Ohio-Based Diebold: Fighting Bad PR, Changes Name Of Voting Machine Unit

NORTH CANTON (TDB) -- Mired in a maelstrom of suspicion that its electronic voting machines are prone to mistakes and attacks by hackers, Diebold Inc. changed the name of its election systems subsidiary. From today forward, it is to be known as Premier Election Solutions.

The company portrayed the name change as a step to make the voting machine unit more independent so it can grow and prosper. Others saw it as an effort to jettison a problem, or distance Diebold from a troubled subsidiary plagued by controversy that its products are unreliable. Diebold said the election division already was largely independent and received mostly financial support from the parent in Ohio. At the same time, Diebold lowered revenue expectations for the voting unit by nearly $120 million. It had projected sales of up to $215 million.

The corporation in North Canton did not sound very upbeat, and while it did not say Democrats were to blame for lowered sales expectations, it noted a change in the political environment. Democrats took over Congress in January, and some party activists contend that Diebold's machines were manipulated to benefit President George Bush -- a charge that has never been proven but has taken on the trappings of an article of faith.

"As a result of the rapidly changing political environment and pending legislative initiatives related to electronic voting, several large anticipated orders for electronic voting systems have moved from 2007 into 2008 and beyond. Competing federal legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, both related to the use of specific election technologies, has created uncertainty amongst the jurisdictions that make purchasing decisions. In addition, several states have initiated separate, independent reviews of voting technology within their jurisdictions. These combined actions, along with certain key states to move up their primary elections to very early 2008, have significantly delayed purchasing decisions throughout the election systems industry."

Compare that to Premier Elections Solutions, which said it is going to be managed by an independent board. The unit made its comments from Allen, Tex., and sought to distance itself from the parent.

"This is both a fresh identity for our company and a unique opportunity for us to concentrate our focus on providing best-in-class elections solutions for current and potential customers. We will build on a strong tradition of excellence, innovation and customer service, armed with the resources to develop innovative products and service. Premier is and will remain the leader in the election systems industry, and will be an even more engaged, agile and responsive company."

Around the U.S., there are about 25,000 optical scan units and 126,000 touch-screens made by Diebold. There are suspicions they cannot accurately count votes, or can be manipulated to show bogus outcomes.

Ohiosphere Tale Of The Day (V): Cincy Beacon Says Cincy Enquirer Blew Off Ohio Vote Fraud Story

CINCINNATI (TDB) -- The Cincinnati Beacon slapped the Cincinnati Enquirer over slipshod journalism and has given the much larger corporate media outlet a black eye. Read the Beacon's account linked above.

I will say this about 2004 vote fraud in Ohio. There was great reluctance in many newsrooms around the state to take the story seriously. I was a reporter at the time, covered the story, and know what a lot of journalism higher ups thought around the state -- not just The Plain Dealer. Was the election stolen? I don't think it was. The Kerry campaign's top lawyer, who worked in Cincinnati and spoke to me several times, had lots of questions and suspicions of irregularities. But he didn't believe there was enough to challenge the outcome. Journalists pretty much stopped right there because -- I think -- their bosses didn't see much point of digging further. There was another reason probably -- digging would only anger Republicans, who were on top in 2005 and looked to be locked into power.

Things have changed since then.

Watching From Ohio: Machine Malfunction, Fraud Charges Marring Iowa Straw Poll

CINCINNATI (TDB) -- Some Republicans are questioning the reliability of voting machines, the accuracy of vote-count results and the honesty of the GOP-managed presidential straw poll in Iowa where nearly half the attendees reportedly didn't cast ballots. Fraud in polling places has been a staple of the left since 2000, when Bush edged Gore in Florida, and 2004, when the president received more votes in Ohio than John Kerry. Now the right seems to be growing suspicious as well.

Iowa's semi-official state Republican Party blog is carrying comments today implying that the Aug. 11, 2007 Iowa Straw Poll won by 2008 presidential candidate Mitt Romney was rigged. Anonymous skeptics have been commenting on Cyclone Conservatives, noting that a voting machine failed. The blog is operated by Dan McDonald, chair of the Iowa Federation of College Republicans.

[UPDATE: Sunday, Aug. 12, 3:08 PM -- Here is more from Iowa about the ballot counting flap. It does look like the Ron Paul camp is stirring the pot, but nobody has come back with a hay maker to knock down their complaints. This may be the Hawkeye State's first taste of what happens after a disputed election.]

[UPDATE 2: Sunday, Aug. 12, 5:49 PM -- David Duke -- yes, that David Duke -- has a Website, where the the Iowa straw polls results are being analyzed. Apparently, the far, far, far right fringe thinks Paul was the big winner. Is Ron Paul a front for the KKK crowd? This is a twist: Paul as the Fuerher's favorite son. Soon, the conspiracy theorists will be at full throttle.]

Apparently, some 1.500 votes were hand counted when a voting machine misfired, triggering comments like this:

"Only half those buying tickets voted? They paid 35 bucks to not vote? Right! There was massive voting fraud here. Four years ago twice as many votes were cast. Are we to believe there was less interest this year? Or did the voting fraud start four years ago."

Another in the same vein:

"I find this process very suspicious. They used Diebold voting machines, which have been shown time and time again to be security nightmares. They had 'machine troubles' which delayed the tally. On top of all this, only about half the attendees voted? Let me guess, no paper trail? Some people got robbed."

MSM blogger Charlotte Eby didn't pick up on the fraud complaints but reported from Ames Saturday that some 1,500 ballots had to be hand counted. Eby said a machine conked out, but offered no specifics.

On Friday, Ron Paul's supporters lost a federal lawsuit challenging the use of voting machines at the straw poll. The argument: The machines could not be trusted.

Now, it looks like the GOP has the beginnings of a mess on its hands. Romney's win will be under a cloud. Rudy Giuliani and John McCain, who both passed up the straw poll, can minimize its import and point to the flap about the event's reliability. Paul's supporters will fan the flames that it was a crooked election.

Bottomline: Iowa was meaningless except as another example that Americans are becoming more suspicious of election results, and many may be losing faith in the accuracy of vote counts.

There was also a report that three voting machine protesters were arrested Saturday in Ames on trespassing charges. That only adds to the mess.