[Ninong]

Debra Bowen, a Democrat, was just sworn in as California's new Secretary of State, replacing appointed GOP incumbent Bruce McPherson. She ran on a pledge to clean up all the voting machine problems that companies like Diebold, ES&S, Sequoia Systems and Hart Intercivic have been denying for the past couple of years.

According to Brad Blog, one of her first official acts after being sworn in was to name an attorney who has been leading the fight against the voting machine companies as her Deputy Secretary of State for Voting Systems Technology and Policy. He was previously the lead attorney for the non-partisan legal watchdog organization VoterAction.org.

This will come as an extremely unwelcome surprise to the folks at Diebold! What happens in California hardly ever stays in California!

[almostdiva]

Good!

Everyone has like 12 months to get this sorted before the next presidential election. Diebold especially has multiple instances against their machines where they've been hacked or malfunctioned or whatever. We voted on them in my town for the first time last year. Before that, we had machines from the 70s that you pulled the little levers on the individual candidates, then slid the big handle/lever to record your vote. I liked them A LOT better, even if they were old.

[schrocat]

Sweet!

Crist just booted touch screens from Florida.

We are going to be 100% optiscan for 2008.

[acer]

I think a current valid and confirmed ID should also be required before voting. Here in PA - we have over 100% turnout in several areas each vote. Hmmm...New technology certainly leaves room for new voter fraud/tampering/etc.

[Ninong]

In Louisiana, we have to sign the registration book next to our name before being allowed to vote. And any absentee ballots have to be verified against the registration books before they are counted.

We have been using those touch-screen electronic machines for the past three or four years. Before that we were using the lever-type machines in booths with curtains. Now you just walk up to a counter where they have several of these electronic machines spaced about three feet apart. Each machine has a sort of privacy shield on both sides but I guess anyone could walk up behind you to see how you were voting? There is no paper confirmation of your actual voting choices.

P.S. -- I forgot to mention that we have to show a photo ID in order to sign the voter registration book. Looks like Pennsylvania doesn't have such a requirement.