[IP] SiliconValley.com's weeklong roundtable on e-voting
Begin forwarded message:
From: Declan McCullagh <declan@xxxxxxxx>
Date: October 15, 2004 3:53:42 AM GMT+01:00
To: politech@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [Politech] SiliconValley.com's weeklong roundtable on e-voting
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Researchers and registrars in weeklong e-voting debate
Date: Wed, 13 Oct 2004 09:20:40 -0400
From: Paczkowski, John S <JPaczkowski@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <dave@xxxxxxxxxx>, <declan@xxxxxxxx>
Dave, Declan:
It's a shame that they keep calling these Q&A sessions with the
presidential candidates "debates." You want a good election year
debate? One with a dozen experts and a well-informed audience mixing it
up over a controversial topic, with well-framed and supported arguments
replacing catch phrases and comebacks? Keep an eye on our e-voting
roundtable all week
(http://www.siliconvalley.com/mld/siliconvalley/9851518.htm). Here's a
sample of what's being said:
If one set out to design systems to prevent checks and balances, it
would be hard to outdo current paperless e-voting machines. Electronic
voting in its current form is equivalent to handing over the counting
of votes to private groups who count the ballots behind closed doors --
and then destroy them before anyone else can do a recount. -- David
Dill, Verified Voting
What about all those who are being encouraged to vote an absentee/mail
ballot? They place their faith in the U.S. Postal Service, which
handles their mail ballot by computerized processes. If they are
delivered to the Elections Department, for decades, those ballots have
been tabulated through computers (not networked). Yet, that voter has
no idea whether his/her ballot has been counted in every contest
because of the anonymity of the voter and secrecy of the ballot. --
Mischelle Townsend, Riverside County registrar of voters
I am not against technology. I drive a car, get on airplanes and ride
elevators. However, if the code in any of these was as bad as Diebold's
software, I wouldn't. -- Avi Rubin, computer science professor
One of my company's customers makes electronic slot machines, and hires
us as one part of the independent verification process. The
manufacturer, the casinos, and the state regulators all take the
verification of software for these machines very seriously -- much more
seriously than most election officials seem to take the verification of
DRE software. -- Jim Horning, reader
The question begs asking: how did all of these experts find such
serious flaws that passed the scrutiny of the testers who approved the
systems? As it turns out, it's not entirely the fault of the testers.
The standards by which they are asked to rate and judge voting systems
are highly flawed themselves and are severely outdated. -- Kim Zetter,
Wired News
At this point in time in the election cycle, there is no constructive
value in perpetuating the debate. Election officials are conducting the
election with the tools that they have. To continue discrediting these
tools serves only to actively undermine the legitimacy of the election
before a vote has been counted. To deride and malign election officials
who are working tirelessly with the tools they have to conduct a
transparent, fair and accurate election to the best of their ability in
November serves no positive goal. It is a fair question to ask the
motive of those who do either.
-- Scott Konopasek, San Bernardino County registrar of voters
____________________________________________
John Paczkowski
Good Morning Silicon Valley |
http://www.siliconvalley.com/mld/siliconvalley/business/columnists/
gmsv/ <http://www.gmsv.com>
SiliconValley.com | http://www.siliconvalley.com
-----
Knight Ridder Digital
35 South Market Street
San Jose, CA 95113
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