The Victoria Advocate | Vote count machines are certified in secrecy

"Although up to 50 million Americans are expected to vote on touchscreen machines on Nov. 2, federal regulators have virtually no oversight over testing of the technology. The certification process, in part because the voting machine companies pay for it, is described as obsolete by those charged with overseeing it. "

...

"Also in question is their viability, given the lack of paper records, if recounts are needed in what's shaping up to be a tightly contested presidential race. Paper records of each vote were considered a vital component of the electronic machines used in last week's referendum in Venezuela on whether to recall President Hugo Chavez."

The upshot of this article from my hometown (Victoria, Texas) newspaper is that the electronic voting machines in the US aren't as reliable as those in Venezuela. And yet the Bubba Bush administration cried "fraud" at the unsuccessful recall. If you thought that things were bad in Florida in 2000 and 2002, just wait until you see the 2004 model!