Diebold CEO Resigns

Late on Monday, Diebold CEO Walden W O'Dell resigned for "personal reasons," and the Ohio company promoted President and Chief Operating Officer (for three months) Thomas W. Swidarski to the slot. According to Crain's Cleveland, the company's stock has dropped 30 percent this year. And the non-executive board chairman said, "The board of directors and Wally mutually agreed that his decision to resign at this time for personal reasons was in the best interest of all parties."

Swidarski became President/COO only three months ago, according to Crain's, when "Eric Evans resigned suddenly as the company's president and chief operating officer." The company has been heavily criticized for the performance of its electronic voting systems.

Last week, the Brad Blog reported of possible class action litigation against Diebold and its CEO for securities fraud. In 2003, O'Dell promised to deliver Ohio to President Bush in his re-election bid.

On Wednesday, Diebold's refusal to allow independent testing of its source code will be heard by a judge; the EFF contends Diebold has not complied with state law regarding transparency.

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