BBV: Junk Voting Machines

[RedEagle]

California votin'
By Jack Ganssle, Embedded.com
Oct 2 2003 (16:00 PM)
URL: http://www.embedded.com/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=15201145

California's recall election will be tallied by a mix of voting machines, ranging from punched cards to the latest in high-tech wizardry. Anyone following the comp.risks forum knows of the furor over electronic voting machines.

They're junk.

That's a strong statement, but it applies to any product that does not fulfill its mission. In the case of voting, the only important feature is trust. And few computer scientists feel the devices deliver an accurate count.

.........

[Hawkeye-X]

1. Try none

None of the computer scientists feel that the device can provide an accurate count because it's "propeitary" and subject to fraud.

Those who are "few" are Republicans.

For all we know, Davis could have easily defeated the recall if it wasn't for the touch-screen voting system.

I'd rather go optical, thankyouverymuch.

Hawkeye-X

[slackmaster]

2. Optical is fine, punched cards are fine

Both systems work reliably when properly maintained. Both systems produce a durable audit trail that has volume and mass and can be guarded by people without any special training.

[leftchick]

3. I would rather go pencil and paper...

Canada does just fine with it!