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Electronic Voting machines could skew elections


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I think it improbable that any widespread fraud will occur with electronic machines. It IS good that we have people pointing out deficiencies in the present machines, and I believe that 2nd generation machines will be much more secure.

Paper ballots have never been any assurance of security or accurate vote, e.g. the election of John F. Kennedy by the narrowest margin of votes from West Virginia, and numerous political machines of the 20th century esp. in Chicago and New York. Heck there are over 3,000 counties in the US. You don't think there is the potential for fraud? I know of "technical" irregularities in the handling of ballot bags that are supposed to be burned, but frugal country folks hate to see good linen bags wasted. ;) [that is a hypothetical example for any federal voting commisioners].

a.m.

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I think it improbable that any widespread fraud will occur with electronic machines. It IS good that we have people pointing out deficiencies in the present machines, and I believe that 2nd generation machines will be much more secure.

Paper ballots have never been any assurance of security or accurate vote, e.g. the election of John F. Kennedy by the narrowest margin of votes from West Virginia, and numerous political machines of the 20th century esp. in Chicago and New York. Heck there are over 3,000 counties in the US. You don't think there is the potential for fraud? I know of "technical" irregularities in the handling of ballot bags that are supposed to be burned, but frugal country folks hate to see good linen bags wasted. ;) [that is a hypothetical example for any federal voting commisioners].

a.m.

no election is without fraud. no ballots have ever been secure. hell, most kids cheat when you "close your eyes and raise your hands" to vote at school. i used to peek every time, and the teachers lied to the kids or, if there was a kid counting instead, they usually cheated.... there's no way around it! secret ballots are the easiest way to lie about votes. it just happens to be the best way to get people to give their real opinions instead of being scared to vote against popular opinion.

i figure i just have to hope the cheating is about equal on both sides, or greater on the side i favor, so that things will even out or go my way anyhow!

abifae

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Blackbox...interesting. It is rather amazing at some of the procedural errors that are being made, like loading other software on the totallizing machines....

BUT..... none of the incidents cited on the front page showed that electronic voting, per se, is inherently untrustworthy. Almost all of the errors are procedural errors, made by humans. Looks like a large part of the problem is not having standardized checklists for computer configuration, allowed software, dedicated use for voting, and having cross checks performed by another tech.

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This is a bit more accessable:

http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story...be_hacked/print

As just noted on slasdot, ars technecha has published a step by step guide to hacking the diebold machines. Your average high school A/V club member could do it.

http://arstechnica.com/articles/culture/evoting.ars

The damn things run windows.

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i agree with the point that voting is never fair, and that with all the fraud that goes on that we can only hope that things eventually do come out in the favor of the side we choose.

however, as someone who worked in IT for 9 years, i see the electronic voting machines are quite insecure. i'd like to see paper ballots along wtih the electronic ones, so both can be counted and reconciled. should a voting snafu occur, there should be national laws in place governing whether the paper or electronic ballots be used for the dispute.

i pesonally am very offended that any voting fraud would occur here, especially since we claim to be so "democratic". if the average ballot box cheater flies their flag and has a "support the troops" ribbon on their car, they should be ashamed. their actions in voting fraud are not what our country is about, and is not what our men and women are fighting for and have died for.

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Oh another word on the Bush's, I know not in subject.

Here in MA, a relative to Bush, a Great Uncle or so.

Sorry I did not keep news article.

But, he ran down a police officer while the Officer, was doing an off duty traffic job.

The ex Judge had left a club he has been a member of.

The Officer died the next day.

They hardly mention the Officer a 17 year veteran, that was it.

They went on and on about the retired Judges career, and connections.

And how it was not seen a need to run any tests for drug or alcohol.

No charges or father inquiry as now.

End of article.

And sure we all remember the voting fiasco in Florida, and who the Governor is there.

Aly

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