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Started By
Message
Louisiana Voting Machine Purchasing - bait-and-switch?
Posted on 2/12/21 at 11:14 pm
Posted on 2/12/21 at 11:14 pm
So I read the scope of work in the Request for Proposal from the Secretary of State's office and prepared a report with some concerns. We will be presenting this next Friday at the Senate/House Governmental Affairs Committee meeting.
Full Report LINK
TLDR:
• Statements of Secretary of State’s office would have the public thinking the scope is just to replace the aging AVC advantage machines and that the rest of the infrastructure and procedures would remain intact
• The scope of work in the RFP shows that this could be closer to a complete replacement of large segments of the existing infrastructure and procedures, thereby taking a large portion of the chain of custody out of the hands of humans and placing it in the control of a single vendor.
• If the scope in the RFP is unavoidable, we can still work with this. The state will have to show their work and make the paperwork from the vote on the front end readily available to the public. For in-person voting, the paperwork is the Voter Verified Paper Audit Trails (VVPATs). For mail in tabulation, the paperwork is the ballots. The VVPATs and the ballot images created by the tabulators must be available for download on the SOS website along with the election results.
• With the scope being as it is, without readily accessible paperwork, there is little to nothing apparent that the state can do to comfort the public. Complaints and litigation would become a feature of nearly every election.
UPDATE: Process halted due to complaint that RFP was drafted too narrowly, seemingly to benefit certain vemdor(s)
UPDATE: the scanning in of the VVPATs has been demonstrated to not be a solution, but I haven’t updated the paper yet. The key takeaway is that the RFP needs to be halted for now.
ACTION TIME: We need to be going hard at contacting our representatives and the SOS and even the governor (he halted the last attempt by the SOS and apparently he doesn’t like Ardoin). Snail mail letters are better than phone calls which are better than using the contact form on their websites. Form letters are treated as 1 entry so you are going to have to use your own words and embellishments.
The general idea is that the RFP opens a ton of questions that need to be transparently vetted with the public. The fact that this went out proves the need. The public is not going to like hearing about the inclusion of the EMS. The RFP needs to be halted until we are satisfied that due diligence has been gone through for proper best practices investigation and that we don’t rush through a turn-key solution with big dollars.
Full Report LINK
TLDR:
• Statements of Secretary of State’s office would have the public thinking the scope is just to replace the aging AVC advantage machines and that the rest of the infrastructure and procedures would remain intact
• The scope of work in the RFP shows that this could be closer to a complete replacement of large segments of the existing infrastructure and procedures, thereby taking a large portion of the chain of custody out of the hands of humans and placing it in the control of a single vendor.
• If the scope in the RFP is unavoidable, we can still work with this. The state will have to show their work and make the paperwork from the vote on the front end readily available to the public. For in-person voting, the paperwork is the Voter Verified Paper Audit Trails (VVPATs). For mail in tabulation, the paperwork is the ballots. The VVPATs and the ballot images created by the tabulators must be available for download on the SOS website along with the election results.
• With the scope being as it is, without readily accessible paperwork, there is little to nothing apparent that the state can do to comfort the public. Complaints and litigation would become a feature of nearly every election.
UPDATE: Process halted due to complaint that RFP was drafted too narrowly, seemingly to benefit certain vemdor(s)
UPDATE: the scanning in of the VVPATs has been demonstrated to not be a solution, but I haven’t updated the paper yet. The key takeaway is that the RFP needs to be halted for now.
ACTION TIME: We need to be going hard at contacting our representatives and the SOS and even the governor (he halted the last attempt by the SOS and apparently he doesn’t like Ardoin). Snail mail letters are better than phone calls which are better than using the contact form on their websites. Form letters are treated as 1 entry so you are going to have to use your own words and embellishments.
The general idea is that the RFP opens a ton of questions that need to be transparently vetted with the public. The fact that this went out proves the need. The public is not going to like hearing about the inclusion of the EMS. The RFP needs to be halted until we are satisfied that due diligence has been gone through for proper best practices investigation and that we don’t rush through a turn-key solution with big dollars.
This post was edited on 2/22/21 at 7:33 am
12
Posted on 2/12/21 at 11:17 pm to DerkaDerka
This is crazy at this time for Louisiana to be doing this.
Posted on 2/12/21 at 11:22 pm to sabanisarustedspoke
Paper ballots with specific identifiers, with auditable results, with no political road blocks to the process is the only way forward. The biggest crapfest of an election better lead to reform or we are just done
Posted on 2/12/21 at 11:23 pm to DerkaDerka
We need live streaming video of every square inch of Orleans Parish on election day.
Posted on 2/12/21 at 11:23 pm to DerkaDerka
Texas does this extremely well. I know. Former precinct judge, alternate precinct judge, poll worker, poll watcher. The chain of custody in Texas is as solid as gold.
Copy the Texas model, for Christ's sake. This is the way.
Copy the Texas model, for Christ's sake. This is the way.
Posted on 2/12/21 at 11:28 pm to RougeDawg
quote:
We need live streaming video of every square inch of Orleans Parish on election day.
I have something to share in this regard, let me dig through the election code to find it. Could take a while.
Posted on 2/13/21 at 12:19 am to RougeDawg
On the surface, the existing Louisiana elections procedures seem pretty good. How it works in practice in every location, I can't say. My visit to the mail in ballot processing in my Parish (run-off election in December) went pretty well though.
The tabulation of the mail in votes is done by the Parish Board of Election Supervisors and their commissioners and it is open to the public (R.S. 18:1313). Just know that once you enter, you can't leave until it is complete and you can not have your phone. So if there is a concern as to who is doing the counting, start there.
For voting day in-person voting, the current process has the Commissioner-In-Charge (I think) deliver the cartridges to the Clerk of Court's office for direct input into the states database (ERIN). Adjudication shouldn't be a thing done at the polls since we don't use ballots there for scanning. Also, the results are posted at the polling location and 3 other copies are sent to different offices. Unfortunately, I do not know the process for early in-person voting
I don't know the entire infrastructure because it is hard as heck to figure out, and I have been trying. See my shitty video about it here
This means there could be places of vulnerability that I don't know about.
The issue at hand is that they seemingly want to cut a lot of our existing methods out and put it directly into a single vendor's hands. A vendor that will likely use "black-box" devices that are "Proprietary" and that we can't really see inside of.
Hopefully I am mistaken, but the question exists based on the RFP.
The tabulation of the mail in votes is done by the Parish Board of Election Supervisors and their commissioners and it is open to the public (R.S. 18:1313). Just know that once you enter, you can't leave until it is complete and you can not have your phone. So if there is a concern as to who is doing the counting, start there.
For voting day in-person voting, the current process has the Commissioner-In-Charge (I think) deliver the cartridges to the Clerk of Court's office for direct input into the states database (ERIN). Adjudication shouldn't be a thing done at the polls since we don't use ballots there for scanning. Also, the results are posted at the polling location and 3 other copies are sent to different offices. Unfortunately, I do not know the process for early in-person voting
I don't know the entire infrastructure because it is hard as heck to figure out, and I have been trying. See my shitty video about it here
This means there could be places of vulnerability that I don't know about.
The issue at hand is that they seemingly want to cut a lot of our existing methods out and put it directly into a single vendor's hands. A vendor that will likely use "black-box" devices that are "Proprietary" and that we can't really see inside of.
Hopefully I am mistaken, but the question exists based on the RFP.
Posted on 2/13/21 at 1:06 am to CamdenTiger
quote:
Paper ballots with specific identifiers, with auditable results, with no political road blocks to the process is the only way forward. The biggest crapfest of an election better lead to reform or we are just done
Completely agree. I hope this site follows this closely
Posted on 2/13/21 at 1:43 am to DerkaDerka
Not a resident of Louisiana, but I appreciate the work you're doing even if it goes relatively un-commented upon here right now.
This country needs MANY more people like you, that are willing to take the time to really dig into the nuts and bolts of the voting process and ensure it's on the up and up for the forseeable future.
If there's ONE positive of the 2020 election debacle, it's that there are hundreds of thousands of new people willing to step forward and demand a safe and verifiable voting method. I feel like we were resting on our laurels after 2016 when it comes to election integrity, and we had a huge wake up call in 2020.
I hope the push for legitimate and transparent elections continues until 2022 and 2024 (and into the future from there) and doesn't just die out over time.
This country cannot exist without the belief that the people hold the power through their vote. It's the entire basis we were founded upon, and what millions of men and women have fought and died for throughout the generations.
Posted on 2/13/21 at 2:45 am to DerkaDerka
Guys, here's your warning, watch this very careful. This is how it all started in Georgia.
Posted on 2/13/21 at 2:49 am to HubbaBubba
quote:
Former precinct judge, alternate precinct judge, poll worker, poll watcher. The chain of custody in Texas is as solid as gold.
That is all fine and dandy but if you have an area froth with possible corruption like Orleans Parish and have all the positions on the take. No telling what can still pass through.
Just remember just remember JBE was down election night, but once Orleans parish numbers started to trickle in the margin got smaller until he passed his opponent. Does this sound familiar?
Some of this was due to a better ground game for Democrats and a lame GOP candidate. But no telling what could pass for voting in that parish just look at its recent winners: an indicted DA, LaToya the Destoyer who can’t pay her taxes, judges with questionable legal histories, and the list goes on.
Posted on 2/13/21 at 3:10 am to DerkaDerka
first- that link gave my phone AIDS
bit what I did reD says they can now upload voting results instead of having to manually do it
banana republic
bit what I did reD says they can now upload voting results instead of having to manually do it
banana republic
Posted on 2/13/21 at 3:35 am to ksayetiger
When Facebook spends nearly 400 million dollars to employ "ballot harvesters" and counters, specifically in democratic areas.....and the DOJ does not bat an eye, Im not certain what rules or regulations mean anymore since no one follows them, and there are no penalties.
By the way, did ANYTHING happen to that woman who was caught red handed on video pulling the boxes from under the table?? Her and her daughter?
By the way, did ANYTHING happen to that woman who was caught red handed on video pulling the boxes from under the table?? Her and her daughter?
Posted on 2/13/21 at 6:56 am to ksayetiger
quote:
first- that link gave my phone AIDS
Apologies for the aids. I need a place to upload the pdf to share by URL. Open to other suggestions. What did it do btw?
EDIT: I see, when you page forward it tries to open in something else and messes up. Seems to work if you go back and try again, but I’ll look for a better solution.
This post was edited on 2/13/21 at 9:34 am
Posted on 2/13/21 at 8:32 am to Tarps99
quote:
But no telling what could pass for voting in that parish just look at its recent winners: an indicted DA, LaToya the Destoyer who can’t pay her taxes, judges with questionable legal histories, and the list goes on.
It's not like New Orleans voters did not know about Latoya before voting for her. They are getting what they deserve, it just sucks they are subjecting the rest of the state to their shitty voting choices.
This post was edited on 2/13/21 at 8:34 am
Posted on 2/13/21 at 8:55 am to CamdenTiger
quote:
Paper ballots with specific identifiers, with auditable results, with no political road blocks to the process is the only way forward. The biggest crapfest of an election better lead to reform or we are just done
BINGO!!!
*NO mail ballots
*Government ID required
*Paper ballots used, no electronic voting
*In person voters only, special medical/military exceptions
*Tabulation verified by three (3) certifiers
*ALL ballots are fully reviewable for 12 months after election
GOOD IDEA....but it will never get past the DEMLIBS.
IMO, if we don't get election reform passed ASAP, this country is SCREWED for ALL citizens!
Posted on 2/13/21 at 9:03 am to Tarps99
quote:Thats a given, but I wish I had time to go into the extreme length and detail that the county elections board goes to in order to insure absolute vote security. It starts at the top, and is well planned, documented, secured and just ask yourself, "when was the last time you ever heard of voters fraud in Texas carried out by election officials that potentially invalidated an election?"
That is all fine and dandy but if you have an area froth with possible corruption like Orleans Parish and have all the positions on the take. No telling what can still pass through
I would recommend that whoever sets up the state model in Louisiana that they hire a consultant from out of Denton County Elections to walk them through the checks and balances, and how the voting machines and ballots are secured immediately at the end of voting. Even at the voting precinct locations, the election judge and the alternate judge are in opposition parties to each other. Both witness and sign for provisional ballots. Everything is validated as to the number of ballots matching the machine counts, signed by both judges and two poll worker witnesses. These are all sealed using numbered zip ties in locking heavy bags, The machines are locked and ziptied with numbered tags after getting both a printed readout of the ballots and a USB drive of the ballots. The USB drives are locked in a heavy bag, a numbered zip tie seals it and is recorded, signed and witnessed. The printouts are secured separate from the USB drives, secured, sealed, signed and witnessed. Nothing is done that isn't triple checked and multiple witnesses, including opposition witnesses, sign under oath to attest, then EVERYTHING goes into a rolling steel cage, locked with a heavy numbered lock with a special key that can only be unlocked by a court order with multiple witnesses from the court and only with multiple party witnesses in attendance. Those cases are stored in a secure, bonded warehouse type of location under 24/7 security with a state of the art fire suppression system.
None of the machines are able to be cleared until after an election has been certified and all challenges have been settled.
This is the way. This is how to have an accurate and fair election. When I see that loosey goosey stacking of boxes of ballots and counting by hand, it sickens me to see, after experiencing how well and secure it's done here.
The judge and election judge both have ledgers with the data from the zip ties. If a cage has to be opened, both judges must attend, and before anything is opened, the ziptie number is read out and both the election precinct judge and the alternate judge must agree that the number is correct in their ledgers. Those ledgers were both sealed in fireproof bags and sealed with numbered zip ties reserved just for those ledgers. Those are checked before the ledgers are opened.
It is an excessive overabundance of caution, security, checks and balances to insure the integrity of the election. It's not difficult but it does take dedication to planning and looking for potential flaws in the system that could potentially be exploited and then eliminate those loopholes.
Posted on 2/13/21 at 9:44 am to oldskule
About paper ballots. I actually prefer the electronic machines with a paper printout that you can verify. The printout is in a sealed box with a window for visual verification. I say this because it eliminates the need for on site adjudication when scanned ballots fail to be processed.
If we want paper ballots then the procedure must be that the voter scans it and verifies the selections read by the machine personally.
I’d need to think about the process If we wanted to eliminate the scanners and do it all by hand. Needs to be counted with plenty of observers available to contest the counts as they are processed and it can’t be done by any ole riff raff. On the surface it Seems like it could open up the process for problems, but I could be convinced.
If we want paper ballots then the procedure must be that the voter scans it and verifies the selections read by the machine personally.
I’d need to think about the process If we wanted to eliminate the scanners and do it all by hand. Needs to be counted with plenty of observers available to contest the counts as they are processed and it can’t be done by any ole riff raff. On the surface it Seems like it could open up the process for problems, but I could be convinced.
Posted on 2/13/21 at 10:02 am to RazorBroncs
quote:
Not a resident of Louisiana, but I appreciate the work you're doing even if it goes relatively un-commented upon here right now.
Thanks brother man. The RFP is actually readily available on the Secretary of State’s website and anyone can get it. I’m finding as I get into more and more, that so much is actually available to the public, but the public just isn’t paying attention. This has to change. It doesn’t take a lot of people to just show up to council meetings, for example, to let them know we are watching.
Yeah it sucks, but this was the deal from the beginning. We don’t have to be ruled by kings, but we were supposed to do the job ourselves.
There are ways to make it suck less. Do it with others and make sport of it. Fortunately, the various forms of circus have been eliminated due to SJW adherence. So here we go, it’s time.
Posted on 2/13/21 at 10:40 am to DerkaDerka
Who are you and/or what group prepared that document?
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