ES&S’s performance in May was “abysmal”, Kiffmeyer expresses confidence of electronic voting
UPDATE: Even the Texas GOP may be moving against electronic voting machines.
Yesterday, Paul Schmelzer of Eyeteeh posted a solid analysis of Election Systems & Software (ES&S) the company that Secretary of State Mary Kiffmeyer has chosen to provide voting machines for 83 of Minnesota’s 87 counties. Schmelezer called into question the political neutrality of ES&S and also gave a detailed list of problems the voting machines have been encountering in multiple states.
Today, more problems surrounding ES&S were uncovered, this time in Indiana: (emphasis added)
A Nebraska company whose voting equipment led to numerous problems during Indiana’s May primary has agreed to pay the state $245,000 and provide extra hands-on and technical support this fall.
In exchange, the state decided not to pursue formal charges or claims against the company, Election Systems & Software, which has denied any wrongdoing.
ES&S was accused of not setting up the machines properly, “causing difficulties when it came time to open up the polls and count the ballot. Other jurisdictions said they were forced to miss deadlines because the company was late in delivering the final layout of ballots.”
The final analysis of ES&S’s performance?
“The primary election was a disaster for this company,” said Johnson County Clerk Jill Jackson.
Marion County Clerk Doris Anne Sadler said county officials would continue on their own to pursue compensation from ES&S because of primary setbacks. The county complained about the company in 2004. Sadler said things have changed little since then. “There’s a serious problem with this company,” she said. “Their performance (in the primary) was absolutely abysmal.”
One county clerk in Indiana said that ES&S has turned around completely since the primary.
In my opinion, actions speak louder than words and I don’t want to have to hope that ES&S will be able to get their act together.
A company that had serious problems seven months before a general election should not be given the keys to 83 out of 87 counties in Minnesota. Meanwhile, “Secretary of State Mary Kiffmeyer expresses confidence about the full-scale electronic vote counting.”
What do you think?
August 24th, 2006 at 1:58 pm
Finally!!! Thank you for (partially) covering this story. This should be a top priortity for every voter in MN. (The missing part of the story is that Diebold is the other company providing machines to the four counties not be “serviced” by ES & S.)
If the debacle of Ohio 2004 is any indication, expect similar problems here in MN as well.
What can we do about this? I’d like to see an article on the options available to ensure our vote is accurate and counted. Should we vote absentee? Whatever action is needed will have to be disseminated to the voters quickly, time is short.
Again, thanks for covering this.
I like your website and have bookmarked it in my favorites.
August 24th, 2006 at 2:48 pm
Diebold is covering the other four counties? If true, it’s incredible. Do you have a source for that?
October 4th, 2006 at 11:33 am
Ramsey Washington anoka dakota?
These already had diebold accuvote scanners for years.
check with the county elections. No secret.
But check the lobby expenses for ES&S when they picked up
the rest of the MN counties, $40,000 for one year and they
got what, over $30 million contract. great payback for a few martinis