House Dems ask GAO to investigate voting machines

[Guest guest]

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2004/11/6/2291/28711

 

House Dems ask GAO to investigate voting machines [it has began]

by lawnorder

Fri Nov 5th, 2004 at 23:29:01 PST

 

Finally!!!!

 

Loooong diary, I'm posting the whole thing under the fold

 

Dear Mr. Walker:

 

We write with an urgent request that the Government Accountability

Office immediately undertake an investigation of the efficacy of

voting machines and new technologies used in the 2004 election, how

election officials responded to difficulties they encountered and what

we can do in the future to improve our election systems and

administration.

 

In particular, we are extremely troubled by the following reports,

which we would also request that you review and evaluate for us:

 

In Columbus, Ohio, an electronic voting system gave President Bush

nearly 4,000 extra votes. " Machine Error Gives Bush Extra Ohio Votes, "

Associated Press, November 5.

 

An electronic tally of a South Florida gambling ballot initiative

failed to record thousands of votes. " South Florida OKs Slot Machines

Proposal, " Id.

 

 

Diaries :: lawnorder's diary ::

 

House Dems ask GAO to investigate voting machines [it has began]

 

November 5, 2004

 

The Honorable David M. Walker

 

Comptroller General of the United States

 

U.S. General Accountability Office

 

441 G Street, NW

 

Washington, DC 20548

 

Dear Mr. Walker:

 

We write with an urgent request that the Government Accountability

Office immediately undertake an investigation of the efficacy of

voting machines and new technologies used in the 2004 election, how

election officials responded to difficulties they encountered and what

we can do in the future to improve our election systems and

administration.

 

In particular, we are extremely troubled by the following reports,

which we would also request that you review and evaluate for us:

 

In Columbus, Ohio, an electronic voting system gave President Bush

nearly 4,000 extra votes. " Machine Error Gives Bush Extra Ohio Votes, "

Associated Press, November 5.

 

An electronic tally of a South Florida gambling ballot initiative

failed to record thousands of votes. " South Florida OKs Slot Machines

Proposal, " Id.

 

In one North Carolina county, more than 4,500 votes were lost because

officials mistakenly believed a computer that stored ballots could

hold more data that it did. " Machine Error Gives Bush Extra Ohio

Votes, " Id.

 

In San Francisco, a glitch occurred with voting machines software that

resulted in some votes being left uncounted. Id.

 

In Florida, there was a substantial drop off in Democratic votes in

proportion to voter registration in counties utilizing optical scan

machines that was apparently not present in counties using other

mechanisms. http://ustogether.org/election04/florida_vote_patt.htm

 

The House Judiciary Committee Democratic staff has received numerous

reports from Youngstown, Ohio that voters who attempted to cast a vote

for John Kerry on electronic voting machines saw that their votes were

instead recorded as votes for George W. Bush. In South Florida,

Congressman Wexler's staff received numerous reports from voters in

Palm Beach, Broward and Dade Counties that they attempted to select

John Kerry but George Bush appeared on the screen. CNN has reported

that a dozen voters in six states, particularly Democrats in Florida,

reported similar problems. This was among over one thousand such

problems reported. " Touchscreen Voting Problems Reported, " Associated

Press, November 5.

 

Excessively long lines were a frequent problem throughout the nation

in Democratic precincts, particularly in Florida and Ohio. In one Ohio

voting precinct serving students from Kenyon College, some voters were

required to wait more than eight hours to vote. " All Eyes on Ohio, "

Dan Lothian, CNN, November 3,

 

http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/blog/1...blog/index... .

 

We are literally receiving additional reports every minute and will

transmit additional information as it comes available. The essence of

democracy is the confidence of the electorate in the accuracy of

voting methods and the fairness of voting procedures. In 2000, that

confidence suffered terribly, and we fear that such a blow to our

democracy may have occurred in 2004.

 

Thank you for your prompt attention to this inquiry.

 

Sincerely,

 

John Conyers, Jr. Jerrold Nadler Robert Wexler

 

Ranking Member Ranking Member Member of Congress

 

House Judiciary Committee Subcommittee on the Constitution

 

cc: Hon. F. James Sensenbrenner

 

Chairman