We were hearing "five o'clock hour." Now, the latest we're hearing for CA SoS Debra Bowen's announcement about what she plans to do with CA's electronic voting systems in light of her "Top-to-Bottom Review" (news of which has all but taken over The BRAD BLOG for the past week or so) is "around or after six PM tonight."

That would be 6pm Pacific Time. Around or after. We will, of course, let you know whatever we learn as soon as we learn it.

To review: Bowen has essentially three basic options that she can choose to make...

a) Do nothing, let everyone use the previously certified crappy, hackable, non-disabled accessible voting systems as are.b) Decertify any or all of those systems.c) Re-certify any or all of the "conditionally" with new security mitigation procedures in place --- such as no more voting machine "sleepovers," extra-large post-election audits, etc --- long enough to get the state through the February '08 primaries and/or November '08 general elections.

Or any combination of any of the above.

The SoS office is being exceptionally tight-lipped about their plans. And so, on pins and needles, we wait...Stay tuned...

UPDATE: By the way, while we're waiting --- and as I am currently parked literally minutes from the main headquarters of Diebold Election Systems, Inc., in Plano, TX --- feel free to check out their main web page. I don't know about other browsers, but using Firefox, all kinds of HTML code is sticking out that shouldn't be visible. These jackasses can't even code a webpage and we're relying on them to code our elections?! Oh, please someone save me...

A busted computer system hamstrung the House (video link courtesy Breitbart.tv) for at least 45 minutes Friday on one of the tensest legislative days of the year.

The House electronic voting system malfunctioned at approximately 2 p.m. as lawmakers began a vote on a procedural motion sponsored by Rep. Heather Wilson (R-N.M.).
...
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) said he had consulted with a House technical expert who advised that the system be taken down for 30 minutes to fix the problem. He suggested vacating the vote and revoting once the system was fixed.

Nice that Hoyer and friends have the luxury of voting later and/or re-voting if they feel like it after their voting computer breaks down. Would that every American...

UPDATE 6:26pm PT from Emily Levy:Bowen press conference to be streamed live San Francisco Air America affiliate KQKE (960 AM) announced they will interrupt regular programming with the press conference when it takes place. However, no time has yet been announced. KQKE can be streamed online right here. (Click on "Listen Live.")

UPDATE 7:00pm PT: The good John Gideon reminds us that Bowen has until Midnight tonight (Pacific Time) to make her decisions. It's getting late here in TX, so we'll hope she doesn't wait that long. Her staff is still being frustratingly tight-lipped as of the past few mins...

UPDATE 8:33pm PT: Yes. In case you were wondering. We're still up and waiting...

UPDATE 9:49pm PT: More to look at while you wait...A 'Toon of the Moment' if there ever was one...

Comments below have become an Open Thread with guesses, speculation, and other questions about what Bowen may or may not do...Join us if ya like...

UPDATE 10:15pm PT: This just in via email from Bowen's press office:

TONIGHT: Secretary of State Debra Bowen Will Announce Her Decisions on California Voting System Certifications

We have heard a couple of people unaffiliated with the Secretary of State's office passed along some incorrect information earlier today. I wanted to let you know we still do not have an exact time for gathering here for the press conference but, pursuant to Elections Code 19222, Secretary Bowen will announce her decisions tonight. We will send out an advisory with press conference details as soon as they are confirmed.

UPDATE 11:15pm PT: Word just in from Bowen's office. Announcement to come (emphasis in original) "TONIGHT at 11:45 p.m." Here's the full press release...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 3, 2007

MEDIA ADVISORY

Secretary of State Debra Bowen to Announce
Her Decisions on California Voting System Certifications

WHAT:
After eight weeks of an unprecedented top-to-bottom review of voting systems currently used in California elections, Secretary of State Debra Bowen has made her decisions about future certifications.

Secretary Bowen’s decisions on system certifications follow her thorough review of detailed academic findings by teams of nationally respected computer experts, as well as extensive input from voters, voting system vendors, and national, state and local elections experts.

Secretary Bowen designed the top-to-bottom review to ensure that California voters are being asked to cast their ballots on machines that are as secure, accurate, reliable and accessible as possible. State law requires that all voting systems used in California be certified by the Secretary of State, and that the Secretary conduct periodic reviews of those voting systems to determine whether they are defective, obsolete or otherwise unacceptable.

Decertification of all equipment that is not made secure; Optical Scans come back only when meaningful hand counts per the new Brennan Center report

Have you seen the letter to Diebold from the SoS of Florida? I’ve attached.

All e-mail I send now has this on the bottom thanks to you and SOS Bowen.

Before August 2, 2007; Rev. DeForest Soaries, the first Chairman of the Election Assistance Commission said:

“We know more today about how to build a machine to take pictures of rocks on Mars than we know about how to build a voting machine to safeguard the American right to vote."

However that has changed do to the Top-to Bottom Review by California’s Secretary of State Debra Bowen. Link to the documents

Our ADP-EIC Chair - Dr Ted Downing wrote;” Based on the results of your Top to Bottom Review, the Arizona Democratic Party’s Election Integrity Committee supports decertification of all equipment that is not made secure as outlined in your reports."

On Youtube Arizona Election Wars: Pima County: The Gauntlet Is Thrown

Time 6:57 Part 1 of Series: Letter by Tucson Democratic Attorney Bill Risner to the County Manager on what's been going on with elections in Pima County. Set to a powerful song 'MY VOTE DON'T MATTER ANYMORE' Written and performed by VICTORIA PARKS. For over 2 years we have been investigating Pima County Election Department and we don't like what we're have found. They have illegally been printing of election results up to 8 days before the election using the mail in early ballots. This has been going on since the primary of 2004. We know how the backdoor works with the GEMS/Diebold system and how it could be easily hacked using MS-Access. A lawsuit was filed shortly after letter was sent that is basics of this video.

Youtube Arizona Election Wars: Is Our Vote Secure in Pima County?

Part 1 of 2 they’ve known about the backdoor since 1996: Several Pima County bureaucrats from the very top down have known about the backdoor in our voting system. This odd procedure is not found in the 548 page Diebold's User Guide for our voting software, nor does explain that the system is built upon Microsoft Access. Furthermore, by using MS-Access, in less than a minute; a person could switch election by changing two positions in the candidates table (in Access) flipping an election all the way down to the precinct level. This and much more was established in depositions taken by well known Democratic Attorney William 'Bill' Risner in Tucson, Arizona.

Arizona Election Wars: Is Our Vote Secure in Pima County? Part 2

Time 08:00 they’ve known about the backdoor since 1996.
------------------

06.07.2007 Tucson CitizenKimble: Does the RTA vote really add up?

It is not what you want to hear about the people entrusted with counting our votes:

Those are the opinions of two computer experts who have carefully examined how Pima County runs its vote-counting operation.

And even if you don't understand the language of computer code - and I don't - there are enough questions to generate a lot of concern about how accurately your votes have been counted.
How bad is all of this? Who knows?

There is a possibility of outright fraud, with vote totals changed or totals for winners and losers flipped. Or the totals may be dead-on accurate with nothing more than unexplained idiosyncrasies in the way computer operators do their job.

The answer may be in computer records that Pima County is refusing to release. Or it may be impossible to ever know with certainty what happened in recent elections.

The poster child for concerns is the May 16, 2006, Regional Transportation Authority election.
Some significant events in the vote-counting for that election are highlighted below in excerpts from a Pima County election report.

The Pima County Democratic Party is suing for access to county databases to try to determine what happened when votes were counted in that and the 2006 fall elections. Among the issues:

• Counting of early ballots started May 10, six days before the election. Votes were counted for about four hours, which probably meant at least 8,000 ballots counted and maybe as many as 12,000.

The tally was saved. Then it was saved again the next morning before counting resumed. Why?

William J. Risner, a lawyer and Democratic activist involved in the lawsuit, asked the county worker under oath why he did that. "He had no explanation for it," Risner said.

James March, a computer expert who has worked on elections systems, outlined one possibility. In a declaration in the Democrats' suit, March said someone could have copied the election data to a disk, taken it to another computer, used widely available software to hack it, then returned the disk with hacked data and overwritten the vote count.

The vote totals could have been changed. Or the counts for "Yes" and "No" could have been reversed.

"The facts available match an 'election hacking' incident of this sort," March's declaration said.

• On May 11, five days before the election, reports were printed that showed early vote totals. If people on either side had known those totals, it would have been invaluable for late campaigning.

Brad Nelson, Pima County elections director, said the reports were printed and "glimpsed at" only to make sure the total number of ballots counted matched the number fed in. The reports then were shredded, Nelson said.

• Early vote total reports also were printed before the 2006 primary election, March wrote. In one race, a "who is winning" report was printed at 3:45 p.m. on the Saturday before the Tuesday election.

At 8:30 p.m. that same Saturday, a "robocall" went out to voters in that race slamming one candidate, March wrote. "We cannot positively link the two actions, but the appearance isn't good," he wrote.

Risner is asking for the county database that shows all activity on the election-counting computer.

But Nelson said he doesn't want to supply that because it would compromise security. "There are passwords and modem numbers in that," he said.

Risner countered that such information has been released elsewhere and is available on the Internet without security being compromised.

So what does all this mean? Have some winners actually lost and losers won? Have invaluable early vote-counting totals been leaked, allowing a campaign to be tailored at the last minute?

Nelson says absolutely not. There is 24-hour video surveillance of election-counting equipment. There are two-part passwords, and each employee knows only one part. "The level of security in the election division is always evolving and always getting better," he said.

Risner has doubts. "I don't know why or where or if," he said. "We're not telling anyone it happened. But the way the software works, you don't see this anywhere else."

It's impossible to know who is right and whether anyone actually did anything untoward. But the county's secrecy - while apparently well-meaning - does nothing to alleviate the concerns.

And when it comes to accurately counting votes, there is no room for any concerns.

Election Summary Report for May 16, 2006 election, with date, time, action and what it means
05/10/06, 08:21:41, Reset election: Ensures that totals are at zero.

3- Gore won 75% of the uncounted votes
4- 5% of Gore voters died prior to Election 2004

5- 100% of 2000 election voters turned out to vote in 2004. This is conservative: the lower the turnout, the higher the number of new voters, increasing the Kerry share (he won 57% of new voters).

6- Kerry won 71% of Nader voters (12:22am National Exit Poll).
7- Kerry won 57% of New voters and those who did not vote in 2000.
8- Zero net defection of 2000 Gore and Bush voters. This is conservative: the NEP indicated a net 2% defection of Bush voters to Kerry.

Have you sent a letter or a fax to the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles on behalf of Troy Davis yet? If not, here's my BRAD BLOG article on his case (posted last night) and here's the webform to send a letter.

Because CA moved its primary up and state law says that the Secretary of State must certify or decertify any systems far enough in advance of an election so that election officials know what they have to work with.

This may give you a chuckle while you wait.
[London] Times fashion editor Lisa Armstrong responds to the US media coverage of Hillary's cleavage.
[snip]
"Maybe the fashion editors of the major US news outlets should keep a closer eye on the male members of the US Senate. They might notice that when some of them loosen their ties and undo the top button of their shirts, they're getting a glimpse of foreskin."

sssoooooooooooo--- if she does nothing tonight, it means things continue on as before? is there a chance she may have gotten an extension? perhaps she is going to a secure bunker before making an announcement? a lot of power in the companies that produce the machines.

Bruce - The state house is controlled by Dems. So presumably, it was they who pushed this thing through. Don't know if the R's were for it or against it, but Arnold signed it, so guessing they were for it as well. Doubt it was to put Bowen in this position though.

ZapKitty - Tough to allow use in the primaries, but pull the plug before the general. I'm guessing whatever she does will apply to both primary and general, but perhaps more draconian steps after '08 is over. That's based on nothing but a guess. No inside sources (unfortunately).

We have heard a couple of people unaffiliated with the Secretary of State's office passed along some incorrect information earlier today. I wanted to let you know we still do not have an exact time for gathering here for the press conference but, pursuant to Elections Code 19222, Secretary Bowen will announce her decisions tonight. We will send out an advisory with press conference details as soon as they are confirmed.

What if the bridge collapsing was a "terrorist attack," and they put into action the "plan" that they don't want to tell to congress, and then immediately put some sort of gag order on everything, meaning no one can even tell us that the "plan" is in effect? No I don't think this happened, but think about it...

Wondering if KQKE is still going to stream the press conference. Theoretically, there are press folks standing by at Bowen's office. Wish we could get some info about what outlets they're from, so we'd be listening to or watching the right thing.

Then... I think Bowen would have to announce her intention to implement such needed measures before the primary, then, as after things seem to run mysteriously smoothly for a CA e-election in 08 (but still screwed up, of course) the corporate whores will pressure Bowen to give the corporations yet another chance to make the needed changes to assure security (which they won't because they can't) and they'll begin stalling for time in hopes that the bodies they buried during the 08 elections aren't discovered before it's too late too boot the machines out in Bowen's term...

Haven't been on pins and needles like this since the 2004 election, which was, not coincidentally, the event that lead me to discover the Brad Blog as I tried to make sense of an election that just didn't smell right, even in my pre-progressive days.

Looks like Sacramento Channel 3 doesn't have live online news, but does have live weather. So we can only hope that what Bowen does makes big enough waves for the Doppler to register it! Then we'll know right away.

Secretary of State Debra Bowen to Announce
Her Decisions on California Voting System Certifications

WHAT: After eight weeks of an unprecedented top-to-bottom review of voting systems currently used in California elections, Secretary of State Debra Bowen has made her decisions about future certifications.

Secretary Bowen’s decisions on system certifications follow her thorough review of detailed academic findings by teams of nationally respected computer experts, as well as extensive input from voters, voting system vendors, and national, state and local elections experts.

Secretary Bowen designed the top-to-bottom review to ensure that California voters are being asked to cast their ballots on machines that are as secure, accurate, reliable and accessible as possible. State law requires that all voting systems used in California be certified by the Secretary of State, and that the Secretary conduct periodic reviews of those voting systems to determine whether they are defective, obsolete or otherwise unacceptable.

I know how the agencies get slammed in California by the bad guys. The EVM companies are cajoling, screaming, threatening, offering bribes with an army of lawyers and Debra Bowen can't break through the crush to get to the microphones even yet.

I am in Sacramento. The reporter came on leaning against the SoS podium. They panned the camera up to the window where Debra is with the lights on.... I really hate to miss Letterman, but, I will be vigilant.

My kids have been hanging in there with me all night, waiting and waiting...Wish she'd decertify already. Kids are crawling off to their rooms with their eyes more closed than open, I have Channel 3 out of Sacto tuned in on the tube, I'm glued to my computer screen watching updates from Brad, and have KQKE "the quake" playing over the computer speakers... And I just realized that after all the damned work we went through making sure that Debra got elected (extra kuddos to Gail Work for organizing the grassroots efforts) to do just this, I am forgetting to breathe. There's only 37 minutes left........

It will take more cajones to decertify those machines than I have seen in any politician in recent times. I just hope that Debra Bowen is the special politician we thought she could be when we elected her.

Went and took the poll, then cleaned out my cookies and took the poll again...LMAO....tell me again how they can't rig the election through electronic voting...LOL
Lastest from Channel 3 is that the announcement will be at 11:45 and decision will be posted online athttp://www.kcra.com/index.html

what kind of government agency waits until almost midnight to make such important announcements? is this the norm for california, or is she really just waiting til the last minute to see if a good bribe will come her way?

I love cats, but back in the 70's I had a siamese cat (Sam)that got shocked on an lionel electric train set.

Hell I got shocked on that lionel electric train set. I remember those metal christmas tree ornament holders used to cross the tracks and make sparks. That must be why I got interested in electronics...

nothing yet. just shoe week at ross and Cindy Crawford HOME at RC Willey..

Anyone else notice the bias from the CMSM? 3, 10, 13 all biased, all present the EVM Company statements as the more important focus. there was 6:53 minutes recorded, you'd figure they'd run some of what Yolo County ROV said...

Anyway. I promised to not get into it yesterday, but it's a NEW DAY now.

Talk about feeling like a fool! after waiting all evening streaming Quake, not a word on any news on the hour, or on local tv-- I mean no breaking news-- nothing. as if it weren't important, lifr threatening! Did any of you find out any thing more detailed? what is that the grandson says-- you got pooned. g'night i guess.

maybe the MSM didn't think this important enough to cover? maybe they thought no one would be waiting this late? maybe...maybe...maybe someone should have had the decency to make the announcement at a decent hour? ha!

Brad – People in Potrero want to know, if Bowen gives the vendors a chance to fix problems before the February primary, what about the recall election in Potrero? It has to be held within 125 days from when the recall was certified, which means January at the latest.

People there do NOT want to vote on the riggable machines, especially given the shenanigans already going on to thwart the people’s will. This is the recall of an entire town planning board that voted for Blackwater to open a training camp in a national forest!

Call me if you want details on the incredible garbage going on there – intentional delays in declaring some seats vacant (after it was found their appointments were never confirmed by the County) so that they could NOT be recalled, but can now run as candidates in the election…and much more. This in a town that once burned a ballot box. These folks needs armed guards and videotaping of their paper ballots being hand-counted!!!!!

Phil,
Fond of cats, avid online gamer when such a thing was possible, needed a string of handles for an online space arcade-style game (beta, long since passed into oblivion), names after ship types... GunKitty, BlastKitty, ZipKitty, BombKitty, Zapkitty... Later on needed a quick name for some account or the other, and zapkitty popped out, followed me around and eventually stuck...

Considering the current (un)civil liberties situation it's probably for the best that bombkitty didn't spring to mind for that one account...

She decertified ES&S Inka Vote, decertified Deibold and then said that one per precinct could be allowed for the disabled only. There's much more. She has info on each of the systems on the SOS website. I'm printing out the pdf's and taking them to bed to read, been a long and nerve racking night.
You rock Brad! Keep it up, you are inspiring and reassuring on nights like this!