Electronic Voting Debacle

Electronic Voting Debacle
Scott Granneman, 2003-11-12

Grave concerns over the security of electronic voting machines in the United States means the heart of American democracy is at risk.

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Thank you 2003-11-13
Anonymous

Thanks for posting this article. I think this is an extremely important issue that hasn't gotten nearly enough attention, partly because some of the issues are hard to explain to the public in a short news blurb. This issue worries me more than any other right now because it strikes at the heart o...

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"Bill Gates Elected President: FEC Surprised" 2003-11-13
Penguinisto (1 replies)

All kidding aside, this is a damned good article.

One can only wonder at how the 2000 election would've been (prolly about the same) if there was an honest and verifyable system to count electronic votes.

At the very least, a paper reciept that goes straight into a locked box should be requir...

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"Bill Gates Elected President: FEC Surprised" 2003-11-15
Anonymous (1 replies)

Problem with a system that automatically deposits your paper ballot in a locked box is how will you be able to spoil the ballot if you see that it didn't print out what you voted?

The only way it can work is if the voter is able to visually check and manually deposit the verified paper ballot int...

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"Bill Gates Elected President: FEC Surprised" 2003-11-17
Penguinisto

Indeed - I agree that it needs to be verified by the voter before deposit; my apologies for not thinking and stating otherwise.

BTW, why not just have the printed version print the name of the person being voted for, with a bar code for that person next to the name?

That way, we don't have to...

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Electronic Voting Debacle 2003-11-13
Dave Collins (1 replies)

I think that the US fundamentally gets "democracy" wrong.

Its not important that you get the result quickly and cheaply. I important that you get the result openly and correctly.
You have the a really simple (I would argue undemocratic but that another argument) first past the post system. It w...

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Electronic Voting Debacle 2003-11-14
Anonymous (2 replies)

The only problem with hand-counting is it results in endless debates over whether the X crosses inside or outside the box, much like the "pregnent chad" arguments in Florida in 2000.
...

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Electronic Voting Debacle 2003-11-14
Dave Collins

Yes and no.

It is a problem if the election rule are not clearly defined PRIOR to the election....

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Electronic Voting Debacle 2003-11-15
Katie

That's actually a problem with marking, not with hand-counting. Machines are even less capable than humans are of inferring a voter's intent if the mark is ambiguous.

Touch-screens (or any one of numerous, less expensive machine alternatives) might be useful for ensuring that the voter doesn't vo...

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Electronic Voting Debacle 2003-11-14
open_your_eyes

Excelent article. This text is important not only to USA but to the world as well. Every decision made in USA (see now Mr. GWB) has a great effect on other countries. USA implies a false illusion of freedom during last years. Other countries see this very clear. Democracy is a nice word, but not ver...

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comment on Georgia incumbent senator who was "far ahead" in the polls 2003-11-14
Anonymous

A Zogby poll right before the 2002 elections showed the Georgia senate race to be a dead heat. The Atlanta Journal Constitution showed Cleland up by only 3% on the Saturday before the election.

http://www.onlineathens.com/stories/110502/new_20021105013.s
html
http://www.evote.com/elections_sectio...

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Electronic Voting Debacle 2003-11-14
P.T. Barnum (1 replies)

Well, well. A little late to the parade, but thanks for showing up, Scott.

One thing that those of us who oppose these machines need to bear in mind is that there are real usability issues which, aside from the standard greed/corruption motives, make them desirable. One such usability issue is ...

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Electronic Voting Debacle 2003-11-15
Katie

In agreement that some pushing for touchscreen systems to improve voter accessibility are misguided. The voting machine companies have spent years courting PWDs (people with disabilities) for their support of these contraptions.

What's interesting is that the case for touchscreen as an accessibil...

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Some states are rejecting Deibold - hiring independent security teams 2003-11-16
Anonymous

I am really glad to see this story. I've been very concerned about this as well. I was also really concerned when I heard that my state, Oregon, was going to be developing a new voting system. Fortunately, they rejected Deibold, partially due to security concerns. They also have taken the unpreceden...

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Electronic Voting Debacle 2003-11-17
Chris Caydes

Good article, and a good example of how technology is not a panacea to everything.

Paper voting has a significant advantage over electronic voting.
Sure it takes a little longer to count the ballots. But are American citizens really willing to trust the manufacters of the machines, just to allo...

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Paper receipts 2003-11-17
Out of Toner

Paper receipts might be helpful, but how would they work? As punch-out cards, or as print-out sheets?

Given the maintenance issues around election equipment, what's the likelihood that a voting machine will run out of tonor/ink or paper/cardstock during the polls?

What if the ink is too l...

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http://www.votescam.com/ 2003-11-19
Anonymous

http://www.votescam.com/...

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Those are easily fixed... 2003-11-19
APenguinisto

... the voter will be able to read the thing and know if the ink is too dark/ too light, and can have that ballot destroyed and do it again.

Running out of toner/ink is easy to fix too - any office worker can replace a toner cartridge, and having at least two local officials watching the guy chan...

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