SPOTLIGHT
BOWEN TOP-TO-BOTTOM REVIEW
Diebold is Decertified
Through a rigorous review and highly detailed decision, Secretary of State Bowen has decertified Diebold election systems used in San Diego County. The decision includes conditions for limited use of the machines. The conditions intended to mitigate the vulnerabilities of the systems and are likely to be difficult, if not impossible for vendors and counties to implement. As one of the principle investigators involved in the review said, "Reliably protecting these systems under operational conditions will likely be very hard."
Psephos Guest Spotlight
STEVE FREEMAN, PhD, author of Was the 2004 Presidential Election Stolen?
With 2008 just around the corner, and a Presidential race with huge stakes for our nation, experts and citizens are elevating lingering doubts about whether our election systems are safe and fair. KPBS-TV interviews author Steve Freeman, who examines his findings concerning the 2004 Presidential election, asserting that the way U.S. elections are conducted threatens democracy.
Roll Call For Democracy - Accountability
Citizens believe the conduct of elections is out of control in San Diego. Apparently no elected official will accept responsibility for the situation. Psephos co-founder Ken Karan asked each county supervisor to publically state their position on whether they believe secret vote counting is compatible with democracy.
Citizen Control Of Their Elections
Psephos co-founder Paul Lehto applauded citizens’ courage in taking swift action to protect democracy, drawing upon the historical context in which our founding fathers’ envisioned the checks and balances necessary to ensure that every vote is counted. Because the San Diego County board of supervisors is entrenched in its positions and policies, Psephos and SAE are reviewing the board’s charter and researching alternative ways for citizens to take necessary actions toward elections reform. Media coverage was strong, including a piece that morning on Fox 6 News that is drawing attention as the best investigative piece yet for a clear, concise representation of the situation in San Diego. The next day’s headlines included “Protesters cry foul over election hires” (SD Union-Tribune) and “Protesters criticize county elections hirings” (NC Times). SAE’s Jim Hamilton was interviewed by Wired Magazine (coverage pending). San Diegans unified in defense of democracy are encouraged to see the media investigating issues that are certain to linger as the February 2008 primaries draw near.
PSEPHOS CORRECTS MISSTATEMENTS BY ROV SEILER Deborah Seiler tells KPBS listeners to trust her to count our votes in secret. Read Psephos' rebuttal published by KPBS Here.
REVIEW DENIED The California Supreme Court struck a blow against democracy by denying the petition for review in the Jacobson v. Bilbray elections contest from the 50th District. The 50th District was the home of former representative Duke Cunningham before he was convicted of corruption and sent to prison. By denying the petition, the Court allowed the 4th District Court of Appeal to avoid ruling on the constitutional issues raised by the contest, including whether Congress can swear in its favored candidate before all the votes are counted, thereby nullifying the election. The Court of Appeal dismissed the contest on mootness grounds without distinguishing case law holding that election contests are excepted from the mootness doctrine. The contest now stands for the erosion of democracy in the United States and the refusal of the judicial system to defend it. Psephos continues to collaborate with election integrity groups and experts in constitutional law regarding this development and its ramifications. (July 11, 2007)
