Studies Say Vote Is In: Tech Voting Hackable; Findings Backed Fears; Some states demanding changes to the systems before making purchases.(INTERNET & TECHNOLOGY)

Byline: BRIAN DEAGON

For all the complaints about electronic voting systems after last month's election, no one has documented a single case of fraud or a security breach.

So why are there so many such fears?

Because studies have determined that it's fairly easy to hack an electronic voting system.

The state of Ohio a year ago hired Compuware, a technology testing

company, to perform one of the most thorough assessments of touch-screen voting systems. Compuware looked at four leading providers of such systems: Diebold, Election Systems & Software, Sequoia Voting Systems and Hart Intercivic. The last three are privately held.

Among its conclusions: "Compuware has identified several significant security issues, which left unmitigated would provide an opportunity for an attacker to disrupt the election process or throw the election results into question."