more electronic voting

Richard Stringer

No one wants a clean election more than I do. But in a world where we bank , buy and sell stocks , pay bills, renew drivers licenses, apply for social security, get loans - all online it seems that there is a simple way to vote online. The IRS cross checks the tax ID's of a married couple against the Social Security database to make sure that persons filing as married really are married. Why not just use the SSN of each voter ( it ain't a secret these days - its used everywhere - a defacto universial ID number ) against the SS database in real time to verify the voters eligibility and viability. I mean this should not be rocket science - right. Log in and vote from home. Why make a pilgrimage to the local school and/or fire station. Richard "Under certain circumstances, profanity provides a relief denied even to prayer --Mark Twain (1835 - 1910)

DRHuff

Why does the US just not use paper ballots. X marks the spot. Recounts are easy, there is a valid paper trail and there are almost no bugs in the software! Dave

Rob Graham

I wish it were as simple as you suggest, but considering the prevalence of identity theft on the internet, and the vast number of scams out there, it is just not secure enough. And you could reuse the SSN across state boundaries, the states never cross check, most don't have SSN as part of the voter role info either. Unfortunately, these Deibold machines make that trek to the local firehouse no more secure a bet. And to hire a convicted emezzler with over 500,000 in restitution debts as the lead programmer... what was Deibold's HR dept. thinking? I would worry that this guy added the double books and magic code just to be able to sell his secrets to the highest bidder, and perhaps he already has. As a voter, I deserve better. My State deserves better, and my Country deserves better. These idiot deserve to be put out of business. An Access database with no passwords...mother of god, such incompetence! Power corrupts and PowerPoint corrupts absolutely. - Vint Cerf

ColinDavies

Exactly !! Regardz Colin J Davies Attention: Watch this signature for an upcoming announcement that will affect you.

Richard Stringer

I`m SO there wrote: Whee! I didn't say anything about your looks, but judging by your age, I'd say things are quite old and wrinkley by now I have all my hair - and teeth - and beard and moustach -but do have a few more pounds than I used to. Other than that I don't look a day over 45 :) I`m SO there wrote: About the insults, I seriously think you could use some work. They are actually quite funny, but not very insulting. Thats exactly the way they are supposed to be - more humor than insult. Any one can be insulting but to do it with a bit of panache is more difficult. Besides I'm really not that kinda guy. Just an old hippie/programmer/musician trying to make it in a young mans world. And laughing at them at the same time watching them do all the same stupid things that I did. Richard "Under certain circumstances, profanity provides a relief denied even to prayer --Mark Twain (1835 - 1910)

Daniel3000i

Apologies, I should have chosen my words more carefully. I admire the Indian system of voting and wish we had an American version. Daniel

Rob Graham

1. We used to. 2. Damn near as easy to cheat with (stuffing the ballot box, dead people 'voting',etc.), so not a good solution by itself (there is no verifiable audit trail with just paper ballots either, and its too easy for them to get 'lost'...) 3. The debacle in Florida made too many people look for a quick fix, and we got scammed by Deibold and the like. Most State election officials are hardly computer literate... 4. hand counting paper ballots would drive the media folks nuts (although maybe it would be good for them, I'm sick of them announcing victory on 1/2% of the results and before the polls close). Power corrupts and PowerPoint corrupts absolutely. - Vint Cerf

Lost User

DRHuff wrote: Why does the US just not use paper ballots. The year: 2000 The place: Florida, USA You'd be surprised how people can fuck up a ballot. "You have to remember one thing about the will of the people: it wasn't that long ago that we were swept away by the Macarena." Jon Stewart

wrykyn

No problem :) "One of the Georges," said Psmith, "I forget which, once said that a certain number of hours' sleep a day--I cannot recall for the moment how many--made a man something, which for the time being has slipped my memory."

DRHuff

But those were punched by a machine. Just marking an X with a pencil is something just about anyone can manage. If you can't - well I don't want you voting anyway ! ;P Dave

Marc Clifton

Richard Stringer wrote: Enough of this drivel for today. So, the crimes of the past excuse the crimes of the present/future? Marc Microsoft MVP, Visual C# MyXaml MyXaml Blog Hunt The Wumpus RealDevs.Net