Public relations campaign promotes Diebold machines
Associated Press
ANNAPOLIS, Md. - A public relations blitz involving billboards, radio and television commercials, a Web site and more than 1.5 million pamphlets and brochures is under way to familiarize Maryland voters with the electronic voting machines many will use for the first time this year.

But some critics accuse the campaign of using tax dollars to offset publicity about security flaws in the system.

The five-year, $1 million campaign is part of the $55 million the state is paying Diebold Election Systems Inc. of North Canton, Ohio, maker of the 16,000 touch-screen computer terminals that will be used throughout Maryland beginning with the March 2 primary. Baltimore uses machines made by a different company.

"The money would be better spent making the system more secure instead of trying to win voter confidence through public relations and not necessarily through anything substantive," said Avi Rubin, an associate computer science professor at Johns Hopkins University.

"They're trying to (sway) public opinion the way Coca-Cola convinces people that it's a good soft drink."

Linda Schade, a Takoma Park resident who helped organize a campaign against touch-screen voting machines, called the taxpayer-funded ads "an outrage."

State officials say the campaign is simply explanatory.

"We need to let our voters know how to use the system, and it becomes a much smoother system on Election Day if they've seen it," said Nikki Trella, election reform director of the State Board of Elections.

The Diebold machines gained national attention after Rubin's team at Johns Hopkins published a report saying it was rife with security flaws. Two reports commissioned by the state agreed with many of his findings, but concluded the problems could be corrected.

Maryland officials say Rubin's report didn't take into account the levels of election security, and insist voters can have confidence in the accuracy of election results.

Diebold spokesman David Bear said the campaign isn't an answer to critics.

"You may not change people's opinions about electronic voting, but it familiarizes them," he said.