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                                                                      EXHIBIT 24

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY
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         KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, That the undersigned directors of
Diebold, Incorporated, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of
the State of Ohio, do for themselves and not for another, constitute and appoint
Warren W. Dettinger, Charee Francis-Vogelsang or Gerald F. Morris, or any one of
them, a true and lawful attorney in fact in their names, place and stead, to
sign their names to the report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
1997, or to any and all amendments to such reports, and to cause the same to be
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission; it being intended to give and
grant unto said attorneys in fact and each of them full power and authority to
do and perform any act and thing necessary and proper to be done in the premises
as fully and to all intents and purposes as the undersigned by themselves could
do if personally present. The undersigned directors ratify and confirm all that
said attorneys in fact or either of them shall lawfully do or cause to be done
by virtue hereof.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have hereunto set their hands as of
the date set opposite their signature.





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Signed in the presence of:             Signature               Date
                                       ---------               ----




/s/Charee Francis-Vogelsang      /s/Donald R. Gant
                                                                 March 5, 1998
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                                 Donald R. Gant, Director



/s/Charee Francis-Vogelsang      /s/Phillip B. Lassiter
                                                                 March 5, 1998
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                                 Phillip B. Lassiter, Director



/s/ Charee Francis-Vogelsang     /s/John N. Lauer
                                                                 March 5, 1998
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                                 John N. Lauer, Director



/s/Charee Francis-Vogelsang      /s/Gregg A. Searle
                                                                 March 5, 1998
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                                 Gregg A. Searle, Director




/s/Charee Francis-Vogelsang      /s/William F. Massy
                                                                March 5, 1998
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                                 William F. Massy, Director