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Politics : Ask Michael Burke -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Ronald J. Clark who wrote (85538)	11/15/2000 10:00:32 PM
From: Jeff Leader	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 132070

Nadine may be mistaken. 20 of the 51 counties Bush won use punch cards. 7 of the 16 counties Gore won use punch cards. herald.com

To: Ronald J. Clark who wrote (85538)	11/15/2000 10:09:57 PM
From: Nadine Carroll	Respond to of 132070

Just curious, but what is your authority for "older" machines makeing more "mistakes" than newer machines? Also, where do you get your information regarding the age of the machines in various districts (i.e. Democratic districts have older machines than Republican districts). Are you just assuming this is so, or do you have supporting facts? It was based on an article I read in the Washington Post, and on several reports I heard on Cspan and CNN. I also found this post by wrsingeorgia informative: To: Wayne Crimi who wrote (85171) From: wsringeorgia Sunday, Nov 12, 2000 12:46 PM ET Reply # of 85543 The problem is that there are different types of automated counts. Here where I am in rural Georgia we have new machines that work on the "retro-reflective" photoelectric principle and a recount shold not change anything as the machine counting error is very low. Also, these machines are essentially "un-adjustable" to prevent tampering; any changes would have to be made at board level and hence detectable by later inspection and they "self-null" or "auto-zero" by by sampling the difference in the infared reflection from a printed band and a "white" unprinted area on the ballot; there is no need or provision for "gain" or "bandwidth" adjustment. The type in question in Florida is a different and MUCH OLDER type; it uses the "transmission" or "through-beam" probably visable spectrum photoelectric principle and is similar to the systems employed in banking in the 50's(remember the checks with all the tiny holes in them?) and then and later in data processing reading punch cards. These are called Holerith Card Readers and have all sorts of adjustments (multiple gain, bandwidth, ect. and mechanical sensor and lightsource allignment) which could be tampered with ( in one precinct in GA anyone with access and a screwdriver could get inside as there is no lock). What would happen is that any reduction in gain would raise the reject rate; and as these older systems are employed in mostly Gore districts any scrutiny there will raise Gores total as he is the majority candidate there. The Bush camp is frantic and for good reason; they have lost the election and they know it. Unless they can stop the hand count in those they are screwed. And it wouldn't help them to recount rural Florida where Bush is ahead; a recount there, just as here in my precinct shouldn't change anything as the error rate on these newer machines is very low. WSR