2:13:04 PM
Subject: RE: LHS Asso.
I have discussed this material with the Attorneys that oversee the election matters. They are aware of LHS and the prior record. I can advise you that it would be rather difficult to swap out memory cards during an election in that they are secured with a tamper proof security tab and the computer is locked within a cabinet.
But if there is someone that has first hand information of this taking place please have them contact our office and we will look into the matter.
Thank you for your concern and assistance.
Paul. E. Brodeur, Chief Investigator
Department of Justice
Office of the Attorney General
33 Capitol Steet
Concord, NH 03301
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V. Kurt Bellman
Frequent Voting Rights Forum Participant
Username: Formerelecdir
Post Number: 1822
Registered: 4-2006
Best of Black Box?
Votes: 1 (A keeper?) | | Posted on Friday, January 11, 2008 - 3:16 pm: |
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Bev,
About "swapping out cards":
There are TWO SCENARIOS where something that could be called "swapping out cards" would not only be understandable, but NECESSARY. But one would NOT be the kind of "swapping out cards" that would involve cards being transported about on Election Day in someone's trunk. The other would.
I think it is IMPORTANT to look at the CORRECT uses of "swapping out cards".
Case one: an OS machine starts up just fine, but starts failing mid-day. Keep in mind that ballots are being counted ALL DAY, not just at the close of polls. They are counted in an "as cast" manner. If the machine craps out, the technician must bring in a new machine, and dig the memory card out of the failed machine, and install it in the new one. One might call that "swapping out cards".
Case two: A machine fails to boot properly. A diagnostic could be run to determine that the failure is not in the machine, but the card. The appropriate rememdy is to reprogram a new blank card with the correct ballot definition for that polling site, and install it in the machine.
What should not EVER (for any reason I can think of) be done is program a new card mid-day, unless you plan to run BOTH cards at the end of the day - the one with the early votes, and the one with the late votes. On my Danaher system, that could be done, but in involves a whole new machine, because each machine number must have one and only one cartridge assigned to it. |
Mike LaBonte
Voting Rights Forum Participant
Username: Mike_labonte
Post Number: 67
Registered: 12-2005
Best of Black Box?
Votes: 1 (A keeper?) | | Posted on Friday, January 11, 2008 - 7:30 pm: |
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Kurt describes standard card swapping policy well. One omission is that programming a new card necessitates a full test of a machine with the card in it, using one of the test decks that all other machines/cards were tested with, and comparing to the manual tally of the test deck. This test is required by law.
We program 2 cards in advance for each machine. Both cards are tested and the backups are locked up by the clerk. If a machine fails to boot in the morning, the pre-tested backup card may solve the problem. As Kurt points out, if a machine dies after votes have been counted you can try the card in another machine, but you don't switch cards at that point. If a new scanner doesn't fix it you store the uncounted ballots in a special ballot box compartment and hand count at the end of the day. This happens.
I think the idea of creating backup cards in advance originated with LHS, so it is possible that CT & NH have done the same. On the other hand I was surprised at all the CT complaints about talk of card swapping, where it was never said whether the "cards in the trunk" were pre-tested backups. |
Bev Harris
Board Administrator
Username: Admin
Post Number: 7469
Registered: 12-2004
Best of Black Box? N/A
Votes: 0 (A keeper?) | | Posted on Friday, January 11, 2008 - 7:54 pm: |
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Mike,
Do you have a vice president contest on your Massachusetts primary ballot?
As I understand it you do have other races besides the presidential, like local contests etc, is that right? Same ballot? |
Mike LaBonte
Voting Rights Forum Participant
Username: Mike_labonte
Post Number: 68
Registered: 12-2005
Best of Black Box? N/A
Votes: 0 (A keeper?) | | Posted on Friday, January 11, 2008 - 9:01 pm: |
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I haven't seen the ballots yet. As I recall we don't vote for Vice President in primaries, and these web pages indicate that President and party committees will be on the ballots:
http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/eleidx.htm
http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/elepres/presorder.htm
I have never seen an election with more than one ballot here in MA, so I'm sure they will once again be on the same ballot. |
Bev Harris
Board Administrator
Username: Admin
Post Number: 7471
Registered: 12-2004
Best of Black Box?
Votes: 2 (A keeper?) | | Posted on Friday, January 11, 2008 - 11:30 pm: |
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I'm a bit tired to do a full new story, so I'll just post a couple updates here.
The charges against Hajjar were for cocaine distribution, to clear that up.
A citizen formerly of Londonderry sent me this complaint which she says she filed against Hajjar with the New Hampshire Attorney General's office:
 |
rush
Voting Rights Forum Participant
Username: Grimawormtongue
Post Number: 2
Registered: 1-2008
Best of Black Box? N/A
Votes: 0 (A keeper?) | | Posted on Thursday, January 17, 2008 - 8:37 am: |
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Its really time for Private Companies to get out of Public Elections. |
meglia white
Voting Rights Forum Participant
Username: Meglia
Post Number: 1
Registered: 3-2008
Best of Black Box? N/A
Votes: 0 (A keeper?) | | Posted on Sunday, March 23, 2008 - 7:45 am: |
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In many counties, the board of elections is requiring a paper record of each person's vote. But, if the computer prints the paper record, it is still open to manipulation.
There is no reason for voting machine manufacturers to hire felons. Typical pre-employment background search include include: Verification of identity, SSN, employment history, education, and address history. Checks State and county criminal records, sexual offender, terrorist watch, credit check, bankruptcy. Federal criminal records Matched by name & birthday. Employers can get http://backgroundsearch.com employment background search reports in 2 days, with the criminal background check available immediately. So there is not excuse for convicted criminals building voting machines that can return unfair elections results. Elections are too important, because the results affect millions of people. |
Bev Harris
Board Administrator
Username: Admin
Post Number: 7774
Registered: 12-2004
Best of Black Box? N/A
Votes: 0 (A keeper?) | | Posted on Sunday, March 23, 2008 - 8:42 am: |
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Hi, Meglia, and welcome to Black Box Voting.
New Hampshire state officials were aware of Hajjar's criminal record, but allows LHS Associates to be the sole programmer of their memory cards anyway. |
