A former legislator and critic of Maryland’s elections board received a copy of Diebold’s computer code along with an anonymous letter criticizing the management of state elections. The incident adds to a growing list of concerns over Diebold’s troubled voting equipment.

(h/t: Crooks and Liars)


Baltimore Sun:

Cheryl C. Kagan, a longtime critic of Maryland’s elections chief, says the fact that the computer disks were sent to her – along with an unsigned note criticizing the management of the state elections board – demonstrates that Maryland’s voting system faces grave security threats.

A spokesman for Diebold, which manufactures the state’s touch-screen voting machines, said the company is treating the software Kagan received as “stolen” and not as “picked up” at the State Board of Elections, as the anonymous note claimed. Lawyers for the company are seeking its return.

The disclosure comes amid heightened concerns nationwide about the security of the November elections and the ability of the state to keep tight controls on the thousands of machines that will be used next month.

Maryland’s September primary – which used voting machines and electronic check-in equipment made by Diebold – suffered a series of mistakes, and the outcomes of some contests were not known for weeks.

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