It sounds like the card locking
mechanism is activated, although that shouldn't be possible without a card
inserted. There is a small pinhole on the front bezel of the smart card
reader. Take a standard paper clip, unbend one end, insert that one end
into the pinhole, and the lock will be disengaged. Then try to insert the
smart card again. If this is successful, we need to discover how the
locking mechanism was engaged without a card present. The unit should be
returned to McKinney.
If this procedure is unsuccessful, then there is
some obstruction in the card reader or it's being squeezed by the metal
bracket. Either way, it'll have to be returned to McKinney for
repairs.
Ian
-----Original Message-----
From:
owner-support@gesn.com [mailto:owner-support@gesn.com]On Behalf
Of
Deborah Seiler
Sent: November 27, 2001 4:39 PM
To:
support@gesn.com
Subject: California Certification
Certification
of the R6 received a unanimous recommendation from the
California Secretary
of State's 7 member Voting Systems Panel
today. Legally, only the
Secretary of State can certify it, but his
certification is typically a pro
forma ratification of the VSP's
recommendation. I expect to have the signed
certificate within a few days.
Lou Dedier, the Elections Division analyst
responsible for voting system
certification, told the panel our system had
functioned without a hitch.
(Little did he know I was sitting there with a
machine with a frozen
throat!) He noted the high quality components, saying
we had "spared no
expense" to develop a quality product. He also
described to the Panel his
inability--in contrast to some other systems--to
break into it from the
screen. He later told me he used his Palm pilot
to break into another
system, illustrating the dangers of wireless
upload. He also told me
privately that he attempted to program the
PCMCIA card but failed. His PC
told him he had a one in 40 billion
chance of success. He told me this in
contrast to SureVote's system
which he said he broke into in "a minute and
a half" and ESS's which he
hacked in "an hour."
Lou did say that Avante passed Wyle on 11/24. Hart
and Avante will probably
be on the VSP agenda in January, though Lou said he
had 150 questions for
Hart to respond to.
Anyway, a big thanks to
Larry, Ian, Susan, Steve, and anyone else involved.
Now, any suggestions for
fixing the card reader? Something is blocking the
throat so the card
can't be inserted even partially.