10,000 Voting Machines Lost In Warehouse Fire

Harris County which encompasses the 4th largest city in America, Houston,Texas oddly has suffered a fire, which destroyed all 10,000 voting machines. They will be replaced by the November 2, general election, by which company, remains to be determined at this point.

The oddity of the circumstances continue, when one considers, the importance of the upcoming 2010 and 2012 elections. Harris county generally splits fairly evenly due to the high minority vote as is the case, in the rest of Texas' major cities. Texas, a red state could be less a factor in a general election, IF the new replacement voting machines somehow learn to multiply by November 2, 2010 and onward.

This fire is under investigation, with no ruling on arson as of yet. As far as other locales around the country, readers report in any irregular activity, that affects the voting process from here to election day.

Remember, Obama doesn't have to rig the entire election in all 50 states, only the elections in 10 or 12 key battleground states. Sudden Red to Blue voting results, such as in a few major states such as Texas would also be cause for concern in this election and 2012's.

Steve

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County OKs $13.6M purchase of new voting machines
By CHRIS MORAN
HOUSTON CHRONICLE
Aug. 30, 2010


Despite a fire that destroyed Harris County’s voting machines Friday, County Clerk Beverly Kaufman said she intends to keep all polling places open with replacement machines on Nov. 2.

Commissioners Court approved Kaufman’s emergency plan this afternoon to spend $13.6 million to buy 2,325 electronic voting machines and supporting equipment.

“Your polling place is going to be open early and on election day. You’ll be able to vote conveniently as you’re accustomed to doing,” Kaufman said afterward.

Kaufman’s request included 1.4 million paper ballots, which will be distributed to polling stations as a backup in case a shortage of machines leads to long lines. (this could be the means to defraud the election, via mulitiple voting ala an Acorn type voter scam)

A fire before dawn on Friday destroyed the building that housed all 10,000 of the county’s voting machines. The cause of the blaze has not been determined, but arson investigators returned to 606 Canino today to continue their investigation, Houston Fire Department spokesman Patrick Trahan said.

The 27,800-square-foot warehouse and contents were a total loss. Kaufman said she expects to ask for more money before election day but had no estimate this afternoon on how much.

The county was insured for $41 million worth of materials in the building, as well as $1.5 million on the building itself, said David Kester, the county’s risk manager.

Kaufman said it is possible the county could get even more insurance money to cover the costs of demolition and site cleanup, plus construction upgrades required to meet building codes established since the warehouse was built in 1976.

Kaufman continued her call for early voting as a way to head off long lines at the 739 election day polling stations. Early voting begins Oct. 18