# What about those hackable electronic voting machines? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [November 10, 2003, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-those-hackable-electronic-voting-machines/212419 "2003-11-10T16:47:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2003, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-those-hackable-electronic-voting-machines/212419/1 "2003-11-10T16:47:39Z")
Just about everyone (here, anyway) is aware of the contoversy: electronic voting machines are (presumably) made by Republican companies. And that they guard their propriety software so carefully that no one outside the companies can examine it. Comes voting time, no matter how well it goes for the Democratic Presidential (et al) candidates, if the GOP deems it necessary, the mfrs’ Hacks can change the voting results without leaving so much as a trace of their fraudulent activity. My question is, does anybody know if the DNC is aware of this and of so, wtf are they doing about it? ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2003, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-those-hackable-electronic-voting-machines/212419/2 "2003-11-10T19:49:38Z")
There have been several threads on this already; a search for “Diebold” will do the trick. The problem with electronic voting machines appears to be slowly making its way up to the mainstream media; CNN recently did an article on the problem, a bunch of Pennsylvania college students are showcasing internal Diebold memos showing their slapdash attitude towards fraud, and the state of California recently decided to reconsider their plans to go ahead with electronic voting. But iMO it’s still too low-profile, and the problem with Diebold’s crooked machines should be emblazoned in 72-point newspaper headlines across the country. I’m sure the Democratic Party is well aware of the problem, but without public awareness of the issue, it’s hard to make folks see that there’s a danger here. ---
**Author:** ![Neurotik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Neurotik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurotik)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2003, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-those-hackable-electronic-voting-machines/212419/3 "2003-11-10T20:33:39Z")
I don’t get what’s so secret about the machines’ programming. Seems fairly straightforward to me. Push button for this candidate, one tally in the electronic column for this guy. I could whip up a program for it. ---
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2003, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-those-hackable-electronic-voting-machines/212419/4 "2003-11-10T20:43:40Z")
Exactly, Neurotik. So doesn’t the secrecy get you to wonder? And, as rjung patiently mentioned (above), a search on Diebold yields a number of threads on the subject. Thank you rjung. ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2003, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-those-hackable-electronic-voting-machines/212419/5 "2003-11-10T21:07:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Antiochus \* > **electronic voting machines are (presumably) made by Republican companies.** This seems to be a rather odd claim. Could you give us some insight into it? ---
**Author:** ![5\_time\_champ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/278dde/32.png) [@5\_time\_champ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5_time_champ)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2003, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-those-hackable-electronic-voting-machines/212419/6 "2003-11-10T22:30:20Z")
CEO of Diebold, Inc Walden O’Dell stated in a Republican fundraising letter that he is **"committed to helping Ohio deliver its electoral votes to the president next year."** [Republican electronic voting machine companies](http://www.commondreams.org/headlines03/0828-08.htm)