12 Smartcards Go Missing In Tennessee

[Calabrio]

It's a breaking Drudge story, so it's only rumor at this point. But, with that disclaimer:

12 SMARTCARDS GO MISSING IN TENNESSEE; CONTROL ELECTRONIC VOTING MACHINES
Fri Nov 03 2006 10:09:31 ET

Political insiders have expressed alarm after 12 voter smartcards have gone missing from one Shelby County, TN early vote location!

The cards are used to activate electronic voting machine.

The location at the center of the controversy is Bishop Byrne High School on E. Shelby Drive in Memphis.

The polling place started out with 25 cards. By Wednesday, 11 were missing, says an eyewitness.

The location was given 5 more smartcards on Thursday.

And another card went missing!

As of Friday morning, a total of 12 smartcards had gone missing, out of the 30 give to the location.

Someone possessing a smartcard could use 'off the shelf equipment' [equipment that reprograms the card] and alter it to be used multiple times, and cast multiple votes.

One concerned insider explains: "Shelby County Board of Elections has been notified. They said is was 'not a big deal' because, they said, the cards are deactivated. But the reality is, you can buy the equipment at computer stores to reactivate them. It's on the Internet how to reactivate the cards!"

Meanwhile, The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is reviewing reports by the Shelby County Election Commission that two people voted twice during early voting in Memphis.

Dist. Atty. Gen. Bill Gibbons said he's referred the cases to the TBI for investigation along with other matters he declined to discuss.

Poll watchers are expected to turn out Tuesday to observe voting in Tennessee's heated U.S. Senate race between Chattanooga Republican Bob Corker and Memphis Democrat Harold Ford Jr.

Developing...

 

[Calabrio]

Two seconds of Google'ing and I found this:

The location at the center of the controversy is Bishop Byrne High School on E. Shelby Drive in Memphis.

Bishop Byrne High School
1475 E Shelby Dr
Memphis, TN 38116

38116-7225

http://www.brainyzip.com/zipcodes/38/38116.html

38116 zip code Memphis

General Characteristics Number Percent U.S.
Total population 51,048 100.0 100%
Male 23,566 46.2 49.1%
Female 27,482 53.8 50.9%
Median Age 27.6 (X) 35.3
Under 5 years 4,937 9.7 6.8%
18 years and over 33,793 66.2 74.3%
65 years and over 3,192 6.3 12.4%
One race 50,679 99.3 97.6%
White 3,755 7.4 75.1%
Black or African American 46,278 90.7% 12.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 62 0.1 0.9%
Asian 105 0.2 3.6%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 14 0.0 0.1%
Some other race 465 0.9 5.5%
Two or more races 369 0.7 2.4%
Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 772 1.5 12.5%

Average Household Size 2.80 (X) 2.59
Average family size 3.30 (X) 3.14
Total housing units 19,272 100.0 100.0%
Occupied housing units 18,104 93.9 91.0%
Owner-occupied housing units 8,617 47.6 66.2%
Renter-occupied housing units 9,487 52.4 33.8%
Vacant housing units 1,168 6.1 9.0%

Social Characteristics Number Percent U.S.
Population 25 years and over 27,926 100.0
High school graduate or higher 22,110 79.2 80.4%
Bachelor's degree or higher 4,163 14.9 24.4%
Civilian veterans 3,752 11.1 12.7%
Disability status (population 21 to 64 years) 7,454 26.4 19.2%
Foreign born 928 1.8 11.1%
Now married (population 15 years and over) 13,824 38.0 54.4%
Speak a language other than English at home (5 years and over) 2,059 4.5 17.9%

Economic Characteristics Number Percent U.S.
In labor force (population 16 years and over) 24,198 68.0 63.9%
Mean travel time to work in minutes (population 16 years and older) 22.7 (X) 25.5
Median household income (dollars) 32,938 (X) 41,994
Median family income (dollars) 36,826 (X) 50,046
Per capita income (dollars) 15,371 (X) 21,587
Families below poverty level 2,312 17.7 9.2%
Individuals below poverty level 10,180 20.2 12.4%

Housing Characteristics Number Percent U.S.
Single-family owner-occupied homes 7,741 100.0
Median value (dollars) 80,800 (X) 119,600
Median of selected monthly owner costs (X) (X)
With a Mortgage 902 (X) 1,088
Not mortgaged 313 (X) 295

So, why did I bold the race? Because we're looking at a 90% black district in Tennesse. What political color (blue or red) do you think that county votes for? Do you think this will be addressed in the reports today or not? We'll see.

But here's what we know- Harold Ford jr. is about to lose this race. He's been on a slide for the past few weeks. Now, in what looks to be a heavily black, Democrat district, the smart cards are stolen?

 

[Calabrio]

http://www.vote-smart.org/search_zipcode.php?zip=38116-7225&go.x=17&go.y=12

Tennessee Senate
Senator Kathryn Bowers District 33 - (Democrat)

Tennessee House of Representatives
Representative Joe Towns District 84 - (Democrat)

Representative Harold Ford District 9 - (Democrat)

I think that this story is in FORD'S congressional district as well!
_________________

 

[fossten]

ACORN Workers Indicted For Alleged Voter Fraud

POSTED: 5:02 pm CST November 1, 2006
UPDATED: 10:25 pm CST November 1, 2006

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Four people have been indicted on charges of voter fraud in Kansas City, officials said Wednesday.

Investigators said questionable registration forms for new voters were collected by the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, a [Democrat Front] group that works to improve minority and low-income communities.

The four indicted -- Kwaim A. Stenson, Dale D. Franklin, Stephanie L. Davis and Brian Gardner -- were employed by ACORN as registration recruiters. They were each charged with two counts.

Federal indictments allege the four turned in false voter registration applications. Prosecutors said the indictments are part of a national investigation.

ACORN and Project Vote recruit and assign workers to low-income and minority neighborhoods to register people to vote.

The Kansas City Election Board told KMBC they found suspicious forms, such as seven applications from one person and an application for a dead man.

"There is some motive behind it -- this is not accidental," said Ray James with the Kansas City Election Board.

Election officials said some of the application cards had false addresses, signatures and phone numbers.

ACORN officials in Kansas City said they turned in the four people who were indicted.

"We're very happy that they were indicted," said Claudie Harris with ACORN.

Harris said ACORN workers are paid by the hour and not by the number of voter registration cards they turn in.

"When you fraudulently defraud this, that gives us a bad name and what we're trying to do a bad name," Harris said.

ACORN officials said the four indicted have been fired.

Harris said ACORN workers check every voter registration card before sending it to the Election Board.

Last month, ACORN claimed to have processed more than 35,000 voter registration applications in Kansas City since the summer.

 

[Marcus]

So, why did I bold the race? Because we're looking at a 90% black district in Tennesse. What political color (blue or red) do you think that county votes for? Do you think this will be addressed in the reports today or not? We'll see.

But here's what we know- Harold Ford jr. is about to lose this race. He's been on a slide for the past few weeks. Now, in what looks to be a heavily black, Democrat district, the smart cards are stolen?

So you're suggesting what exactly? Someone wants to tamper with votes from a district that is likely to vote overwhelmingly Democratic? Which party has more to gain from tampering?

 

[JohnnyBz00LS]

So you're suggesting what exactly? Someone wants to tamper with votes from a district that is likely to vote overwhelmingly Democratic? Which party has more to gain from tampering?

BINGO!

Anyone else see "Hacking Democracy" on HBO last night? Pretty damn depressing. Diebold is ripe for a serious investigation.

VOTERS MUST DEMAND A PAPER BACKUP. DON'T FULLY TRUST ANY ELECTRONIC VOTING MACHINE! Any politician against having a paper backup system is suspect.

 

[fossten]

Any politician against having a paper backup system is suspect.

As is any politician against voter ID.

Oh, wait, that would be ALL THE DEMOCRATS!

 

[Calabrio]

In a state where the margins of the race are expected to be very close, where would you like to find votes?

In 2000, where did the Democrats go in an attempt to manufacture votes in Florida? On the East coast, in the Palm Beach, Broward County, and the heavily Democrat districts.

If you pick up a 1000 extra votes in a safe district, no one notices. If support for Harold Ford goes from 55-65% in black district he represents, who's going to flinch. But if you see a ten% swing in a conservative districts, you might notice.

Also, who runs the poll? While it might not be an organized or planned out fraud, it might just be the result of an overzealous support and the crime of opportuntity. Who runs the machine in that area, Democrats. So, who would Republicans get access to the smart cards in such a safe Democrat district?


Furthermore, I do not have any information how the smart cards work. Do they only work on the machine they were assigned to, or can they be used in any machine? I have no idea.

When I noted the story, it was still "Developing" on Drudge. Was it ever resolved? Did Drudge retract it? If not, did any of the MSM ever pick it up? Has anything come of this story?

 

[JohnnyBz00LS]

Who runs the machine in that area, Democrats.

You state that like you know that as fact. Is it?

 

[fossten]

You state that like you know that as fact. Is it?

It's no secret that whichever party dominates a district typically runs the polls. That's simply a matter of percentages.

I've got a better idea Mr. Troll - why don't you prove that it isn't the case?

 

[fossten]

BINGO!

Anyone else see "Hacking Democracy" on HBO last night? Pretty damn depressing. Diebold is ripe for a serious investigation.

VOTERS MUST DEMAND A PAPER BACKUP. DON'T FULLY TRUST ANY ELECTRONIC VOTING MACHINE! Any politician against having a paper backup system is suspect.

Johnny, you're hilarious. Congress passed an act allocating $4 billion for voting machines precisely BECAUSE your party, the losers in 2000, screamed bloody murder over some Florida voters who couldn't figure out a butterfly ballot. You should remember that, back when Al Gore tried to steal the election.

And now you people are screaming bloody murder about electronic voting, which you DEMANDED back then?

That's absolutely a riot. I guess you've adopted the Nancy Pelosi rule: Either the Dems win, or the Reps cheated.

 

[Calabrio]

You state that like you know that as fact. Is it?

Is there any conceivable reason to think otherwise?
If not, then try contributing something relevant to the conversation.

Apparently you're not concerned by this apparent problem in Tennessee. Would that make you a hypocrite?

 

[JohnnyBz00LS]

It's no secret that whichever party dominates a district typically runs the polls. That's simply a matter of percentages.

Is there any conceivable reason to think otherwise?

Well, 'round these parts, the polls are run by members of BOTH parties in order to keep things honest. If they are not doing this in YOUR neck of the woods, then maybe you should pitch a bitch.

And why are you jumping down my throat for asking a simple question? Unlike yourselves, I never assume anything. Feeling insecure about the outcome of this discussion so you are now resorting to personal attacks? Typical loser mentality.

 

[Calabrio]

Well, 'round these parts, the polls are run by members of BOTH parties in order to keep things honest. If they are not doing this in YOUR neck of the woods, then maybe you should pitch a bitch.

You might want to double check that in your "neck of the woods."

But when you're dealing with an area DOMINATED by the Democrat party, they usually control the mechanisms of the election. Both parties have people working the polls, but that's not what we're talking about.

And why are you jumping down my throat for asking a simple question? Unlike yourselves, I never assume anything.

Feeling insecure about the outcome of this discussion so you are now resorting to personal attacks? Typical loser mentality.

Who's attacking personally? If directed to me, I'm just curious why the inconsistent concers regarding voting integrity.

I haven't seen any outrage regarding this story. In fairness, I haven't seen anything else about this story lately either. It might have been untrue, I can't find out.

 

[Calabrio]

The story does appear to be true, I have found it on several sources other than Drudge. Harold Ford has even commented on it directly saying he would ask the Shelby County district attorney and sheriff to step aside from the investigation because they are co-chairing Corker's campaign.

The election commission plans on holding a news conference Monday, November 6, 2006 to address concerns about missing smart cards

 

[Joeychgo]

Johnny, you're hilarious. Congress passed an act allocating $4 billion for voting machines precisely BECAUSE your party, the losers in 2000, screamed bloody murder over some Florida voters who couldn't figure out a butterfly ballot. You should remember that, back when Al Gore tried to steal the election.

And now you people are screaming bloody murder about electronic voting, which you DEMANDED back then?

That's absolutely a riot. I guess you've adopted the Nancy Pelosi rule: Either the Dems win, or the Reps cheated.

Thats BS.

First - Al Gore didnt try any harder to steal it then GW did - so lets call an a$$hole and a$$hole. BOTH parties / candidates behaved badly that election.

Second, there has been complaints over voting methods since DAY FRIGGIN ONE - so dont act like the Repubs were being benevolent and accomidating to the dems in allocating these funds. Its call PROGRESS and would have happened regardless.

HOWEVER - I personally dont trust the machines. Too many things can go wrong that can cause votes to not be counted or counted incorrectly. IMO, the machine should automatically print a receipt that the voter has to check over and place in a box. This should go on for awhile until the accuracy of the machines are proven. Oh, and to avoid trouble, the paper ballots should be the controlling ballot for now, despite the machines.

One more thing...

Everything I hear from you are how the republicans are great and its always the democrats who are screwing things up or are wrong. Nice to know you think the repubs are perfect. HOWEVER - Most people dont agree with you. I wonder why that is? GW has gone from 80% approval to what - 30ish? wow..

Oh, and just so you dont question the particular poll I used:

Congressional Job Approval: http://www.pollingreport.com/CongJob.htm

FOX/Opinion Dynamics - 29% approval for congress - 11-5-06

I know, I know - its all the dems fault and the liberal media and this and that. Of course - after 6 years, the rest of the country doesnt agree with you much now does it. ​

 

[JohnnyBz00LS]

HOWEVER - I personally dont trust the machines. Too many things can go wrong that can cause votes to not be counted or counted incorrectly. IMO, the machine should automatically print a receipt that the voter has to check over and place in a box. This should go on for awhile until the accuracy of the machines are proven. Oh, and to avoid trouble, the paper ballots should be the controlling ballot for now, despite the machines.

Let me add that the Nevada Gaming Commission has MUCH tighter control on the integrity of the software contained in the tens-of thousands of slot machines in that state than anyone outside of Diebold has on the software contained in those voting machines. If one state organization can do this, there is absolutely no reason our government can't do it. Where are the checks and balances that MUST be in place with these machines??

 

[fossten]

Let me add that the Nevada Gaming Commission has MUCH tighter control on the integrity of the software contained in the tens-of thousands of slot machines in that state than anyone outside of Diebold has on the software contained in those voting machines. If one state organization can do this, there is absolutely no reason our government can't do it. Where are the checks and balances that MUST be in place with these machines??

Are you advocating a rule mandating bipartisan staffing of voter machines? Aside from the sheer impossibility of enforcing such a rule, I think it might be an ok idea.

Manager: Are you sure you're a Republican?
Interviewee: Uh, yeah, sure, that's the ticket.
Manager: Ok, go stand next to Michael Moore over there.

 

[MAC1]

ACORN Workers Indicted For Alleged Voter Fraud

I just heard that ACORN was caught in 7 states engaging in election fraud and they're under investigation in other states.

Is this new news or has the main stream media known about ACORN's illegal activities?

 

[MAC1]

Thats BS.
First - Al Gore didnt try any harder to steal it then GW did -

Joey, the problem with your assessment is that Al Gore not only was the one that filed the complaint in order to litigate Florida's election results, but also, even after it was clear that he lost he still argued that the election was stolen from him.

I'm sure you’re aware that three newspapers independently recounted Florida votes and they all found that GWB would have won. And actually, the results showed GWB would have won by an even bigger margin than what the record shows as the official tabulation. Moreover, democrats are the ones that started the "hanging chad" nonsense. Further, democrats are the ones that argued that the voting ballot was too confusing and therefore black voters were disenfranchised, particularly in Dade County. That argument was thoroughly dismissed despite another democrat legal challenge and quickly became a laughing stock on late night shows and all over the country.

However, I think the real proof of lack of integrity on the part of democrats is that even after loosing before the United States Supreme Court; and even after the State of Florida tabulated the votes (many who tabulated were democrats); and even after independent investigations by three newspapers, including the pro-liberal Washington Post, democrats, including Al Gore, still argue to this day that President Bush stole the 2000 election.

THAT MY FRIEND IS SICK.

 

[Joeychgo]

Joey, the problem with your assessment is that Al Gore not only was the one that filed the complaint in order to litigate Florida's election results, but also, even after it was clear that he lost he still argued that the election was stolen from him.

I'm sure you’re aware that three newspapers independently recounted Florida votes and they all found that GWB would have won. And actually, the results showed GWB would have won by an even bigger margin than what the record shows as the official tabulation. Moreover, democrats are the ones that started the "hanging chad" nonsense. Further, democrats are the ones that argued that the voting ballot was too confusing and therefore black voters were disenfranchised, particularly in Dade County. That argument was thoroughly dismissed despite another democrat legal challenge and quickly became a laughing stock on late night shows and all over the country.

However, I think the real proof of lack of integrity on the part of democrats is that even after loosing before the United States Supreme Court; and even after the State of Florida tabulated the votes (many who tabulated were democrats); and even after independent investigations by three newspapers, including the pro-liberal Washington Post, democrats, including Al Gore, still argue to this day that President Bush stole the 2000 election.

THAT MY FRIEND IS SICK.

And its my belief that the repubs would have done the same thing if it didnt go their way.

Oh, and Gore had to be the one to file, GW won Florida at first - so he couldnt / wouldnt file.

 

[fossten]

And its my belief that the repubs would have done the same thing if it didnt go their way.

Oh, and Gore had to be the one to file, GW won Florida at first - so he couldnt / wouldnt file.

:bowrofl:


You just opened the door into your own face. You just admitted the FACT that Gore was unwilling to accept the will of the voters and instead demanded a court action in order to steal the election. Bush couldn't steal something that he already had - YOUR WORDS - so therefore your previous statement saying that both of them tried to steal it is baloney.

Gore "had to be the one to file" - like he had some sort of civic duty to the people to make sure he got the election instead of Bush. That's sick. But that explains why you libs are so poisoned with hate against Bush. You believed the hype about the exit polls, and you will forever be suckers to the DriveBy Media.

 

[Calabrio]

And its my belief that the repubs would have done the same thing if it didnt go their way.

Oh, and Gore had to be the one to file, GW won Florida at first - so he couldnt / wouldnt file.

This is wrong. Because the Democrats had the lawyers in place in Florida in preparation of this move. They also started their process early in the day, long before the results were in. It's clear to me, and most people who followed the events, that this was a fail safe plan by the DNC.

Republicans had to respond to it and they weren't ready for it.

They were ready in 2004, but in 2000 the concept that Democrats would attempt to not only legislate from the bench but to win elections from the bench wasn't expected.

So you're premise that Gore's response came AFTER the voting results were in is false. The wheels were in motion before the polls closed.

If you want further prove that the DNC acted differently than the GOP, check the race in Missouri. That election was about as dirty as one could imagine, and the margin was extremely close. Aschroft didn't even challenge it in court. He could have. He was running against a dead person. There were hi jinx at the polls, some stayed open longer in Democrat districts, ect. But he didn't.