Oh, and the group that controls the DATA from the machines is whoever programs the machines (both at the local precinct level and at the central tabulator).   That's almost always the voting machine company.    Except when the machines are hacked, and that's anybody's game.

For all we know, in some areas we have hacker vs. hacker vs. hacker -- kind of like Mad Magazine's "Spy vs. Spy" -- going on, with Republicans hacking, Democrats counter-hacking, and anarchists getting in on the sport just because.