Public Strategies is helping Diebold Election Systems with PR efforts as the company faces scrutiny for its role in helping the U.S. update its voting machines.

Mike Jacobsen, spokesman for Diebold Inc., DES' parent, told O'Dwyer's PS has been working on public affairs and media relations efforts for the election unit. While Diebold is based in North Canton, Ohio, its DES unit is headquartered in Texas, where PS has strong roots.

A voting systems advisory panel in California this week recommended DES' touchscreen voting machines not be used in November, after a trial run in March primaries yielded technical and human errors in some counties.

The Maryland Board of Elections has been sued by a voters group because DES' electronic voting machines do not produce a paper record, and a contractor hired by the state was able to hack the system. The MBE has certified Diebold's machines for use. DES is running a $1M outreach campaign, with ads and PR efforts, in the state to educate voters.

Diebold's CEO's status as a Bush "Pioneer" and questions about the security of electronic voting have brought DES to national attention in recent months.

Diebold makes the bulk of its revenue (just under $500M for the first quarter) as a top producer of ATM machines. DES said the California decision does not impact its 2004 revenue guidance of $80 to $95 million for its election systems.

About 150 protesters gathered outside of Diebold's annual meeting yesterday.