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Diebold Election Results Released By AZ Judge

Posted by Zonk on from the just-a-little-more-oversight dept.

Windrip writes "A judge in the case covering the nature of the database used in Diebold Gems software during Pima County, Arizona elections has ruled the DB is not a computer program (pdf). The result is that the Arizona Democratic party will have the chance to review previous elections for transparency and accuracy. ''The Pima County Democratic Party sued the county this year for the electronic databases from past elections. The party requested the databases and passwords be released according to Arizona public-records law. Pima County denied that part of the request, while turning over other records the party asked for. In closing arguments of the four-day trial that began Dec. 4, Pima County argued the databases meet the definition of a computer program, which is protected by state law, said Deputy County Attorney Thomas Denker."

6 of 134 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Good. by CastrTroy · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The data set is not a program, but the program required to interpret the dataset is. If the data files are in some binary proprietary format, there may not be an easy way to interpret what's in the data files without also having access to the program.

    --

    Anthropic principle: We see the universe the way it is because if it were different we would not be here to see it.
  2. A simple remark by VincenzoRomano · · Score: 4, Insightful

    How is it possible in the 21st century in the USA that one uses electronic voting machines with one hand while publishing important documents as scanned images with the other one?

    --
    Maybe Computers will never be as intelligent as Humans.
    For sure they won't ever become so stupid. [VR-1988]
  3. From The Article (not the PDF) by TTURabble · · Score: 4, Insightful

    "There is a significant risk these systems could be hacked or discredited," Denker said.

    I pretty much think that this is the point; and it is an important point, because without the ability to call "bullshit" then you lose the legitimacy of the votes. Any corporation wouldn't trust an accountant to maintain the books without auditing them periodically, this is basically the same thing.

    also, the systems can already be hacked (quite easily I believe)

  4. Re:DIebold Defeats Democracy by spleen_blender · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Just a hint, they both are the same thing. Don't trust either, fight both.

  5. Security by obscurity? by argent · · Score: 4, Insightful

    If the security of the system depends on keeping the implementation secret, then it's not secure. Huckelberry's assertions are themselves an indictment of Diebold's product.

  6. Re:Not again! by Falstius · · Score: 4, Insightful
    Yeah! And why bother investigating burglary, just buy better locks. No need to investigate embezzlement just have better accountants. Oh, and murder, pshaw. We should focus on inventing better medicine.

    Accountability is important. There is not nearly enough of it in the American government, at any level.