PRESS RELEASE: ASST SEC. STATE OF NH TO ADDRESS ELECTRONIC VOTING, 10/27/04

[Rob Lembree]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
 
CONTACT: 
 Robert (Rob) Lembree
 Chair, Greater NH Linux Users Group
 603-494-0559
 rob at lembree.com
 http://www.gnhlug.org/
 
“Electronic Voting Systems in New Hampshire,” presented by Anthony
Stevens, New Hampshire Assistant Secretary of State, hosted by the
Greater New Hampshire Linux Users' Group, at Daniel Webster College's
Collings Auditorium, Nashua, NH, October 27th at 7:00 PM


(Nashua, NH, October 19, 2004) -- Anthony Stevens, New Hampshire
Assistant Secretary of State, will address "Electronic Voting Systems
in New Hampshire" in Daniel Webster College's Collings Auditorium
Wednesday, October 27th at 7:00 p.m. The program is free and open to
the public.

Sponsored by the Greater New Hampshire Linux Users' Group (GNHLUG),
Mr. Stevens will present prospects for new elections technology in New
Hampshire. An informal discussion will follow.

“We're very excited to host the assistant Secretary of State for this
very important topic, within a week of such a closely watched
election,” said Robert Lembree, chair of the Greater NH Linux Users'
Group.  “As proponents of open source software, GNHLUG members have a
keen interest in electronic voting systems, which are exclusively
closed-source and therefore not open to analysis by outside
professionals. Absent public scrutiny, governments must proceed
cautiously in adopting any technology, especially any technology which
can be verified only with 'trust-us' escrow procedures.”

“The 'Help America Vote Act' has mandated a new processes and systems
which the States are now working to implement”, said Bill Sconce,
GNHLUG Program Chair. “GNHLUG is pleased to have this opportunity to
sponsor a discussion of New Hampshire's progress in these efforts, and
how they relate to the robust elections process which New Hampshire
uses. We are privileged to have Mr. Stevens as our guest.”

"Our nation was built on being 'open'", said Jon "maddog" Hall,
Executive Director of Linux International. "Open town meetings and
electoral accountability are part of what makes our nation great. If
we are to surrender to computers the counting of our votes, we need to
be sure that the software which does the job is not only correctly
written and valid, but that anyone who wishes to inspect it can verify
for themselves that it is correctly written and valid."

ABOUT GNHLUG - Members of the Greater New Hampshire Linux Users'
Group are interested in the Linux operating system and other free and
open source software.  GNHLUG has several chapters in New Hampshire
with regular meetings that are open to everyone.  Membership is also
open to everyone, and there are no dues. With over 275 members, GNHLUG
provides assistance with Linux and free software to individuals,
businesses, schools, and organizations in New Hampshire and northern
Massachusetts.  For more information, see http://www.gnhlug.org.

ABOUT LINUX - Linux is a free, open-source operating system that runs
on everything from hand-held devices, to set-top boxes, personal and
office computers, servers, mainframes, and supercomputers.  Linux is a
registered trademark of Linus Torvalds.

ABOUT DWC - Daniel Webster College (DWC), founded in 1965, educates
purposeful men and women for professional entry, advancement, and
advanced studies in the fields of aviation, computer science,
management, social science, and engineering. DWC students prepare
throught residential and continuing studies programs that emphasize
the integration of theory and practice through interactive teaching
and learning in the professional and liberal studies. DWC offers the
Bachelor of Science degree in computer science and information systems
through its day program. Through its graduate and continuing-studies
program, DWC offers a Bachelor of Science degree in software
development, as well as certificate programs in Client-Server
Application Development; C/UNIX Programming; Computer Security; MS
Windows Programming; PC Networking; UNIX Systems Administration; Web
Design; Microsoft .NET; and Webmaster Technology. For more information
visit www.dwc.edu or call 603-577-6500. 
- END -
-- 
Rob Lembree <rob at jumpshift.com>
JumpShift, LLC