Diebold

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Diebold, Incorporated NYSE: [DBD] is a security systems corporation which is engaged primarily in the sale, manufacture, installation and service of self-service transaction systems (such as ATMs), electronic and physical security products (including vaults and currency processing systems), and software and integrated systems for global financial and commercial markets. Diebold was incorporated under the laws of the State of Ohio in August 1876, and is headquartered in North Canton, Ohio. [Diebold]

Diebold Election Systems, a subsidiary of Diebold that accounts for 2.4% of its gross revenue, has entered the business of creating electronic voting terminals and solutions for government entities. Diebold entered this industry in 2001 by purchasing the assets of Global Election Systems which had been selling election equipment since 1991. A great deal of controversy surrounds the questions of Diebold Election Systems' competence and ethics.

In December 2005, Diebold's CEO Wally O'Dell left the company following reports that the company was facing securities fraud litigation surrounding charges of insider trading. [Diebold CEO resigns after reports of fraud litigation, internal woes] John Byrne, December 12, 2005 His replacement, Thomas Swidarski, was reported to have given the maximum allowable $2000 contribution to George W. Bush's campaign [Fundrace 2004 Neighbor Search] despite Diebold having instituted a corporate policy disallowing involvement in political campaigns by senior executives, instituted after O'Dell had written, "I am committed to helping Ohio deliver its electoral votes to the president next year," in a fund-raising letter to Republicans dated August 13, 2003.

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