Left In Lowell

Blue Mass Group reports on how Galvin is bringing in some of the problematic Diebold voting machines to Massachusetts, which will be available in 28 cities and towns to be tested by voters with disabilities as well as anyone else who cares to use them.

These machines have voter-verified paper trails but there are many documented problems with them, as Bonifaz’s former campaign manager points out.

Now, I know we have to comply with HAVA (the Help America Vote Act) - in fact I think we’re late in complying - but I’m disgusted with any state giving any money at all to this well-known shoddy company. In light of their failure to deal with their terrible, hackable software, and their machines breaking down all over the country causing all sorts of election problems, I would think Galvin would care a little more about the integrity of our elections.

Here’s some of my main beefs:

1. Optical scanners, such as are already in universal use across the Commonwealth, have a great track record of accurate vote counts. Except maybe for optical scanners made by Diebold…
2. Touch-screen machines have been highly documented as hackable, breakable, vulnerable, and insecure. The printouts are spotty, thermal printouts fade or jam, and the whole damn machine is expensive to boot. Tell me again why so many states went running out to buy them?
3. Language translation has to be done manually with linguists anyway, whether that’s for an electronic screen or for a paper ballot. So you don’t really save money on that accessibility front, do you? You might as well print paper ballot for such cases as a large minority population.
4. Nothing like a good ol’ marker on paper to try and figure out “voter intent” in case of a recount.
5. The major issue in accessible voting is for the blind or vision-impaired. In such cases, plugging into a headphone system would help them vote, hitting an appropriately-marked key to get their vote down. So why not print out an optical ballot result which can be put through the existing optical counters we already have? No screen is needed, they are blind!

I’m sorry, I have lost all respect for Galvin. I won’t be able to vote for him. He has once again refused to debate his opponent (Green Party candidate Jill Stein) and shows the same distaste for real democracy he always has. He’s also part of the hackocracy. The more I hear about him, the less I like him. I’m a real democrat - which is why Bill Galvin disappoints me so. I will probably pull the lever - or rather, mark the circle - for Stein. I want the best person for the job of protecting the integrity of our elections, and Galvin just ain’t the one.

And if you are in one of the 28 guinea pigs–er, communities–who’re getting these things in your polling places, refuse to use them. Read up on the problems with this model, and then call Galvin and tell him that he’s making a huge mistake. You can reach the Secretary of State Election Division at (617) 727-2828, fax them a letter at (617) 742-3238, or send them that letter at:

Secretary of the Commonwealth
Elections Division
McCormack Building, Room 1705
One Ashburton Place
Boston, MA 02108