Diebold

Interesting story about how Diebold got into the voting machines business and how bruising it's been. It seems less a story about election rigging by a Bush Pioneer than it does a company that bit off more than it could chew, and then lied about it. Nevertheless, although I could not tell you who manufactures the lever machines in my district, this still does not give me confidence.

So what's the prediction for this election? The primaries were a mixed bag. One big story was that Florida was not a story, but there were problems elsewhere, from poll workers unable to boot up the machines, to transmission problems, to unexpected screen freezes.

"History shows us it always takes at least three good-sized elections before we have any new system down," says Doug Lewis, the executive director of the Election Center, an organization that represents and trains local election administrators. "It would be a miracle if there weren't problems in this election."

As for Diebold, Swidarski is questioning whether the election business "fits into our product portfolio." He says he'll make a decision within the next three months. But it says something that the company recently ordered the name "Diebold" removed from the front of the voting equipment. Why? A spokesman would only say, "It was a strategic decision on the part of the corporation."

Anyway. Nevermind all that, people! Go and vote tomorrow!