Kentucky Attorney General Stumbo’s Electronic Voting Machine Investigation Yields Early Results

August 28, 2007 -- Kentucky Attorney General Greg Stumbo today announced that his office’s recently launched investigation into electronic voting machine irregularities has yielded a surprising result – Jefferson County voters have been using an uncertified voting system, apparently for at least the last three elections.

The troubling admission was made by the voting system’s manufacturer, Diebold Election Systems, (now “Premier Election Solutions”), in a letter to the Jefferson County Clerk. (Click here to read the letter from Premier Election Solutions: http://tinyurl.com/2jg333).

“Investigative demands from my office required Diebold to prove that it complied with all certification procedures,” Stumbo said. “Much to everyone’s surprise, the records proved that the voting device was not certified at all. Obviously, we will ensure that this breakdown in the system is identified and eliminated. It’s our job to ensure lawful and reliable elections.”

Stumbo sent a letter today to Secretary of State Trey Grayson, (click here to read Secretary Grayson’s letter: http://tinyurl.com/yscwkh), seeking information about the state’s failure to certify the electronic voting system. The Secretary of State chairs the State Board of Elections, which is supposed to ensure that all voting systems are properly tested and certified.

“The goal of this inquiry is to ensure that Kentucky’s electronic voting machines are as reliable as possible. Now we see that the basic oversight and certification process must be examined as well,” said Attorney General Stumbo. “Kentucky voters should rest assured that my office will closely monitor and evaluate upcoming testing and certification procedures to eliminate shortcomings we have now exposed.”

Source: Kentucky Attorney General