Tony Soprano ain’t got nothing on the gang of voting machine vendors that has a state-sanctioned monopoly of the voting process from registration (and here) to tabulation.
So, when Leon County Supervisor of Elections Ion Sancho dared to question the reliability and security of their voting systems (and here), the e-voting mafia decided to play hardball. In an effort to break his spirit (and send a message to other election officials), the Gang of Three is refusing to do business with him. Sancho told the Tallahassee Democrat:
Private companies that are not accountable to the United States of America ought not be controlling how Americans vote and how their votes are being counted.
The right to vote of every Leon County citizen is being obstructed by these three companies, and the state has no responsibility to ensure that the citizens of Leon County can vote? Excuse me, but I think there is a problem with this model.
The Tallahassee Democrat agrees:
Why on earth do private companies hold so much sway -- with relatively little oversight -- in a process so central to democracy?
State governments have long recognized that regulation of private utilities is necessary to protect consumers from unfair practices. Is it not similarly important to hold more accountable companies that provide the technology used to cast and count ballots?
The answer is obvious: Yes.
Yet, the same state government that certifies three companies doesn’t require as a condition for their doing business in Florida that no county supervisor be left high and dry. Whatever their problems with any supervisor -- in this case, the one who administers elections in the state capital, no less -- private companies should not be permitted to potentially undermine the voting process and the rights of citizens.
The Miami-Dade Election Reform Coalition is calling for an investigation of the e-voting mob:
We are asking the Attorney General of Florida, Charlie Crist [who, by the way, is running for governor], to investigate possible anti-competitive acts, which hurt the voters of Florida. The actions on the part of the “Big Three,” if true, not only affects Leon County, but affects every county in the nation, as their powers are far reaching. No company or group of companies should be allowed to divvy up the markets in each state. Your County may be next!
If you are outraged by this gangsta-syle control of your right to vote, click here for info on how you can file a complaint.
