I just voted on a Diebold T5 touchscreen

[wtmusic]

and it sucks.

Not the functionality--it's actually very convenient. But the thought that everyone's vote is saved on a hard disk is unnerving, and it should be.

As a software engineer, I know the number of possible ways to "game" the machine is virtually endless, especially when the source code is not public. Proponents answer with, "ballot boxes have always been stuffed", but that's not the point. The point is making it as difficult as humanly possible to influence the outcome of an election.

Diebold makes it relatively easy.

[bacchant]

1. You also just voted for Bush n/t

[wtmusic]

3. I sure as hell hope not

and I would have waited for a manual machine on Tues. if I wasn't going to Nevada to help out there.

[bacchant]

9. If I had to choose the one thing that really has me worried this election

it would be THE BLACK BOX.

[GCP]

2. Did you get a paper printout?

As a back-up?

[wtmusic]

5. nope

and even a paper printout isn't the cure-all, unless there's online verification.

[RapidCreek]

17. It's the cure if it's the printout that is placed in the ballot box....

funny that seems so implausible for those who advocate high technology in the voting booth. Even more odd is their active obstruction to such an approach.

The touch screens wouldn't be a bad idea if the were used as nothing more than a data input device linked to a printer....and a clearly marked ballot was produced..which would be checked then placed by the voter into the ballot box.

RC

[wtmusic]

20. agree

but printers are notoriously undependable.

Maybe backup punchcards if the printers go down. Then we're back to punchcards-- still IMO one of the best solutions.

[bullimiami]

4. youve been DIEBALLED.

walk carefully the next few days.

[AndyTiedye]

10. Diebold Republican Electing Machinez

We Make Democracy DIE

[leftchick]

6. that is what my precinct has....

so I voted absentee this year. God it felt great to have a pencil and fill in little ovals for Kerry/Edwards! I also hand delivered it to our BoE office.

[wtmusic]

11. that's what I should have done

but I didn't know I was going to be out of town next week. If CA goes to * the fraud will be so obvious it isn't going to matter.

[KingChicken]

7. public source

I agree with the public source code, election software should always be open, and far far away from Micro$oft.

[The_Casual_Observer]

8. To call it gaming would be an embellishment

They could make up any old shit in that thing and nobody would know.

[Cleita]

12. I believe the ATM machine I use at the bank is

a Diebold. It asks me if I want a printed receipt, which it gives me if I request one. I also know that the bank has a journal tape that lists all transactions in the order they occur. Why is this so difficult to do this for votes? Both parties should insist on it.

[rniel]

13. If Kerry makes it

we need to do something about reforming the election process. Some way to keep it out of partisan hands completely. If republicans have their way even this will be completely privatized and thus corrupt as hell.

[wtmusic]

18. absolutely

unfortunately, though, it is impossible to keep it out of partisan hands...

The trick is to keep it dependable and transparent (honest), but also guarantee everyone privacy. It's a difficult goal. The touchscreens are a step forward in dependability, and a big step backwards in transparency.

[harmonyguy]

14. Vote is saved on a hard disk is unnerving.

You think that's unnerving?
How'd you feel if I told you it's not even on a hard disk?

How about 'battery-backed-static-ram-crammed-into-a-pcmcia-card' or maybe even 'flash-memory' (I don't recall which is used in THAT model).

Convenient functionality - you're right. And that's what gets emphasized when these contraptions are sold, along with 'it makes voting fun'

To the proponents of these things I say 'Never mind the fun and the convenience, how about some verifiable accuracy?'

(I apologize in advance if this kinda sounds like shooting the messenger, that's definitely NOT my intention. Just a suitable opportunity to rant at the makers of these things)

HG

[wtmusic]

16. A message comes on the screen at the end

and says that the "vote is not on your card. It has been saved in the machine."

I think they reuse the cards right away.

(remember, just the messenger...) ;-)

[Buck Rabbit]

15. You pushed a vote for Kerry in California ..

It registered 3 votes for Bush in Ohio.


(Joking I hope, damn I hope it's a joke!)

[OutsourceBush]

19. Diebold, ES&S and Sequoia are all controlled by repukes... bend over

The three biggest computer voting companies. Bush crime family slipped this little surprise in while we were all worrying about 911 and terror. Can you say, Theocracy?

http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=diebold+es%26s+sequoia+cnp+fraud&ei=UTF-8&fr=FP-tab-web-t&fl=0&x=wrt