Got a text formatting/database question - the political backstory

[Bob Elzer]

 I in no way would defend MS or Access, but you're making this seem like the
problem lies within MS Access, when in fact, if I have access to the disk
the data is on, I can rig the election with a simple hex editor, whether the
database is Access or MySql.

If you know the layout of any table, you can modify it with an editor.



-----Original Message-----
From: plug-discuss-bounces at lists.plug.phoenix.az.us
[mailto:plug-discuss-bounces at lists.plug.phoenix.az.us] On Behalf Of Jim
March
Sent: Wednesday, April 15, 2009 12:51 PM
To: Main PLUG discussion list
Subject: Re: Got a text formatting/database question - the political
backstory

On Wed, Apr 15, 2009 at 8:13 AM, Bishmer Sekaran <bishmer at sekaran.net>
wrote:
> Jim March wrote:
>> MS-Access is banned from voting
>> systems (ain't approved)
> This is a very refreshing change from the status quo! Out of 
> curiousity, what are the approved DBs for voting systems?

You're asking the wrong question :).

ONLY those pieces of software specifically used for elections can be used in
elections, in most states anyhow, AZ being one of 'em.

The proprietary database front ends by Sequoia, Diebold and ES&S are
approved.  Sequoia uses an MS-SQL back end, Diebold uses the MS-Access
runtime back end (they're switching to MS-SQL on the back end "soon") and I
forget what ES&S is doing.  But it's basically the same:
proprietary front-end application, likely an MS back end.

In the case of Diebold, the MS-Access front end (the boxed consumer
product) can communicate with the existing back-end and back-door the whole
election.  By diddling with the data files (which are .MDB
extension) in MS-Access, you can tweak the audit log, tweak vote totals,
basically do whatever you want, no password needed, no audit trail even
created.

Total election anarchy.

So finding an MS-Access advanced programmer's manual as a reference for the
system operator on a Diebold central tabulator is like a cop pulling
somebody over and finding a ski mask, duct tape, crowbar and
AK47 in the back seat.  It doesn't absolutely prove trouble but it ain't
good news!

Jim
---------------------------------------------------
PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss at lists.plug.phoenix.az.us
To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings:
http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss