New concerns about electronic voting machines being hacked
10News. 10 June 2005. By:Mike Deeson

Tampa, Florida - As voters were going to the polls this past fall some were raising concerns about electronic machines, but supervisors of elections officials throughout the state said there was no worry.

Buddy Johnson, Hillsborough Supervisor of Elections:
?Our systems are very secure the voters are confident, they love the machines for the most part.?

But when the message "Are We having Fun Yet?" appeared on the screen of a voting machine in test in Tallahassee last week, new concerns arose that the machines can be hacked.

Buddy Johnson, Hillsborough Supervisor of Elections:
?The policy and the procedures in Hillsborough county where nothing like that would ever happen.?

And even though the system was penetrated in Tallahassee, Johnson says he believes it is impossible for that to happen with the voting machines that are used here.

Buddy Johnson, Hillsborough Supervisor of Elections:
?By definition it can't happen, because there is no connection to the internet. Can't hack in to it, there is no way to get in to it.?

Mark Kamleiter:
?If it is electronic and computer based it's hackable.?

Attorney Mark Kamleiter who is pushing for a paper back up to the electronic machines, points out that poll workers have access to hardware where the electronic votes are stored. Kamlieter says the internet is necessary to manipulate the vote.

Mark Kamleiter:
?It could be hacked within a supervisor of election's office.?

But Kamlieter says there is an even more important reason electronic machines need a paper back up.

Mark Kamleiter:
?Computers crash, computers have glitches?

Buddy Johnson, Hillsborough Supervisor of Elections:
?I don?t think it is necessary, but if one is certified for our equipment I would be the first one to look at it.

But until that happens voters will have to trust a paperless electronic system. Some say is foolish to believe it is fool proof.