Computer Glitch on the AAMVA Servers, HAVA and the November Elections
-- originally posted 2008-01-10 06:48:07 -1100: - bumped so folks can post related info that they find note Avahome's additional comment below about Homeland Security and tightening requirements for getting a driver's license-- cho
by avahome and roxy
A little article in the Toledo Blade gives one pause ... The article is not long, but though sparse on words it speaks volumes. On Monday it seems there was a little "glitch" with the server at the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators. This server is actually a service allowing states to access federal databases as part of the verification process when issuing any state ID cards.
This little "glitch" apparently reduced the number of applications processed in Ohio, from a normal 10,000 per day to 35.
It seems this is not a new problem. A report in the Daily Journal back on Nov. 25th 2007 reports the same type of issue, but which mainly impacted Missouri.
The national registry, through which all driver license applications must be checked, has been experiencing delays and temporary service outages. This problem is affecting all Missouri Department of Revenue license bureaus and others throughout the United States and Canada.
"We have had a few problems with slowdowns in the computer system," said Amanda Glover, office manager for the Bonne Terre license fee office. "People have a choice to stay and wait, or leave and we will give them a call when the computer system comes back."
Fast forward to Monday of this week, and Networking World also weighs in with an article:
On Monday a computer network glitch caused some states to stop issuing driver’s licenses and other identification cards. At the heart of the problem sources said was a server or servers running at the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA) location.
So all this begs the questions ... (1) Who are the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA) and (2) what kind of impact can a nationwide "glitch" have?
Avahome and I spent some time perusing the AAMVA's website, trying to determine the answer to these questions.
We discovered that the AAMVA is a non-profit organization which "serves as an information clearinghouse" for motor vehicle administration, law enforcement and highway safety.
AAMVA maintains relationships with key congressional and legislative staff and is regularly called upon to represent the membership's views at legislative hearings and other public forums. Members often testify on behalf of the association.
They offer a range of "Application Specific Services", including:
- CDLIS - Commercial Driver License Information System
- CSTIMS - Commercial Skills Test Information Management System
- Digital Image - Digital Image Access and Exchange
- DVD - Driver and Vehicle Data Online Access
- EDL - Electronic Driver License Project
- EVVER - Electronic Verfication of Vital Events Records
- FEWS - Fraud Emergency Warning System
- HAVV - Help America Vote Verification
- PDPS - Problem Driver Pointer System
- SR22/26
- SSOLV - Social Security Online Verification
- SSR - Selective Service Registration
HAVV -- or Help America Vote Verification
According to their website, they currently have this service in place in 41 states.
HAVA (Help America Vote Act)has previously been reported on in the ePluribus Media Journal and requires states to keep a database of registered voters. The Supreme Court began hearing arguments on January 9th to decide whether states can require voters to provide photo ID before being allowed to vote. This is a contentious case and the results could impact the November elections.
But, what impact could an Voter Verification portal housed on an unreliable server system have on the November elections? If photo ID becomes a requirement in some states, how many times would a person return to the DMV to get an ID if he or she were turned away because the system was down?
Comments
avahome
January 10, 2008 - 12:12
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So let me get this straight.....
when a person goes to their local Department of Motor Vehicle office in their city/county..to apply/revise/process an application for drivers license, state ID, etc....all information entered by the local DMV office must go thru the servers of AAMVA to verify/complete the process.
I guess I never before gave my drivers license a second thought. For my son to get a work permit when he first began working, he had to go to the DMV to obtain a state ID...he didn't have a drivers license at the time. And now I am thinking if an elderly person is told by their doctors that they can no longer drive and revoke their drivers license.....
how many of them would know to get a state ID?
Roxy
January 10, 2008 - 12:17
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all good questions ...
This system is very worrisome to me ... For a state to have an integral part of their ID system go down could have a very big impact on voting processes ...
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ePMedia ... get the scoop with us!
If it's true that our species is alone in the universe, then I'd have to say that the universe aimed rather low and settled for very little. ~ George Carlin
avahome
January 10, 2008 - 12:32
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Growth of usage...within 3 years
Putting all ones eggs in one basket? Can you image when all the proposed programs go online what the numbers will be.
This seems like a huge endeavor for a non-profit handling our personal information!
http://www.networkworld.com/community/comment/reply/23608
excerpt:
avahome
January 10, 2008 - 12:42
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Personal story of 98 year old voter....
A previous commentary...still relevant today. Think about it...we all get old!
Investigating Voter Fraud; Disenfranchising Voters -- Now Montana
excerpt:
jimstaro
January 10, 2008 - 17:59
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NC Got Hit
They Stopped issuing and renewing drivers lisenses the other day, now this is what one local station has:
DMV back to issuing driver's licenses after hiccup
A 'hiccup'??
I didn't even think about voting when I heard it but did think of other circumstances that a computer glitch might cause in other area's of this growing dependancy on Machines, programmed by Human's, just might cause!
If they were sent to fight, they are too few. If they were sent to die, they are too many!
Is 'Funding' Really For Troops?
What Happened To Funding and Oversite For Military/Veteran Care In Previous Congresses?
"The wise man points to the stars and the fool sees only the finger - and discusses it 24/7 on cable."
avahome
January 10, 2008 - 19:12
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So why Ohio and North Carolina?
Why would these two states out of all the states that use the service be shut down?
Roxy
January 10, 2008 - 20:05
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and Missouri last November ....
can ya say "battleground"? Could be just a coincidence ... but cause for some thinking.
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ePMedia ... get the scoop with us!
If it's true that our species is alone in the universe, then I'd have to say that the universe aimed rather low and settled for very little. ~ George Carlin
intranets
January 13, 2008 - 03:58
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Holy batman batman.
Um, so the system went down from large volume on... Monday the 7th. Ok, anything special happening? How about the NH primary?
I believe NH allows same day registration changes. It makes me wonder if this wasn't related to either Voter Vault or NH registration nonsense.
(They probably don't have much provisional voting... So can you even purge NH voters..)
I'm sayin.
susie dow
January 10, 2008 - 20:42
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Uh oh - California
EDS Awarded $76 Million Contract to Modernize Applications for California DMV January 8, 2008
EDS = Electronic Data Systems Corporation
EDS Agrees to Acquire Saber Corporation, a Leading Provider of U.S. State and Local Government Software and Solutions
November 13, 2007
I don't feel so good.
Roxy
January 10, 2008 - 20:55
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I think we are all
feeling a little sick over this ...
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ePMedia ... get the scoop with us!
If it's true that our species is alone in the universe, then I'd have to say that the universe aimed rather low and settled for very little. ~ George Carlin
susie dow
January 10, 2008 - 21:20
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Is anyone picking this up?
This is exactly one of those thingies 'investigates' excelled at looking into.
Roxy
January 10, 2008 - 21:58
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A few of us are
going to do a little digging and see what we can find ... I agree -- bears further scrutiny!
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ePMedia ... get the scoop with us!
If it's true that our species is alone in the universe, then I'd have to say that the universe aimed rather low and settled for very little. ~ George Carlin
luaptifer
January 10, 2008 - 23:14
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There seem to be many larger questions here
Is there ANY area of a private citizen's life in public that AAMVA doesn't have some administrative control over the record of it?
There must a central database of birth certificates and passports.
OK, I see EVVER would cover birth certificates and probably some element of health care history, according to its name. Might passports fall under SR22/26, perhaps? ... No, but maybe it's there somewhere.
[I'd started developing some of this earlier when called away to another task but, I agree that this is worth digging into more deeply.
Check out the variety of functions listed among the staff, for example.]
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"I hope we shall crush in its birth the aristocracy of our moneyed corporations which dare already to challenge our government in a trial of strength, and bid defiance to the laws of our country." - Thomas Jefferson
avahome
January 11, 2008 - 07:45
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New Security Rules for Driver's Licenses
I just saw this article....funny how the timing coincides with the Supreme Court case regarding Voter ID in Indiana.here
excerpt:
luaptifer
January 11, 2008 - 17:51
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Real ID search at AAMVA
avahome always seems to have a prescience which escapes me until that news breaks the next day:
search of AAMVA for "Real ID"
And the LA Times reported Chertoff's comments today,
which ran counter to thoughts out of the ACLU
but maybe with AAMVA in the middle, some of those extra documentation needs can be taken care of on the fly?
hmmmm....Good eye, avahome, good eye!
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"I hope we shall crush in its birth the aristocracy of our moneyed corporations which dare already to challenge our government in a trial of strength, and bid defiance to the laws of our country." - Thomas Jefferson
Roxy
January 11, 2008 - 18:01
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No doubt about it ...
that girl has a "nose for news". This mess just boggles the mind.
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ePMedia ... get the scoop with us!
If it's true that our species is alone in the universe, then I'd have to say that the universe aimed rather low and settled for very little. ~ George Carlin
avahome
January 12, 2008 - 08:36
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These guys keep trying to sneak dawn
past a rooster! We can't let that happen. NO FEAR!
Roxy
January 12, 2008 - 11:20
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Have REAL ID will travel?
DEVLIN BARRETT of the Associated Press writes in New ID rules may complicate air travel
*A tip-o-the-hat to Sparrows at BuzzFlash
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ePMedia ... get the scoop with us!
If it's true that our species is alone in the universe, then I'd have to say that the universe aimed rather low and settled for very little. ~ George Carlin
avahome
January 12, 2008 - 12:08
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I have my popcorn ready!!! This oughta
be a good show...to see who's talking loud and drawing a crowd!
avahome
January 24, 2008 - 14:10
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ID laws spur voting legal battle
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-01-23-voting-court_N.htm
This is a good source of info covering the poor and elderly.