I speak from experience. A couple of years ago I landed a job for a slot machine manufacturer, doing the animation you see on the big plasma screens around the casinos. The animation was linked to triggers in the slots so that if/when a player won it would jump to the appropriate part of the animation. I had never done anything like this before, and the project was taking longer than I had estimated in my bid. So I called the client to see if I could get a little bit more time.

Holy shit, did I get an earful. The president of the company contacted me and explained why that would be "impossible."

You see, any time a slot machine is scheduled to be transported they had to file reports with appropriate gaming commissions X number of days in advance (I believe it was 30 days), and contract for armed police escorts for the trucks carrying the machines. Any variations in the schedule required further paperwork and affidavits. Bonds had to be taken out. They scheduled the machines to be shipped on a certain date and even a certain time, and if they varied from that schedule they'd encounter thousands of dollars in penalties and fees. Not to mention that it would compromise their reputation in the business.

Yet, when it comes to our voting machines, the disks in the spinal column of our democracy, it appears there are no such safeguards in place. In fact, this post was prompted by a story about a trucking company in Maryland contracted by Diebold to transport e-voting machines in Maryland. A trucking company owned by John M. Kane, president and CEO of The Kane Company, chairman of the Maryland Republican Party from the end of 2002 until December 2006. He is also a member of the statewide steering committee for Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney. According to one news report, Kane has been tasked since last month with raising money for Romney in Maryland, a Democratic stronghold. His wife is a delegate on the Republican primary ballot for Romney rival Rudy Giuliani.

The priorities in this country are seriously fucked up. We require bonded agents to transport slots to rip off chain-smoking grannies, but members of political campaigns can cart our voting machines around without scrutiny.

Something is seriously fucked up. If anyone still believes there is an ounce of integrity left in our voting system, well...I have a slot machine I'd like to sell you. Just give me plenty of notice, and be prepared to post a bond.

(Edited to add link)

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