<<< Date Index >>>     <<< Thread Index >>>

[IP] more on eVoting thoughts





Begin forwarded message:

From: Ben Combee <ben.combee@xxxxxxxxx>
Date: November 8, 2006 10:54:09 AM EST
To: dave@xxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [IP] eVoting thoughts

On 11/7/06, Peter Jensen <peter@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
First - no feedback.  Was my vote counted?  No indication at all.  In
the old voting machines, the curtain would open when you moved the
handle, and at least that provided *some* indication that something was
going on.  In these new systems, at least the one I used, there is
absolutely no feedback.  The quiet is eerie.

Second - who did I vote for? There's no indication that the candidates I voted for were the ones the machine registered. It's just stupid not
to have some indication of this.  Normal interactive procedure is to
provide confirmation of your choices *before* you complete an
interactive task.  Apparently the designers felt that the light beside
your candidate was enough feedback.  Call me stoopid, but it sure left
me wondering.

The e-Slate system we used here in Austin, Texas addressed both of
these: After going through the entire ballot, you get a summary screen
listing all of your votes, and you can scroll through the list and
return to any race and change your choice.  There's a separate "Cast
Ballot" button on the box, and when you hit the button, the screen
changes to one of a waving American flag which indicates that your
ballot has been registered in both the memory on the device and on the
"Judge Ballot Controller" that is connected to each machine.


-------------------------------------
You are subscribed as roessler@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
To manage your subscription, go to
 http://v2.listbox.com/member/?listname=ip

Archives at: http://www.interesting-people.org/archives/interesting-people/