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{{EP issue article header}}'''Diebold Election Systems''' (ref. parent [[Diebold Inc.]]) is a provider of "direct recording electronic (DRE) voting solutions" [<ref>http://diebold.com/dieboldes/]</ref>, or [[voting machine]]s. [[Bob Urosevich]]In August 2007, the first CEO of Diebold Election Systems subsidiary's name was also the founder of changed to '''[[ES&S]], a competing voting machine company now owned by the [[McCarthy GroupPremier Election Solutions]]'''. Together these two companies are responsible for tallying around 80% of votes cast in the United States<ref>http://www.crainscleveland. The current vice-president of Diebold and the president of EScom/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070816/FREE/70816004/1088&S are brothers. Profile=1088</ref> It is reputed that the software architecture common to both is ==New name, same owner== Following a creation of Mr Urosevich's company [[Iyear-Mark]] long failed attempt to sell its e-voting subsidiary, the parent company renamed the subsidiary Premier Election Solutions. While still Diebold-owned, PES "will have its own management team and board of directors," and is easily compromisedbased in Allen, in part due to its reliance on Microsoft Access databases; and that the I-Mark and Microsoft software each represent a single point of failure of vote counting processTexas, from which 80% of votes can be compromised via the exploit of a single line of code while Diebold headquarters are in either subsystem. DieboldOhio, reported ''s new touch screen O'Dwyer's PR Daily''. The PR firm [[voting machineEdelman]]s have no paper trail "is handling the recasting of any votes. In other words, there is no way to verify that the data coming out of the machine is the same as what was legitimately put in by voters. Diebold Election Systems to [[Walden O'DellPremier Election Solutions]] or ," reported ''Wally" O'Dell, the current chairman and CEO of Diebold is a major Bush campaign organizer Dwyer's''.<ref>http://www.odwyerpr.com/members/0817edelman_diebold.html</ref> Diebold blamed the lack of buyers on "rapidly evolving political uncertainties and donor who wrote in 2003 that he was controversies surrounding ... electronic voting systems."committed Diebold also lowered its e-voting revenue expectations by $120 million, according to helping Ohio deliver its [[electoral vote]]Crain's to Cleveland Business. A Diebold spokesman "acknowledged that the highly charged attention paid to the president next yearsubsidiary ...has been a distraction to Diebold," which hopes to " He was very active concentrate on its core ATM and visible as a Bush supportersecurity segments." <ref>http: //www.crainscleveland.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070816/FREE/70816004/1088&Profile=1088</ref> "Wally O'Dell==History== [[Bob Urosevich]], the first CEO of Diebold Inc., this week Election Systems was also the founder of [[27 August 2003ES&S]] sent out letters to central Ohio Republicans asking them to raise $10,000 in donations in time for a Sept. 26 Ohio Republican Party event at his home. ... competing voting machine company now owned by the [[State of OhioMcCarthy Group]]House Minority Leader Chris Redfern, D. Together these two companies are responsible for tallying around 80% of votes cast in the United States. The current vice-Catawba Island, president of Diebold and Senate Minority Leader Greg DiDonato, D-New Philadelphia, on Tuesday petitioned Secretary the president of State [[Ken Blackwell]] to drop O'DellES&S are brothers. It is reputed that the software architecture common to both is a creation of Mr Urosevich's company from the list of potential suppliers [of new electronic voting machines[I-Mark]]and is easily compromised, saying his presence could undermine Ohio's entire election system." [http://www.portclintonnewsherald.com/news/stories/20030827/localnews/140871.html] :<u>Note</u>: According to the AP (August 29, 2003), the letter was actually dated in part due to its reliance on Microsoft Access databases; and that the I-Mark and Microsoft software each represent a single point of failure of vote counting process, from which 80% of votes can be compromised via the exploit of a single line of code in either subsystem.  Diebold's new touch screen [[http://wwwvoting machine]]s have no paper trail of any votes.ohio.com/mld/beaconjournal/business/6646063.htm?template=contentModules/printstory.jsp 14 August 2003]In other words, more than two weeks prior to news stories about it. This there is no way to verify that the data coming out of the machine is supported the same as what was legitimately put in by an August 28, 2003 voters.  =="Delivering" votes== [[http://www.commondreams.org/headlines03/0828-08.htm Walden O'Dell]] or 'Cleveland Plain DealerWally" O'' news story]. On October 10Dell, 2003, electronic voting company the current chairman and CEO of Diebold, Inc., sent is a cease-major Bush campaign organizer and-desist letter to the nonprofit donor who wrote in 2003 that he was "committed to helping Ohio deliver its [[Online Policy Groupelectoral vote]] (OPG) ISP demanding that OPG remove s to the president next year." He was very active and visible as a page Bush supporter: "Wally O'Dell, CEO of links published on an Independent Media Center (IndyMedia) website located on a computer server hosted by OPG. Diebold Diebold Inc., this week [27 August 2003] sent out dozens of similar notices letters to ISPs hosting [[IndyMedia]] and other websites linking central Ohio Republicans asking them to or publishing copies of [[Diebold internal memo]]sraise $10,000 in donations in time for a Sept. 26 Ohio Republican Party event at his home. .. OPG is the only ISP so far to resist the takedown demand from Diebold.[http://wwwOhio State] House Minority Leader Chris Redfern .eff.org/Legal/ISP_liability/20031016_eff_pr.php] On October 13, 2003, it is reported that a former worker in Dieboldand Senate Minority Leader Greg DiDonato ... petitioned Secretary of State [[Ken Blackwell]] to drop O'Dell's Georgia warehouse says company from the company installed patches on its list of potential suppliers [of new electronic voting machines before the state], saying his presence could undermine Ohio's 2002 gubernatorial entire election that were never certified by independent testing authorities or cleared with Georgia election officialssystem. If the charges are true, Diebold could be in violation of federal and state election-certification rules.[http:/" <ref> http://www.wiredportclintonnewsherald.com/news/politicsstories/20030827/localnews/0,1283,60563,00140871.html] </ref> On October 16:<u>Note</u>: According to the AP (August 29, 2003), the [[Electronic Frontier Foundation]] announced that it will defend the Internet Service Provider (ISP) and news website publisher against claims of indirect copyright infringement from the electronic voting machines' manufacturerletter was actually dated <ref>http://www.ohio.com/mld/beaconjournal/business/6646063. [ibid] On October 21, htm?template=contentModules/printstory.jsp 14 August 2003</ref>, Defending the right of a fair, democratic election, [more than two weeks prior to news stories about it. This is supported by an August 28, 2003 <ref> http://why-warwww.commondreams.comorg/featuresheadlines03/20030828-08.htm ''Cleveland Plain Dealer''</10/dieboldref> news story.html Why War?] and the [http://scdc.sccs.swarthmore.edu/ Swarthmore Coalition for the Digital Commons (SCDC)] announced  ==Allegations of illicit interference with an election==On October 13, 2003, it is reported that they are rejecting a former worker in Diebold Elections Systems' cease and desist orders and are initiating a legal electronic civil disobedience campaign s Georgia warehouse says the company installed patches on its machines before the state's 2002 gubernatorial election that will ensure permanent public access to the controversial leaked memoswere never certified by independent testing authorities or cleared with Georgia election officials. ThusIf the charges are true, through active, legal electronic civil disobedience, Why War? Diebold could be in violation of federal and SCDC will bring to light the usually silent acts of suppression and censorshipstate election-certification rules. The result will be [<ref> http://cultcomwww.wired.com/mirrornews/politics/0,1283,60563,00.html a '''permanent and public mirror'''] </ref> ==Online battles=====Attempts to prohibit publication of hackability evidence===On October 10, 2003, Diebold sent a cease-and-desist letter to the memos: documents whose public existence challenges the assumed presence of democracy in America. nonprofit [[http://why-warOnline Policy Group]] (OPG) ISP demanding that OPG remove a page of links published on an Independent Media Center (IndyMedia) website located on a computer server hosted by OPG.com/features/diebold_pr.txt] On October 22, 2003, the two groups have decided  Diebold sent out dozens of similar notices to pursue different courses ISPs hosting IndyMedia and other websites linking to or publishing copies of action, confident that [[Diebold internal memo]]s. OPG was the actions of both groups will independently result in continued access only ISP to resist the takedown demand from Diebold's memos. SCDC has decided to comply with any cease and desist requests and subsequently take legal action against Diebold[http://www<ref> http://www.eff.sccs.swarthmore.edu/org/dailyLegal/archiveISP_liability/fall_2003/2003102320031016_eff_pr.html#n1]. Why War?php</ref> On October 16, on the other hand2003, will continue to provide access to the memos by listing mirrors provided by individuals worldwide. [http://why-war.com/features/2003/10/diebold.html[[Electronic Frontier Foundation] ==SourceWatch Resources== *[[E-Voting: Digital Democracy or a Cash Cow for Consultants?]] *[[Selling announced that it would defend the Internet Service Provider (ISP) and news website publisher against claims of indirect copyright infringement from the electronic voting]] *[[A Short but Tragic History of E-voting Public Relations]] machines' manufacturer. <ref>ibid</ref>*[[e-voting]] *[[e-voting PR]] *[[Voting machine]] *[[BushOn October 21, 2003, defending the right of a fair, democratic election, ''Why War?''s Rangers]] *[[David Bear]] *[[Public Strategies, Inc<ref> http://why-war.]] ==Other Wikis== *http:com/features/2003/10/papertrailpatriotsdiebold.org *[html </ref> and the Swarthmore Coalition for the Digital Commons (SCDC) <ref>http://enscdc.sccs.wikipediaswarthmore.orgedu/wiki</ref> announced that they would reject Diebold Wikipedia's Diebold article] == External links == *[http://www.smashthetrifecta.com/diebold-cease and desist orders and initiated a legal electronic civil disobedience campaign to ensure permanent public access to the controversial leaked memos-1.htm Insider Memos - The Smoking Guns of "Black Box Voting" Election Fraud Dangers]Thus, through active, legal electronic civil disobedience, Why War? and SCDC will bring to light the usually silent acts of suppression and censorship. Several years' worth of memos hosted on five non-UThe result will be a '''permanent and public mirror'''<ref>http://cultcom.Scom/mirror. servers. Most links are working (12html</02/03). *David L. Dill's [httpref> of the memos: documents whose public existence challenges the assumed presence of democracy in America. <ref>http://wwwwhy-war.verifiedvotingcom/features/diebold_pr.orgtxt</ verifiedvoting.org web site]: ref> :*"In response to the 2000 Florida debacleOn October 22, Congress passed a law2003, the [[Help America Vote Act]] (HAVA)two groups have decided to pursue different courses of action, which mandates voting process reform in all confident that the statesactions of both groups will independently result in continued access to Diebold's memos." :*"Mr. Darryl R. Wold, former chairman of the [[Federal Election Commission]] (FEC) believes that HAVA requires a voter-verifiable paper trailSCDC has decided to comply with any cease and desist requests and subsequently take legal action against Diebold." *[[Jon S. Corzine]], [<ref> http://www.dsccsccs.swarthmore.edu/org/informationdaily/archive/stopvotingmachines_letterfall_2003/ Outrageous: CEO lobbies for Bush while seeking contract to sell voting machines]20031023.html#n1</ref> Why War?, [[Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee]]on the other hand, no date. Includes online petition will continue to Diebold: "Republicans must stop trying provide access to steal elections. Sign our petition and send them a message todaythe memos by listing mirrors provided by individuals worldwide." '''Bev Harris''' *<uref>Free Online Version</u>): [httphttp://wwwwhy-war.blackboxvoting.orgcom/features/ Black Box Voting]. *Bev Harris, [http:2003/10/wwwdiebold.scoop.co.nzhtml</mason/stories/HL0301/S00166.htm "Senate Ethics Director resigns]; Senator [[Chuck Hagel]] admits owning [[voting machine]] company [[McCarthy Group]]", ref> ===Wiki wars==='''Spin on Wikipedia'scoop.co.nz''On November 25, January 312005, 2003an anonymous poster from a Diebold IP address deleted extensive references to the controversy surrounding Diebold's electronic voting machines. This edit was picked up by the Wikiscanner tool. *Bev Harris, <ref>Wikipedia [http://wwwen.scoopwikipedia.co.nz/mason/storiesorg/HL0307w/S00065index.htm Inside A U.S. Election Vote Counting Programphp?diff=prev&oldid=28623410 history log] for [[w:Diebold|]], ''Scoop.co.nz'', July 8, 2003. </ref> *[http://wwwen.scoopwikipedia.co.nzorg/masonwiki/stories/HL0307/S00065.htm#intro IntroductionDiebold Wikipedia's Diebold article];  ==PR campaigns=="Diebold Election Systems (DES) has hired [[http:/Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide|Ogilvy PR]] to burnish the company's image and the benefits of electronic voting in California," ''PR Week'' reported in August 2005.<ref>http:/www/prweek.scoop.co.nzcom/mason/stories/HL0307news/S00065news_story.htm#intro Part 1: Can the votes be changedcfm?]; [http:ID=240402&site=3</ref> The state had decertified one of DES' e-voting machines the previous year <ref> https://www.scoopprwatch.co.nzorg/masonprwissues/stories2004Q2/HL0307history.html</S00065.htm#password Part 2: Can ref>, and the password be bycompany wanted to ensure that [[E-passed?voting PR|their "story is told"]]; [http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0307/S00065.htm#audit Part 3: Can and that voters "understand the audit log be altered?technology," said Ogilvy's [[Michael Law]]. *Bev Harris, [http://wwwwho heads DES' California work.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0307/S00078.htm Bald-Faced Lies About Black Box Voting Machines and The Truth About According to ''PR Week'', Ogilvy was researching public perceptions of DES, with an eye to developing messages "about the Rob-Georgia File]ease of electronic voting, July 10particularly for voters who do not speak English, 2003as well as for handicapped voters. " The same month, ''O'Dwyer'Other Linkss PR Daily''reported that DES' California PR is part of a national campaign headed by former [[Democratic National Committee]] chair [[Joseph J. Andrew]]. Andrew has been praised for his "grassroots organizing" and "golden rolodex" of CEOs and labor leaders, according to ''O'Dwyer's''. <ref>http://www.odwyerpr.com/members/0822ogilvy_diebold.htm</ref> DES has worked with numerous other PR firms and consultants to burnish its public image nationally and in various regions of the country. These include [[Public Strategies, Inc.]] and the [[Compliance Research Group]]. <ref>http://www.odwyerpr.com/members/0822ogilvy_diebold.htm</ref> <ref>http://prweek.com/news/news_story.cfm?ID=240402&site=3</ref> See the SourceWatch articles on the firms, as well as [[A Short but Tragic History of E-voting Public Relations]] and [[e-voting PR]] for more information. ==Articles and resources=====Related SourceWatch articles===*[https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Category:Electronic_voting Electronic voting Index of articles]*[[E-Voting: Digital Democracy or a Cash Cow for Consultants?]]*[[Selling electronic voting]]*[[A Short but Tragic History of E-voting Public Relations]]*[[e-voting]]*[[e-voting PR]]*[[Voting machine]]*[[Bush's Rangers]]*[[David Bear]]*[[Public Strategies, Inc.]]===References===<references/> ===External articles=== *C.D. Sludge, [http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0307/S00064.htm Sludge Report #154 - Bigger Than Watergate!], ''scoop.co.nz'', July 8, 2003. Another copy re Bev Harris's investigative report at [http://www.truthout.org/docs_03/voting.shtml ''TruthOut.org'']. *Julie Carr Smyth, [http://www.commondreams.org/headlines03/0828-08.htm Voting Machine Controversy], ''Cleveland Plain Dealer'', August 28, 2003: "The head ([[Walden O'Dell]]) of a company ([[Diebold Inc.]]) vying to sell voting machines in Ohio told Republicans in a recent fund-raising letter that he is 'committed to helping Ohio deliver its electoral votes to the president next year.'" *[http://www.ohio.com/mld/beaconjournal/business/6646063.htm?template=contentModules/printstory.jsp Diebold appears to have conflict. CEO lobbies for Bush while seeking contract to sell voting machines], AP, August 29, 2003. *[http://foi.missouri.edu/evolvingissues/optakingsides.html Opinion: Taking sides at Diebold], ''Cleveland Plain Dealer'', September 1, 2003. *Lynn Landes, [http://www.ecotalk.org/VotingForumSpeech.htm How We Lost The Vote - How To Get It Back], ''ecotalk.org'', September 7, 2003. *Julie Carr Smith, [http://www.diebold.com/whatsnews/inthenews/executive.htm Diebold Executive to Keep Lower Profile], ''Cleveland Plain Dealer'' from ''diebold.com'', September 16, 2003. *Chuck Richardson, [http://niagarabuzz.com/article_149.shtml The not so good part of the Cali recall delay], ''niagarabuzz.com'', September 16, 2003: "The coup de grace, however, is Walden O'Dell, Diebold's chief executive officer, who's classified as one of Bush's "Pioneers and Rangers," a tag reserved for campaign contributors who give more than $100,000 to the Bush campaign." *[http://www.whitehouseforsale.org/blog/page.cfm?pageid=171 Diebold Redux], ''whitehouseforsale.org'', September 17, 2003. *Andrew Donoghue, [http://news.zdnet.co.uk/hardware/emergingtech/0,39020357,39117755,00.htm Michael Moore attacks e-voting], ''zdnet.co.uk'', November 10, 2003. *Michael Hardy, [http://www.fcw.com/fcw/articles/2003/1110/web-evote-11-10-03.asp Bias in the voting box?], ''fcw.com'', November 10, 2003. *Faun Otter, [http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0211/S00081.htm Diebold - the face of modern ballot tampering], ''scoop.co.nz'', November 14, 2003. *Paul Festa, [http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1104-5112430.html Diebold retreats; lawmaker demands inquiry], ''cnetnews.com'', December 1, 2003. *Paul Krugman, [http://www.nytimes.com/2003/12/02/opinion/02KRUG.html?th Hack the Vote], ''New York Times'' Op-Ed, December 2, 2003. *[http://www.punkvoter.com/home/home.php Diebold (e-voting company) must now deal with the students they tried to silence and a Congressional investigation], ''punkvoter.com'', December 7, 2003. *Julie Carr Smyth, "[http://www.commondreams.org/headlines03/0828-08.htm Voting Machine Controversy]", ''Cleveland Plain Dealer'', August 28, 2003.