Hacking Democracy - Make Sure Your Vote Matters!

by Robert Wilkinson

In typical Mercury Retrograde fashion, today we'll revisit something past and present. America's voting machines continue to be hacked, and a few bad people are controlling the outcome of many of America's elections. It's worse than you think....

This is not a new thing. I posted dozens of in-depth articles on the various ways election machines and results can be manipulated on my now-extinct political blog, "Political Physics." There is extensive evidence that every American election since 2004 using electronic vote machines has to one degree or another been cooked to favor certain Republican candidates on many levels of government.

I bring this up every election season, since it directly affects who is running our country. Not just the US, but Canada and anywhere else in the world that uses electronic vote machines provided by Diebold, Sequoia, ESS, or any other manufacturer.

These machines all have past and present records of inaccuracy, from serious to disastrous. Later in this article I have several very interesting videos showing these machines can be manipulated to give wrong vote counts.

I found the inside skinny on the latest failed election via the ever-vigilant BradBlog in the article "Ten Candidates File Suit as 'Massive Improprieties, Tampering' Seen in Shelby County, TN, Election." One Election Watchdog stated, "Most brutal voter disenfranchisement, election tampering case we have witnessed yet..."

That Election Watchdog is none other than the estimable Bev Harris of BlackBoxVoting and Velvet Revolution. These two organizations, along with BradBlog, are attempting to make sure that elections are determined by who votes rather than those who manipulate the vote count in various ways.

From the BradBlog report by Bev Harris on the recent Nashville elections:

... she explained that over the past two weeks she and Pynchon "watched as [election officials] wheeled cartloads of computers out of the building. Thousands and thousands of votes don't add up...poll tapes in trash and much more."

"Even the candidates could not get their own results and were told they were 'not available,'" she wrote. "They certified [the elections] and STILL did not give out results until threatened by a lawyer and even then the results said 'unofficial'. There is hilarious video of repub lawyer shouting 'keep those women away from me!'"...

Harris wrote that "after 2 weeks of legal stalling they let us see 20 percent of [the] poll tapes [the records printed out by the electronic voting machines before and after close of polls, as signed by poll workers] yesterday but after those were found to be in - uh - 'disarray' they shut down any further inspections."

"This is basically like watching a 2 week bank robbery in process," she typed.

We now move into the bigger picture of the larger problem.

For a great example of how an Election official had his mind blown by being shown how a Diebold machine can easily be hacked and the vote changed, check out this segment of HBO's Emmy-nominated documentary Hacking Democracy. The process is very simple. (Here's the link to the "Hacking Democracy" website.)

Now for a scientific treat! Here's Experts Easily Reverse Diebold Results & No One Would Know. This clip shows Princeton researchers demonstrating how it's done.

Even Lou Dobbs has figured out what's up! From CNN, one of Dobb's guests shows us the 1 Minute Diebold Memory Hack, demonstrating it really doesn't take long to cook the results.

In some of my early research I found that besides the machines and their codes being easily hacked, elections are also vulnerable at the server level, with several possible points in the process where votes can be changed or totals manipulated. While poking around finding the videos linked up to now, I found a very interesting and fairly weird video showing how you can hack a remote server and alter whatever you want. Here's How to Hack Private Server's Voting System. (The music is "Paralyzer" by Finger Eleven)

So as we approach the time when we can exercise true democracy in action with our votes, please remember to use paper ballots when possible, and if you must use a touch screen machine, see if you can get a printout verifying that your true vote was recorded.

"It's not who votes that counts. It's who counts the votes." -- Joseph Stalin

Copyright © 2010 Robert Wilkinson

Comments

[Judy Crescenzo]

As part of the conscious community of whistle blowers, I'm concerned when only one side is shown in any arena. It makes for separation, for taking sides, rather than cleaning up the turf.

You aledge that voter fraud is being used on behalf of the Republican Party, and fail to mention the issues that have gotten Democrats elected that are questionable.
I can site many on both sides, but the real issue is fairness, and being a voice in the political world.

The truth is we aren't a real Democracy where every vote matters, that is a myth that is hard for people to learn. We are a Republic.

Let's clean up this mess together, it will happen quicker and more efficiently if we go at it with one mind rather than pointing fingers at one party or another.

My two cents.

[caliban]

Elected decision makers not of the people's choice. Uhhh how can current concerns be addressed and how can civilization move forward when leadership is not reflective of the people it is serving? It's a lose lose situation for sure.

[Robert]

Hi Judy - While I agree there has been some elements of fraud perpetuated by both sides across the years, there has never been a case of electronic machines erroneously breaking for Democrats but there have been hundreds of examples of Dem votes being assigned to Repubs. So to equate both as "equal" is a false equivalency. I also know of many questionable elections, but the machines have been or are all owned by openly Republican backers. As for the business of whether we are a Republic v Democracy, we find elements of each, such as direct election of Senators, as well as an overall element of fascism, which is state sponsored corporatism, of which both parties are but two heads of one totalitarian monster.

Hi Caliban - We need open source code with paper backup to verify that a vote cast is actually who it is cast for. While there were machinations in previous eras, this one has allowed the wholesale hijacking of numerous elections. As I noted, I've reported for years on specific examples of how these nefarious machines can be manipulated to dishonest ends very easily.

[JP]

Great stuff Robert.
You need to get this info on Wikileaks pronto!!!
Wikileaks, Wikileaks, Wikileaks, Wikileaks!

[mary streets]

Hello Robert, so much is hidden and corrupt in the world, this comes as no surprise. I found something on YouTube that I think you and your readers might enjoy. Go to "UFO Disclosure 2010 America Finally Admitting Aliens Are Among Us". It is a bit slow in the beginning, but the info...57 different kinds of aliens recorded as of 1989, and the pictures of crafts, some of which I have seen myself. Take a look. Mary

[caliban]

Hi Robert, per your comment. Since it is the "belief" on both sides of the aisle that hijacking is happening per Judy, I would think that everyone would support your idea of open source code with paper back for voter verification if that is what would successfully audit the election process. After all, in the US anyway, voting is a right. And rights are to be upheld and protected by law last I heard. Could you talk a little more about how the "open source code" works for this technologically challenged reader?

[caliban]

One final comment or so I say now, is that with the increase in electronic filings, I do believe we will always need to protect the confidential ballot on election day. Only because whipped up fanatics can do crazy inhumane actions to their perceived opponents. So when I go to the polls, my name is checked off by a human and I am given a ballot. I support the onfidential ballot to ensure voter participation and safety.

[Sara]

It's very interesting that the day after I read this article, on Aug.28th, an article appeared in the local newspaper saying that the building that has been housing the Harris County (think Houston, Texas) voting machines burned...and most of the voting machines are gone, right before elections. I don't normally subscribe to conspiracy theories, but this is a highly Democratic county in a highly Republican state where Houston's successful and highly popular former mayor is running as a Democrat for governor against the incumbant Republican. The arson investigation is inconslusive thus far. The voting authorities say they won't allow this to impede voting in any way, but it sure looks fishy.

Perhaps the best outcome would be paper ballots.

[Robert]

Hi all - BradBlog (linked at the right) is the main site always on top of these sorts of things, so by all means check in over there to find the latest in voting machine malfunctions and frauds, as well as many good articles debunking the assertion that "both sides do it." You will note that they almost NEVER cite a verified "fraud" connected to Democrats, but there have been hundreds of dirty tricks associated with the Republicans.

Dems WANT people to vote. Repubs try to purge rolls at every turn, often illegally. Dems try to register everyone they can, and it is a fact that ACORN was absolved of all allegations against them. Again, I once had many dozens of articles citing many sources for my assertions, and usually detractors resorted to ad hominem attacks due to a lack of concrete facts on their parts.

I'm sure Wikileaks has material on this, as BradBlog and BlackBoxVoting are quite reputable sources. You can find more about open source code technology via those sources. Or just use your favorite search engine!

And since we're not even the most intelligent or advanced Beings on our planet, I have no doubt there are far higher Intelligences that pervade our universe. It's just we're stuck with the worst government that money can buy.....

[Mary Streets]

The YouTube post I spoke about was "removed by user".....Doubtful.

[caliban]

This is indeed a serious problem. Many thanks to the hard woking folks watchdogging this process. I will check into my locale on blackbox. I'd suggest a moratorium on elections until the process is secured, but the moneys that be would probably find a way to use that to their advantage too.

The sad thing is I see this corruption in small-town town hall, workplace, and bio units. I am ever the unpopular Eris-ian in these matters. The behind the hand whisperers tell me stand up and fight, but where are they while I am getting shot down at town hall? I guess a whisper is better than complete silence.