Back in 2004, John Edwards wanted to fight in Ohio. He apparently wanted to contest the counting of the Ohio vote.

In a sidebar on the book-review "Edwards emerges from cancer with grace", The News & Observer's Rob Christensen quotes Elizabeth Edwards describing her husband John's side of a conversation with "unidentified individuals" ... I listened to John in the other room, arguing into a speakerphone that we could not concede until the votes [in Ohio] were counted. "We promised," he said. "We told these people that if they stood in line and fought for their right to vote, we would fight to have them counted. We promised."

Elizabeth Edwards Says John Argued To Count Ohio 2004 Vote: 'We Promised' He Said

The Presidential candidate chose not to.

John Edwards was right. There can be no doubt now that these machines are not secure:

STATE VOTE MACHINES LOSE TEST TO HACKERS John Wildermuth, Chronicle Staff Writer Saturday, July 28, 2007 snip The researchers "were able to bypass physical and software security in every machine they tested,'' said Secretary of State Debra Bowen, who authorized the "top to bottom review" of every voting system certified by the state. snip During her election campaign last year, Bowen made it clear she had little confidence in the security of electronic voting machines and vowed to review their use in the state. "Voting systems are tools of our democracy,'' she said Friday. "We want to ensure that the voting systems used in the state are secure, accurate, reliable and accessible to all. This (study result) is not a big deal to me. It's a big deal for everyone in the country.''

sfgate.com

Back in March of this year, John Edwards was asked about these machines, and his answer was unequivocal:

Kennedy, an activist and actress well known for her role as Dharma's mother on ABC's Dharma and Greg, told The BRAD BLOG that during a Q & A period following his address last night, she asked Edwards whether he would join PDA in their campaign calling for "the complete removal of all Touch-Screen Direct Record Electronic voting machines from U.S. elections, with or without a paper trail." Drawing an "X" in the air as the question was being asked, Edwards --- who was reportedly upset at Sen. John Kerry's decision not to contest the 2004 Presidential Election count, or lack thereof, in Ohio --- answered with a definitive "Yes!" "Yes!" echoed Kennedy in response as the audience reportedly cheered and applauded.

Brad Blog

In a letter dated June 21st addressed to Alan Dechert. President of the Open Voting Consortium, David Bonior stated that:

Senator Edwards belives that it is essential that all voting machines produce a verifiable paper ballot.

June 21, 2007 Bonior Letter

Here is Elizabeth Edwards on Daily Kos:

Clean up and reinvigorate our election system (34+ / 0-)

On two fronts: (1) Public financing of campaigns. John has never taken Washington lobbyist money (or allowed them to bundle for him) but that is not enough. He will fight for true public financing. (2) A reliable voting system nationwide. That means from voter enrollment, voter eligibility determinations, and actual voting processes. No black boxes and a paper trail for all voting. Join me at http://blog.johnedwards.com by elizabethedwards on Wed Jun 27, 2007 at 06:07:02 PM PDT

Elizabeth Edwards

Today's reports of how easily these machines can be hacked means we have to support changes to ensure there are no more stolen elections.

John Edwards is right on this key issue for having a democracy in this nation. No More Stolen Elections.