Ohio Sec of State Installs Experimental Election Software on Polling Machines

So it doesn't affect the tabulation or casting of ballots, just the reporting? Color me sceptical. I'm also curious to know which lucky precincts get this nice little software update. I wonder if they just happen to roll out to majority Dem counties.

 

These guys are so desperate its sad.

Last-Minute Ohio Directive Could Trash Legal Votes And Swing The Election
By Judd Legum on Nov 3, 2012 at 4:10 pm

A last-minute directive issued by Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted (R) could invalidate legal provisional ballots. Ohio is widely viewed as the most critical state for both presidential campaigns and — with some polls showing a close race — the 11th-hour move could swing the entire election.
The directive, issued Friday, lays out the requirements for submitting a provisional ballot. The directive includes a form which puts the burden on the voter to correctly record the form of ID provided to election officials. Husted also instructed election officials that if the form is not filled out correctly by a voter, the ballot should not be counted.

According to a lawsuit filed by voting rights advocates, this is “contrary to a court decision on provisional ballots a week ago and contrary to statements made by attorneys for Husted at an Oct. 24 court hearing.”
Indeed, it also appears directly contrary to Ohio law. From the lawsuit:
Ohio Rev. Code § 3505.181(B)(6) provides that, once a voter casting a provisional ballot proffers identification, “the appropriate local election official shall record the type of identification provided, the social security number information, the fact that the affirmation was executed, or the fact that the individual declined to execute such an affirmation and include that information with the transmission of the ballot . . . .” (Emphasis added.)
The law “ensures that any questions regarding a voter’s identification are resolved on the spot or, consistent with due process, the voter is informed that he or she needs to provide additional information to the board of elections. This protects the integrity of the voting process, and provides a reasonable opportunity to resolve deficiencies.”
The last-minute directive changes this and switches the burden to the voter, greatly increasing the chances that legal provisional ballots will be discarded.
The court gave Husted until Monday to respond to the lawsuit and indicated it will resolve the dispute before provisional ballots are counted on November 17.
Husted has also tried to limit voting in Ohio by reducing early voting hours.

http://thinkprogress.org/election/2...legal-votes-and-swing-the-election/?mobile=nc

 

"Hey, I've got an idea! Let's roll out some experimental software a few days before a contentious election in a battleground state that will put all the voting results on a thumb drive which can be easily lost, damaged, or tampered with. What could possibly go wrong?"

 

Obama seems prepared but who wants to see the elections decided in a courtroom again. If it happens again the US will lose a lot of credibility.

Obama Has 2500 Lawyers On The Ground In Ohio


November 3, 2012 | 6:00PM EDT

As we all know, the zeal of Republican Governors in the Battle ground states has been a serious cause for concern for all of us. They have tampered with the state elections laws now for 2+ years (OH, FL, VA, ..), trying to shape it to favor their constituency and disenfranchise Democratic voters.

As we get closer and closer to election night, prudence and vigilance are of the highest order. Don't let yourself bullied by Romney people at the polls and know your rights.

With all the polls now converging to give the president a clear path to victory, there is absolutely no doubt, how the Republicans are planning to win these elections.

They have done it before (2000 in FL) and they are determined to do it again. They have shows us that they have no shame. They have no conscience. They don't care about the people. They are determined to win BY ALL MEANS NECESSARY.

It is imperative that the Administration, the Voters and everyone involved be very vigilant about what goes on, as you get ready to cast your vote.

We already know that Romney has an army of ill-trained polls workers.
We already know that the RNC has hired dubious companies to throw away ballots of registered voters.

We already know how the Right Wing media tried to de-legitimize Obama's victory in 2008 by blaming ACORN. And they will do it again.
Just watch Fox News or listen to any right wing media.

The Obama team has dispatched thousands of lawyers to Ohio and are ready to get to work for the American People.

If you hit any problems while voting, make sure to document it and contact the OFA team nearest you. Research prior to going to the polls and have them on speed dial, if needed.

Let's get our people to the polls on Election Night. Let's make sure we remain vigilant and vote. And let's make sure our vote counts.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/11/03/1154931/-Obama-has-2500-lawyers-on-the-ground-in-Ohio

 

I'm getting increasingly pissed off about all this ****.

 

Then don't read this:

http://harpers.org/archive/2012/11/how-to-rig-an-election/?single=1

 

Republicans play dirty. If not this election, they will win future elections at whatever costs it takes.

Corruption on so many levels. Our congress, our voting system, officials. This is how great powers turn to failed states.

 

Ehh you do realize both sides do this.

 

Both sides do not own the companies that make and control the voting machines. see Ohio 2004

 

Bull ****.

 

Sigh!!!! I guess there has to be some kind of excuse for Obama losing. It is really shameful how Democrats drum up this crap every election. I hope Romney wins by enough to make these stupid conspiracy theories mute.

 

not conspiracy. they just admitted installing something which not has been tested.

 

VOTER FRAUD!!! ACORN!!! BLACK PANTHERS!!!

 

Why not test this in Texas... Why a battleground state.

 

Because there's a hardcore segment of true believer Republicans like husted who think that there is a widespread conspiracy which explains the difference between the world as it is, and the way he wishes it to be. This, in their mind, justifies all of the suppression/manipulation shenanigans. They're not suppresssing, they're righting a wrong, and they have God on their side, yada yada yada.

Oh, and also, f- those people, they are idiots. This isn't a sign of partisan division either. There's no bipartisan way to bridge a gap with conspiracy theorists who make up their own facts.

 

People get too crazy with the election conspiracy stuff. I don't buy that this software patch is a problem. It seems more likely that they're trying to make their operations run more smoothly.

 

JV, I'm just angry in general about the obvious attempts to suppress the vote. Voting should be one of the easiest things an American can do.

 

What I don't understand is, why do any experiement during a presidential election when there are many local elections, with less ballots to tabulate, that you can try with instead?

Even if there are no bad intentions, why the hell do you bother? Between this and Romney owning a share of the voting machines, do they want there to be a clusterf*** that will drag the election out again? I mean, even if Romney wins Ohio fair and square, we're probably going to see lawsuits galore because of this crap.

 

you know that any new or changed software needs to be tested first right?