Scutari Slams Sequoia

by: Juan Melli

Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 02:58:30 PM EDT

After noticing inconsistencies in the voting results of the February 5th primary, Union County's clerk asked Princeton University computer science professor Edward Felten to conduct an independent study on the county's machines. Sequoia, the voting machine manufacture, threatened legal action to block the investigation. Senator Scutari, who represents Union County, responded:

"Evidently, Sequoia believes that maintaining its 'trade secrets' trumps the rights of New Jerseyans to have their votes properly recorded in an election. I call upon the company to submit to an independent investigation as proposed by Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi and the Constitutional Officers Association of New Jersey in order to insure the integrity of its machines ahead of November?s general election."

Scutari also said that the State Government Committee may look into the matter if Sequoia does not comply.

"Elections fall under our purview, and I am certain that the committee's membership would be very interested in hearing Sequoia defend its policy of preventing election officials from acting to protect our constituents? right to vote."

Best of all, Scutari said he will introduce legislation to make the state pay to replace current voting machines "with optical scan paper ballot technology in all 21 counties, should Sequoia and the Attorney General fail to produce a machine with viable Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) technology by January 1, 2009."

Sequoia already sold us their crappy machines, but they still make money from contracts for service and training. I think it is important to draw a line in the sand to motivate them and the Attorney General to end their foot-dragging. Current law contains a loophole that will extend the deadline indefinitely, and because the state does not want to pay for new machines, they have no reason to not continue granting extensions. Like in Iraq, the only way to incentivize progress is to indicate that we are serious by setting a clear deadline.

Juan Melli :: Scutari Slams Sequoia

Tags: VVPT, Sequoia, Nick Scutari, Ed Felten, (All Tags)

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Scutari Slams Sequoia | 6 comments

2000-2008 (0.00 / 0)

Screw waiting. Our voting systems were proven screwy in 2000, and it's a crime that in 2008 they won't be up to snuff.

by: huntsu @ Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 19:21:48 PM UTC

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Strongly agree! n/t (0.00 / 0)

by: Creed Pogue @ Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 19:56:24 PM UTC

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Sequoia voting machine party (0.00 / 0)

Sequoia's threat exposes them as crooks and liars. If the State owns the machines, the State should have the right to confirm their accuracy.
We need a Sequoia voting machine party akin to the Boston Tea Party. This overpriced crap belongs in History's dust bin. We have to encourage absentee balloting or any other alternative imaginable. As for the threat of a Sequoia law suit: They won't move on it as it will expose them as frauds. Once the law suit begins the discovery process ensues, and that is the fly in the Sequoia ointment. It's a bluff. That's a can of worms they don't want opened.
Of course a law suit would carry on well beyond future elections, and as such, Sequoia machines could be sequestered until the matter is resolved. Bring on the Sequoia law suit now. Any election officials who back down in the face of Sequoia litigation threats are exposing their own unclean hands.

Restore democracy and the Constitution for which it stands.

by: The Wizard @ Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 21:21:20 PM UTC

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Wondering (0.00 / 0)

How did the mainstream media play this story? Did anyone see it on nightly TV news? Cable news?

Was it on the front page of any New Jersey newspaper? Was it anywhere in a Gannett newspaper, the Star-Ledger or the Bergen Record? I don't know and I don't see a link in your diary, Juan Hussein Melli.

Maybe while we're trying to fix the corrupt voting system, we should also try to fix the media system that's not reporting well on the undemocratic elections.

by: Jim33 @ Wed Mar 19, 2008 at 04:24:05 AM UTC

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Re: Wondering (0.00 / 0)

I received a press release about this and reported on it. There was no story to link to that I knew of at the time I posted.

If you have the time, you should post a diary and let us know how the traditional media is reporting on the issue.

by: Juan Melli @ Wed Mar 19, 2008 at 04:43:31 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

WOR did a report 10 PM 3/17 (0.00 / 0)

yes 'my nine' channel 9 did a report on the Sequoia mess with interviews of Mercer County Clerk, Anne Milgram and Penny Venetis.
It was pretty good. And nice to get faces on all the stories I have been reading about in the paper.

by: Ann R @ Wed Mar 19, 2008 at 17:26:43 PM UTC

[ Parent ]