Best argument I've read so far on the dangers of electronic voting

[checks-n-balances]

Hope it's not a dupe. Note his profoundly prophetic final paragraph.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/05/opinion/l05vote.html

To the Editor:

I serve on the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers P1583 working group that is drafting the electronic voting equipment standard. The managing director of the I.E.E.E. Standards Association says (letter, Dec. 31) that "the draft standard includes criteria for a voter-verified paper trail performance."

In fact, proposals for verifiable voting records have been rejected out of hand in this committee. As a public relations gesture, the standard includes an addendum that defines, but very specifically does not require, verifiable voting.

Current electronic voting machines cannot be proved trustworthy because they are unauditable. When totals on these machines differ from exit poll projections, we have no empirical way to determine which numbers are correct.

Concerns about voting technology are sometimes painted as sore-loser griping. But when equipment can be unauditably rigged, election results will be bought by organized criminals and terrorists, not just politicians.

Cem Kaner
Melbourne, Fla., Dec. 31, 2004

The writer is a professor of software engineering, Florida Institute of Technology.

On edit: to clarify topic headline and add highlighting

[tk2kewl]

1. that is a good one

:kick:

[sd_UDO]

2. Let's switch to Paper ballots in all 50 states and DC!

Here's how!

http://www.angelfire.com/sd2/105/udo/

http://www.angelfire.com/sd2/105/udo/

[DELUSIONAL]

3. Kick --

My husband is an EE -- and he was shocked when I told him that some of the computers were connected to the Internet or had modems and thus could be hacked.

The last sentence is very important and one that the Engineers and computer tech, software developers and anyone who has had to deal with a virus will agree: But when equipment can be unauditably rigged, election results will be bought by organized criminals and terrorists, not just politicians.

Perhaps the terrorist angle should be played up? Could it have been terrorist hack the election?

Yes, I know -- based on who benefits and the inside knowledge and organization involved -- it had to go all the way the the white house -- however -- the terrorist possibility of hacking an election could be an interesting card to play.

[checks-n-balances]

4. Exactly, and that's why I started this thread...

so let's do keep it kicked, shall we?

[DELUSIONAL]

5. I forwarded the letter to the editor quoted above

to several EEs. The information in the letter won't be a surprise to them.

Typical EE letter -- short, factual and to the point.