READER COMMENTS ON

"UC Computer Scientists Release Video on How to Hack a Sequoia Touch-Screen Voting Machine"

(21 Responses so far...)





COMMENT #1 [Permalink]

... leftisbest said on 9/9/2008 @ 11:58 pm PT...





This is likely the most significant and damaging video of Sequoia ever published. It pulls the eyelids off all the lies Sequoia has manufactured about the problems being with voter-errors, poll worker errors, ROV staff errors, but NEVER with the incredibly primative "security" software and hardware barriers erected by Sequoia. Sequoia ALWAYS had the answer - it was to point the finger anywhere but at itself. It is time for Counties to rise up in unison and sue Sequoia for violation of warranty of merchantability and false advertising. It has never delivered a dependable product, has ALWAYS been extremely vulnerable to insider and Sequoia support fraud, yet seeing it demonstrated so blatantly here makes it all so easy to understand how an election can be flipped in a matter of seconds. Elections officials, Boards of Supervisors, and election integrity advocates should all be on the same side after viewing these two videos (one is 9 minutes and the second one is 7 minutes). It is really critical to stay and watch the second one as well, it shows how the hardware seals are useless against anyone bent on defeating the seals and shows how critical it is to have the machines 100% totally secured at all times. Any "sleepovers" where machines are stored in public locations (like public bathrooms in Riverside!), poll workers' homes and garages, etc. for up to 10 days or more before the election make them easy targets for any political operatives, of either party. The second video also shows how the Sequoia Optec 400 C high-speed programmable scanners are also easily (but with a bit more difficulty) hacked in a period of minutes. No longer can elections officials claim that it can't happen here, not with Sequoia equipment. This information was released a year ago in the Red Team report from the Secretary of State's office report, but only now are we seeing it demonstated so vividly. Seeing IS believing. And NO, it's not because they (the scientists) had access to all the Sequoia proprietary code and unlimited working time. So do the Sequoia technicians who offer "patches" to be installed whenever they say they are needed, without getting them approved by the Secretary of State. These "patches" could contain exactly the kind of trojan horses demonstrated in the video. And since the ROVs are not allowed to see the software, they are unwitting partners to any scam Sequoia choses to run. The gig is now up - electronic voting machines and electronic counting machines cannot be trusted - do not trust that which you cannot see. The ONLY way to ensure transparent, accurate and secure elections is to require all paper ballots and hand count them in the precincts on election night before they ever leave the precinct. Post the results with a copy going to the central tabulator (if one is still employed) and then match the hand count against the machine. Hand counts, done twice before ever leaving the precinct (performed by a fresh team of election board members) have a much higher likelihood of being correct than a hackable, manipulitable, programmable black box where no one can see the bits and bites whizzing around in cyberspace. Electrons and Elections don't mix.

COMMENT #2 [Permalink]

... ewastud said on 9/10/2008 @ 12:30 am PT...





It is frightening and hard to believe that our elections are still mostly at the mercy of such deliberately flawed technology and corrupt government officials.

COMMENT #3 [Permalink]

... JS said on 9/10/2008 @ 5:06 am PT...





An article on truthout says that the neocons are already getting ready to steal the vote in Ohio, there must be something that can be done to stop this madness.

COMMENT #4 [Permalink]

... Shakespurr said on 9/10/2008 @ 9:29 am PT...





This video is too slow, long and methodical to keep the viewer's attention. I am as rabid about this stuff as anyone, but I was getting bored with it. There needs to be an edited, punched-up version that is only two or three minutes long (with a link to the longer version, possibly).

COMMENT #5 [Permalink]

... leftisbest said on 9/10/2008 @ 11:19 am PT...





I agree with Shakespurr. It is WAY too long. We don't need to see the "voter" punching every possible vote in every scenario. We get the idea. It can cut to the chase on each of the scenarios, and get the second video contents onto the shortened one b/c it shows the ease with which the seals are defeated and how the Optech 400-C can be compromised. Otherwise the media won't do squat with it. Who do we need to get to to see about shortening this up and reissuing it?

COMMENT #6 [Permalink]

... Leftist said on 9/10/2008 @ 12:28 pm PT...





So why don't the Dems just do their own hacking? We're going to lose a game where the other side cheats and all we can do is raise our hand and meekly say "Hey, they're cheating, no really..."

COMMENT #7 [Permalink]

... Bruce Sims said on 9/10/2008 @ 12:39 pm PT...





So what does Bowen say about this? What is the EAC doing about it? Long story short, what are those 'in charge' of ensuring the integrity of the vote doing to address this issue because it is not only Sequoia but the other vendor machines as well?

COMMENT #8 [Permalink]

... Mugzi said on 9/10/2008 @ 2:59 pm PT...





I say fight fire with fire...I say, I say!

COMMENT #9 [Permalink]

... Brad Friedman said on 9/10/2008 @ 3:16 pm PT...





"Leftist" asked: So why don't the Dems just do their own hacking? Because that would be illegal.

COMMENT #10 [Permalink]

... leorising said on 9/10/2008 @ 5:37 pm PT...





What this country needs is several hundred dedicated, reasonably computer-savvy folks with nothing to lose, who will hack voting machines on election day and then confess. This would be a guaranteed way to 1)ensure recounts of the 11/4/8 vote, and 2)bring to light the ridiculous ease with which one may steal an election. Of course, the brave hackers would also be prosecuted for voter fraud. Which could be a bummer, I suppose. Now is the time for all good hackers, crackers, and phreaks to come to the aid of their party. Dear Fatherland Homeland Security, the above is intended to use sarcasm and exaggeration to illustrate the plight of the endangered legitimate, counted vote in US elections. I don't actually expect, nor would I encourage, any person to hack an election on a lark. We all know it is serious business --- ask Wally O'Dell. I would never dream of doing that. So please don't kill me, 'kay?

COMMENT #11 [Permalink]

... HelenWheels said on 9/10/2008 @ 6:17 pm PT...





This is from Citizens for a Legitimate Gov't (who I've found to be 100% reliable): Lose your house, lose your vote --Michigan Republicans plan to foreclose African American voters By Eartha Jane Melzer 10 Sep 2008 The chairman of the Republican Party in Macomb County Michigan, a key swing county in a key swing state, is planning to use a list of foreclosed homes to block people from voting in the upcoming election as part of the state GOP’s effort to challenge some voters on Election Day. "We will have a list of foreclosed homes and will make sure people aren't voting from those addresses," party chairman James Carabelli told Michigan Messenger in a telephone interview earlier this week. WTF!! So now people who have been put out on the street by the bush administration can no longer vote? My head is spinning!!

COMMENT #12 [Permalink]

... Gadfly Sorta said on 9/10/2008 @ 7:06 pm PT...





Retail commerce really solved the problem of accurate record long ago by the expedient of giving the client a hand-held receipt which had to match the record of the machine. HAVA mandates the paper record (See Section 301(a)(2)(B)(i)), so if voters bring their receipts to the neighborhood precinct when the polls close, and match their receipts to the individual records of the machine, it's an adequate audit. If discrepancies result in fines to the BoE, to be rendered to the offended voter, that should encourage voters to bring in their receipts for matching. It still isn't too late to win election integrity. A writ of mandamus from the Supreme Court would do it. Perhaps you can help the following proposal along? With original jurisdiction in an election fraud lawsuit against the President and a writ of

mandamus within that lawsuit, the Supreme Court (minus Bush appointees Roberts and

Alito) could, before November, order all Boards of Election to guarantee election

integrity with public audit and, in view of the home foreclosure crisis, Election Day

registration. Dear Friend, The advantage of a writ of mandamus from the Supreme Court to the nation’s Boards of

Elections is that any Board that does not insure true election with a public audit will be in

contempt of the Supreme Court, and, if the writ mandates Election Day registration in

recognition of the mortgage foreclosure crisis, numerous impediments to the right to vote

can be truncated. Such a writ would involve minimal change. HAVA already mandates the paper record

with the manual audit capacity.* A voter receipt would simply require a duplicate copy

of what the machine has registered. It should cost nothing to have an interested public

observe the counting, posting and reporting of votes at every precinct. Books, articles, websites, films and at least one thousand page lawsuit have documented

election fraud. They were powerful forces that won Bush vs Gore in 2000, considering the specious

argument that counting the ballots discarded by chad-gorged machines would violate the

one man-one vote Constitutional prescription. A national mobilization would be needed

to counter those forces in a The People vs The President of the United States lawsuit.

However, with an aroused citizenry and the machinery provided by the Internet

revolution, it should be possible to do this. What is needed is a prepared lawsuit, a website for establishing support pledges of names

and money, and a widespread initiation of the true election movement. A suggested letter

is below. Please consider taking on this very important chance to win American freedom. * Help America Vote Act Section 301(a)(2)(B)(i) Peace,

- Jean G. Braun, South Euclid, Ohio Letter to Americans As he made clear in his Democratic nomination acceptance speech, - “ ... I argued for more resources

and more troops to actually finish the fight against the terrorists who actually attacked us on 9-11 ...”-

Barack Obama is one with John McCain in fundamental support of the war on terrorism. Dear Friends, Currently, the nation has the presidential choice between a major party candidate who supports the

war on terrorism, and a major party candidate who supports the war on terrorism. While the

conventional wisdom posits that no independent or third party candidate can be elected, many

Americans are realizing that that is true because the election process is controlled by only two

parties. Electronic machines which control the movements of ships millions of miles out in space can

only too easily be programmed to give predetermined voting results. It is a fateful time. American warships carrying weapons of mass destruction sail the seas.

Foreclosures and bankruptcies offer opportunity for a wealth and power elite to buy up more wealth

and power for pennies on the dollar. Deficit spending by government means crushing price inflation

for the people. The nation urgently needs to hear independent voices with independent solutions. An “original jurisdiction” - meaning the Supreme Court would be the first to try a case, (as in

Florida, 2000) - election fraud lawsuit on George W. Bush, has been prepared and a summary posted

at www._______________. In addition to petition for a writ of mandamus ordering all Boards of

Election to guarantee election integrity (** See below), the suit demands monetary compensation in

the amount of $____________________for all U.S. citizens who, by election fraud, have been robbed

of their Democracy birthright. If sufficient grassroots names and money support such a lawsuit, it can be successfully filed, but a

national mobilization is needed. If you wish to see this lawsuit succeed, please: 1. Forward this or a similar letter to an address in each of eight institutions in your State:

Third party; peace and justice organization; university or school; business; union; church; civic or

other organization; city government. 2. Canvas your own organization or list, asking members to pledge their name and any

amount of money. Total these and post the number of pledged names and the “bundled” amount of

pledged money in the designated space on the _______________ website. 3. After the filing of the lawsuit, follow further instructions regarding names and funds. With guarantee of election integrity, “no strings” candidates with needed voices to add to the

national dialogue will have an unprecedented opportunity to be heard. Needless to say, the more

quickly mobilization is achieved, the more quickly a true election movement can succeed. Thank you

in advance for your action. (Signed) ** Election Integrity by Public Audit must involve the right to vote, integrity of the vote, integrity of the

counting and integrity of the reporting. Right to Vote: Especially because of the home foreclosure crisis, Election Day registration can be a

simple adjustment of the logistics of provisional voting.

Integrity of the Vote: Supermarket and other retail machines have, for years, guaranteed the integrity

of a transaction by rendering a receipt which can be compared to the official record. Discrepancies

should result in monetary fine of the BoE, to be rendered to the offended voter.

Integrity of the Counting: can best be verified by a public witness to the counting, including receipt

comparison, at every neighborhood precinct, immediately after the polls close.

Integrity of the Reporting: can best be verified by immediate public announcing and posting of

precinct level totals at each precinct, enabling each candidate to count his/her own votes.

COMMENT #13 [Permalink]

... jacki penny said on 9/11/2008 @ 2:34 am PT...





unholy election fraud! Batman, what should we do? to the Brad Blog!!

COMMENT #14 [Permalink]

... Leftist said on 9/11/2008 @ 12:28 pm PT...





"Brad Friedman" said

"Leftist" asked: So why don't the Dems just do their own hacking? Because that would be illegal. Oh dear lord. And with that kind of thinking, we will continue to lose elections. OF COURSE it's against the law, that is not and has never been the issue. The fact is that the typical, passive Democrat approach of simply pointing out something is illegal (if even that) has failed ONE HUNDRED PERCENT OF THE TIME thus far. There has not been a SINGLE election in United States history that Rethugs have cheated on that Democrats have successfully overturned. Period. Ergo, my question about whether or not a new and outlandish approach may be in order, such as the one I suggested. Simply pointing out what the law is will NOT work. Period!

COMMENT #15 [Permalink]

... Agent 99 said on 9/11/2008 @ 1:58 pm PT...





Yeah, Brad, if we want them to stop murdering innocents, we should start doing it too, see how they like them apples... and, really, if they think breaking the constitution is no great shakes, they are going to really be upset when we do it. Actually, "Leftist", while there is a dim chance such illustrativeness would have its desired effect --- say, one in ten million --- and I really understand the frustration out there, it bugs me how glib people can be about this stuff.

COMMENT #16 [Permalink]

... molly said on 9/11/2008 @ 4:28 pm PT...





The glib ones are trolls. This is deadly serious. Over 1 million Iraqis dead.The republicans want US sick and poor. Right now the organic almond growers in Ca. have to spray with chemicals and are losing business. Foreign growers don't have to spray. Any one who votes for the criminals are criminals themselves.

COMMENT #17 [Permalink]

... NewConstituionalConvention said on 9/11/2008 @ 7:35 pm PT...





Brad Said,

"Leftist" asked: So why don't the Dems just do their own hacking? Because that would be illegal. Well, what about Independents hacking the election for a fictional candidate such as Micky Mouse or Osama Bin Laden? Would it still be illegal then? Even if technically illegal, would it be wrong? If it was done to expose the flaws in the election systems I would acquit if I was on the jury. The police sell drugs all the time as part of their undercover work when they try to bust meth rings, but their actions aren't deemed illegal because they are trying to stop a greater crime. An even better metaphor: during Hillary's speech at the DNC, everybody got all emotional (including myself) when she invoked Harriet Tubman, and told the audience to "Keep Going!"

Well guess what, stealing(freeing) slaves was against the law but God Bless Harriet Tubman for being willing to break the law, when the law needed breaking. Hows that for glib? WHEN the election is hacked for either/or/both Obama and McCain, it will be easily disguised, hidden, and accepted, as these videos show, but if some intrepid hackers rig it for a tie between Osama Bin Laden and Saddam Hussein, then it will be immediately confirmed for ALL, that the machines (and the corporations that control them) cannot be trusted. Molly @16 is right, "this is deadly serious."

COMMENT #18 [Permalink]

... Nunyabiz said on 9/12/2008 @ 4:12 am PT...





I will tell ya what IS legal and guaranteed under what is left of the Constitution. REVOLUTION! Does not matter at all how many times this is pointed out to the criminally complicit MSM, can make all the videos you want, can show all 100 ways every one of these pathetic machines can be hacked and change the entire election in seconds leaving no trace of wrong doing. Until the proverbial boot heel comes down and down HARD on the necks of all of the MSM by MILLIONS of damn angry and not going to take it anymore American patriots then NOTHING is going to change.

This election WILL be stolen. The MSM has already steered THEIR chosen candidates into place so basically the S-election has already been stolen.

This country will not survive McSame/Pentecostal Barbie. In a sadistic sorta way I actually hope these nut bags do steal the S-election because maybe when the country completely collapses into a Depression that will make the Great Depression in the 30s look like the Good Ol Days and that 98% finally pulls their freaking heads outa their asses to see the 2% completely unaffected while they are fighting off stray curs at garbage cans to get some offal.

MAYBE then the 98% will WTFU?

COMMENT #19 [Permalink]

... Rubicon said on 9/13/2008 @ 3:24 pm PT...





Does anyone here "really" think the problem belongs to just ONE party? Really?????

One wonders how many times ACORN will plea, rogue employee this time around?

COMMENT #20 [Permalink]

... john powers said on 9/14/2008 @ 11:58 am PT...





perhaps the quickest way to get the republicans to support clean ,verifiable elections is to out hack them . If it is as easy as stated in the above article , the election could be altered to show a landslide for Obama , making him the winner , while obviously demonstrating the hackability of electronic voting systems. With such a close election , Republicans would be screaming for election reform . we simply cannot afford to have the neocons steal another presidential election. With global warming rearing its ugly head , time is of the essence.

COMMENT #21 [Permalink]

... Jennifer Culbertson said on 9/17/2008 @ 6:07 am PT...

