E-Voting Lawsuit Trial Begins, 8/25-27, Maryland
*Dramatic Testimony Expected *
*Legitimacy of Election Hangs in Balance*
August 22, 2004
Annapolis, Maryland.
On Wednesday, August 25th, for the first time in the new technology's turbulent history, paperless electronic voting will be on trial for three days in the state capital. Progressing further than any other electronic voting suit in the nation, the suit /Linda Schade et al. vs. Linda Lamone et al./ calls into question the legality of paperless voting machines under Maryland law which requires paper ballots and the ability to conduct a recount.
(legal arguments posted on the website): http://www.truevotemd.org/
Among the witnesses:
Embattled Elections Chief Linda Lamone will be forced to testify under oath why the State Board of Elections purchased the machines against expert advice and when significant knowledge of the voting system's security vulnerabilites were well known.
Computer security experts who authored the technical reports Lamone has taken refuge in will testify under oath re-stating their devastating critiques of Maryland's Diebold machines.
A Montgomery County election judge will testify under oath about a hair-raising breakdown of Diebold voting machines in Maryland's March 2004 primary election - and tell how the state board harassed her for refusing to cover it up.
"Once the facts are known, the court will understand why the public does not want to use these machines in November, said Linda Schade, plaintiff and Co-Founder of TrueVoteMD.org. "A democracy cannot function without the confidence of its citizens. I hope the court understands this and acts accordingly."
The hearing will begin at 9am before Judge Manck at the Anne Arundel County Circuit Court at 7 Church Circle in Annapolis. Paper trail advocates will rally outside the courthouse.
For more information or directions to the courthouse:
Campaign for Verifiable Voting in Maryland
301-270-6150
http://www.truevotemd.org/