January 05, 2007

"Feds Failed to Warn on Flawed E-Vote Lab"

"The Election Assistance Commission (EAC), which is responsible for accrediting testing labs that inspect electronic voting machines, failed to notify local officials that it has refused to accredit Ciber, which tests the software for most of the electronic voting systems currently in use.

Ciber was allowed to certify software patches, such as the ones that fix problems that surfaced in the run-up to November's mid-term elections, notably in Maryland, where e-poll book devices caused havoc during the 2006 primaries.

Officials in California and other states also relied on a report from Ciber that dismissed concerns raised by computer experts who demonstrated security flaws in electronic voting machines.

Local election officials were not made aware of Ciber's status, however, reinforcing claims by election integrity activists that the EAC is more concerned with protecting voting machine vendors than the rights of the electorate.

In testimony given to the House of Representatives on July 19, 2006, EAC Commissioner Donetta Davidson noted that her agency had enacted "a certifying process for the first time," but made no mention of Ciber at the hearing.

The initial assessment of Ciber was completed on July 20."

The story is here.

Posted by Randy Riddle at January 5, 2007 09:08 AM