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John Daley Reporting Two weeks before Election Day and red flags are still going up about new electronic voting machines in Utah and nationally.
The big question is ... are the machines, and by definition even the elections, secure?
As voters go to the polls, it's a whole new world. But there's a ghost of doubt hovering over the elections of 2006, thanks to the debacle of Florida in 2000.
After more problems in Ohio in 2004, it's safe to say there's a growing perception our votes could be corrupted.
The solution mandated by Congress--new electronic voting machines, costing 3-thousand dollars a piece compared to 49 dollars for the punch card.
Sherrie Swensen/ Salt Lake Co. Clerk: "I know that in Salt Lake we've done everything we can to secure this system."
A third of voters in the U-S, including Utah, are using the new machines. Elections officials say there are numerous security features, redundant memory, logic and accuracy tests, numerous audits, training for poll workers, and carefully controlled access.
Julio Garcia/ Salt Lake Co. Elections Director: "We've gone to extreme measures to do everything we know how to to protect the system and people's votes."
But there's a rising chorus of complaints about the new machines. Computer scientists, election watchdogs and others say that the machines are not ready for prime time. At best, they say, they're too expensive and at worst they contend the machines could be hacked.
Earlier this year, a man named Bruce Funk caused a big funk when he sounded alarm bells about the new devices.
Bruce Funk/ Former Emery County Clerk: "I got totally abused, I feel like."
The 23-year veteran Emery County clerk says county commissioners and others pressured him to tow the line.
His big concern...that someone with computer knowledge and access to the machines could alter votes.
Bruce Funk/ Former Emery County Clerk: "I think the integrity of the election, the integrity of the vote is compromised."
The man in charge of Utah's e-voting transition concedes any machine can be hacked, but says it's highly unlikely.
Gary Herbert/ (R) Lt. Governor: "That's why it's important to have security."
But Jay Lepreau, a computer researcher and software systems expert at the U of U is among those who are worried. He says since 2001, there have been seven academic studies of the machines. All found big flaws.
Jay Lepreau/ Uni. of Utah, Computer Science Professor: "If this were electric blenders or microwaves, there'd be a product recall, mandated by the government."
A spokesman with Diebold, the machines' manufacturer, dismisses the criticism, saying the company has added "new security enhancements" and "the voting stations are accurate and reliable."
Utah lawmakers, unlike those in states like Georgia and Maryland, required the new machines to have a voter-verified paper trail. U of U researcher Lepreau says that is one major plus for Utah, but suggests a major overhaul is needed.
Jay Lepreau/ Uni. of Utah, Computer Science Professor: "It's only our election. It's only democracy. So we're going to let all of Maryland and all of Georgia get through with these incredibly insecure machines. And you know there's threats to ours, and just say, that's the best we can do. It's amazing."
On Election Day comes the first big test of whether the new machines will prevent or create another Florida.
