repost from e-mail | 07.11.2006 22:13

Two Diebold voting machines in Vista experienced paper jams on the already controversial computerized format that has been challenged on local, regional and national levels.

"What happend today in Vista is an example of the continued erosion of our democracy," said Fredia Avalos, a communication lecturer at Cal State San
Marcos. Vista filmaker Mark Day commented "I ended up voting twice. Those machines make a lot of racket and sound like an old harvesting machine. The whole thing is very scary."

Contacts:
Fredia Avalos (619) 944-9353
Cynthia Bond (760) 443-0382
Jaime Romo (760) 724-1150
Mark R. Day (760) 224-3872

Several voters showed their displeasure this morning at today's voting process at 7:30 a.m. while waiting in long lines to vote at the New Commmunity Church in Vista, CA.

Two Diebold voting machines experienced paper jams on the already controversial computerized format that has been challenged on local, regional and national levels. A recent HBO documentary documented serious problems with the Diebold machines, and more court challenges are expected with today's elections. Voting officials in Vista apologized for the paper jams, and one official said she had kept them in a closet in her home to "protect them before the voting took place."

"What happend today in Vista is an example of the continued erosion of our democracy," said Fredia Avalos, a communication lecturer at Cal State San
Marcos.

Avalos, a Vista resident who witnessed the paper james added: "The sad thing is that it is happening right under our noses. We need to stand together to change things." Cynthia Bond, another Vista resident, said she made a special trip from her job in Los Angeles to vote. "I didn't want to vote on a paper ballot, but I was shocked to see the paper jams on the voter machines. I witnessed the erosion of my civil liberties this morning. And I was also dismayed at the complacency of the voting officials." Jaime Romo, another Vista resident and education professsor at the University of San Diego, also voiced his displeasure at the voter machine dysfunctgion. "This is really indicative of deep problems not only with these machines, but with the whole voting process," said Romo.

Vista film maker Mark Day said he witnessed a paper jam in one of the machines. "But I never thought it would jam again when I finished my tally and pressed the final button," he said. "I ended up voting twice. Those machines make a lot of racket and sound like an old harvesting machine. The whole thing is very scary."

Oceanside Voting Experience 07.11.2006 23:36 There was a line at about 9:15 am, six voting machines total I think, 2 quit working, one never got turned on because they lost the supervisors card. (Nice eh????) I optioned for a paper ballot, along with 4 other people in line who didn't realize, nor were informed they could request paper. As I was voting, pollsters had to assist several people with the touch screen machines, and YES, they make this ridiculous noise, enough to unnerve elderly voters and annoy me. It was sketchy, the pollsters were way out of their element woking with these computers. I can't say the experience bolsters my enthusiasm nor my confidence in this system. upstartradio.com Upstart Radio Homepage::