We must protect our democracy

[MelissaB]

We must protect our democracy

By: PAUL JACOBS - For The Californian

In a world of wired and wireless technology, it's a relief to learn that our Toyota Prius may get carjacked, but it won't be easily hacked. It's a shame Toyota doesn't make electronic voting equipment.

Researchers with the Finnish computer security firm F-Secure recently made repeated attempts to introduce multiple versions of the Cabir virus into the Prius' operating system using Bluetooth wireless technology. The Prius was immune to the Cabir virus that was originally released in 2004 and designed to attack cell phones and PDAs.

...snip


Back to the issue of technology, I was surprised to learn that Japan has dabbled in electronic voting, but they are keenly aware of the pitfalls of the system. Unlike American election officials who robotically deny anything ever going wrong with our electronic voting machines, Japanese officials give their election system more judicial scrutiny.

In 2005, a judge in Japan nullified the results of a 2003 election, citing "negligence in the administration concerning electronic voting." The ruling supported a local civic group's claim that there were errors in the electronic ballot system. The computerized voting system was shut down for up to 83 minutes at all 29 polling stations during the election because the voting machines overheated, the court said.

The scenario in Japan is eerily similar to what has reportedly occurred twice with Riverside County's electronic voting system. During the 2000 and 2004 elections, witnesses claim the tallying machine halted for close to an hour and when the counting of the votes resumed, there appeared to be an alteration of how the votes were trending before the shutdown. One of those contests has generated litigation against the county, but our courts and the American public appear eagerly ignorant regarding the sanctity of electronic voting.

Unlike the Prius, our voting machines use proprietary software that incorporates Microsoft products in some applications. The proprietary status prohibits election officials and the public from examining the computer codes that determine the future of our democracy. Even as Microsoft products are notorious for vulnerability to hacking, manipulation and various forms of attack, independent verification that software security patches have been installed or validating the use of certified version of election software is lacking.

Insurance can compensate and replace a stolen vehicle, but very few remedies can bring back a stolen democracy.

Link: http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2006/01/08/opinion/jacobs/20_40_061_7_06.txt

Paul Jacobs of Temecula is a regular columnist for The Californian. E-mail [e-mail].

:patriot:

[KoKo]

1. Do you have a link for the rest of the article?

This one goes to the reporter's e-mail. Good Article...:hi:

[MelissaB]

2. I just added it!

:blush: It was such a great read that I got excited and forgot the link. :blush:

[Peace Patriot]

3. K & R! There is NOTHING more important than this, and we have a hell of

a job to clean up the corruption around it in California alone (our great progressive state).

Without transparent elections, there is NOTHING we can do about all the rampant crime of the Bush junta, other than to descry it to each other, and document it, and help educate the public. Our vote is the mechanism of our sovereignty as a people. Without it, we have no control over our government, and our "representatives" are NOT representing US. And it couldn't be any clearer that most of them are not.

[annabanana]

4. k&r..eom

[MelissaB]

5. I'm not too proud to kick my own thread.

:kick:

[Wilms]

6. .

[MelissaB]

7. snip

Although the Prius is one of the world's most electronically advanced vehicles with features such as keyless entry and ignition, the technology was installed with security in mind. The Prius uses a proprietary operating system called Symbian that offers considerable protection from the vast majority of computer viruses and worms that make many Microsoft software products vulnerable to hackers.

[rumpel]

8. Kick.

[greiner3]

9. So how can I be sure my vote counts in Ohio in November? n/t

[converted_democrat]

10. Kick and Recommend. n/t

[nicknameless]

11. K&R

... Poor Ohio:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x408373