April 02, 2007

"Hacker gives voters something to worry about"

"Voters concerned with election system security have more to worry about.

Finnish computer scientist Harri Hursti - who successfully tampered with a Diebold voting machine in the HBO documentary "Hacking Democracy" - testified Friday before the blue ribbon committee appointed by Riverside County supervisors that a high school student can breach most election systems.

"The level of expertise that you need is scarily low," he said.

More than 50 people turned out for the hearing in Palm Desert, the best attended of three.

Committee members will give a 90-day report to supervisors April 24 on the reliability of the county's electronic voting system.

In an hour-long presentation, Hursti said the best voting system approved by the state for use is a digitally scanned paper ballot. All systems, including paper-based ones, are vulnerable.

Secretary of State Debra Bowen is conducting a review of all the electronic systems in the state, something Hursti said is "unlike anything else done before."

A number of Coachella Valley city clerks told committee members that problems with the November election - long lines and paper printout shortages - show a lack of preparedness.

Many of the polling places with the longest lines that also ran out of paper receipts dealt with 300 more voters than the 1,000-per-precinct the state regulates.

Others expressed support for Riverside County Registrar of Voters Barbara Dunmore, who has been present at all the public hearings.

"There is no way I could do the election all by myself," said Pat Hammers, city clerk for Cathedral City.

Several members of the public also conveyed their distrust of voting machines."

The article is here.

Posted by Randy Riddle at April 2, 2007 09:30 AM