HB 5279 Michigan Internet Voting Whack-a-mole

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

Next up Michigan. Any day. I am hoping that voter advocacy orgs can get an op/ed in major national paper this week-end.
Massachusetts just passed email voting for troops. Now here's Michigan, a hair away from it.
Electronic Voting: One Step Closer

It’s too late for Election Day 2009 but Michigan House Bill #5279 should be ready in plenty of time for the important 2010 state elections.

Last week, the measure was adopted by a majority of members in the Michigan House of Representatives. As I have stated in previous blogs and WXYZ-TV editorials, the bill would let state residents serving in the military or working overseas vote via electronic mail instead of snail mail. All too often, those ballots get lost or delayed through international postal services.

Having cleared the House, Bill #5279 is now before the Michigan Senate Campaign & Election Oversight Committee chaired by State Senator Michelle McManus. The bill, better known as “Operation: Our Troops Count”, has strong bi-partisan support. It should be moved quickly through McManus’ committee so it can reach the Michigan Senate floor where lawmakers can pass the legislation. In an age where ATM machines are on practically every corner, let’s make it just as easy for all eligible Michigan voters to cast their election ballots.
http://www.wxyz.com/content/community/stokesblog/story/Electronic-Voting-One-Step-Closer/qP1xNAtWkk6XYd_BC6J_3A.cspx

WHY INTERNET VOTING IS TOO DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY FOR OUR TROOPS
http://ncvoters.blogspot.com/2009/11/internet-voting-too-dangerous.html

[LiberalFighter]

1. Gee.. Our Founding Fathers didn't make provisions for those out of the country to vote.

And why should those in Michigan get special rights that the other states don't allow?

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

2. why would Michigan ask troops to use insecure non secret ballot?

and that might make it possible for Cyber Warriors to ascertain troop position?

Gee I don't know, maybe irrational exhuberance for the internet and a failure
to listen to internet security experts?

Maybe they listened to the internet voting vendor too much?

Former Bush appointee DeGregorio is head of one of the major internet voting companies.

[LiberalFighter]

3. I don't think there is any reason to provide more than what is already there.

Providing voting via the internet whether casting a ballot directly which could be compromised or via email would be a problem. How would a ballot be cast via email? An attachment? And how secret would that be for the voter? Whoever opens the email attachment would see the way the voter voted.