Columnist Koehler Again Addresses Election Problems By E&P Staff Published: June 15, 2006 11:00 AM ET
NEW YORK Tribune Media Services columnist Bob Koehler -- one of the few syndicated writers to comment on GOP election shenanigans during the past couple of years -- did another column on that subject today.
This time it was about the election to pick a successor to disgraced former Rep. Randall "Duke" Cunningham (R-Calif.). Republican Brian Bilbray edged Democrat Lorraine Busby, or did he?
Koehler wrote: "In San Diego County, the voting registrar, Mikel Haas, apparently following time-honored custom (or whatever), sent machines and other equipment home with poll workers for as much as a week before the June 6 election, to be stored in living rooms, garages, etc., shattering all control over these insecure machines... . Some of the poll workers themselves were incredulous and contacted L.A.-based blogger and democracy maven Brad Friedman... . Friedman sounded the alarm to his readers, which is how I found out about it."
The columnist added: "People across the political spectrum have begun waking up to the immense risks posed by electronic voting. For instance, conservative CNN commentator Lou Dobbs recently weighed in that, 'The security of our elections and the integrity of our democracy is in jeopardy. Nationwide, there is concern and even alarm that electronic voting machines are simply too easily compromised and vulnerable to fraud.' And Diebold machines, which were decertified in California at one point, are probably the most controversial of all. Computer experts given even brief access to a Diebold machine have demonstrated how easily it can be hacked, with election-changing results."
Koehler concluded: "(L)ike others who have looked on appalled at the procedural sloppiness of this election, I have no confidence in Bilbray's 4,732-vote 'victory' over Busby. Worse, I fear that democracy in the electronic era is in the hands of people who regard it as more trouble than it's worth."
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