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Paper ballots might be better

  • This would have upset me.

    Play

    2012 Voting Machines Altering Votes

    My wife and I went to the voting booths this morning before work. There were 4 older ladies running the show and 3 voting booths that are similar to a science fair project in how they fold up. They had an oval VOTE logo on top center and a cartridge slot on the left that the volunteers used to start your ballot. I initially selected Obama but Romney was highlighted. I assumed it was being picky so I deselected Romney and tried Obama again, this time more carefully, and still got Romney. Being a software developer, I immediately went into troubleshoot mode. I first thought the calibration was off and tried selecting Jill Stein to actually highlight Obama. Nope. Jill Stein was selected just fine. Next I deselected her and started at the top of Romney's name and started tapping very closely together to find the 'active areas'. From the top of Romney's button down to the bottom of the black checkbox beside Obama's name was all active for Romney. From the bottom of that same checkbox to the bottom of the Obama button (basically a small white sliver) is what let me choose Obama. Stein's button was fine. All other buttons worked fine. I asked the voters on either side of me if they had any problems and they reported they did not. I then called over a volunteer to have a look at it. She him hawed for a bit then calmly said "It's nothing to worry about, everything will be OK." and went back to what she was doing. I then recorded this video. There is a lot of speculation that the footage is edited. I'm not a video guy, but if it's possible to prove whether a video has been altered or not, I will GLADLY provide the raw footage to anyone who is willing to do so. The jumping frames are a result of the shitty camera app on my Android phone, nothing more.

    http://www.youtube.com/v/QdpGd74DrBM

    hownowbrowncow

  • Paper ballots would absolutely be better, especially given the fact that whichever side loses this election will most likely call for recounts.

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    CMXI

  • It can't be this complicated to use computers and the Internet for voting. I don't think it's a conspiracy, I think for whatever reason they're hiring cut-rate programmers to write this stuff.

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    sf2k4

  • Electronic voting is a terrible idea and completely unnecessary. Basically everyone thinks we need to do it this way to be more modern. Problem is that it's not as reliable, or secure. Some things just don't need to change.

    TroyTide

  • TroyTide said...

    Problem is that it's not as reliable, or secure.

    I disagree 100%. If they would hire competent programmers and network specialists, there would be zero issues. And imagine how much faster votes could be tabulated and, again with good programming, the computer error is MUCH lower than with human error. Again, I don't think it's some conspiracy, I just think they're hiring the wrong kinds of companies to set this stuff up. Hell, let Google do it.

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    sf2k4

  • sf2k4 said...

    I disagree 100%. If they would hire competent programmers and network specialists, there would be zero issues. And imagine how much faster votes could be tabulated and, again with good programming, the computer error is MUCH lower than with human error. Again, I don't think it's some conspiracy, I just think they're hiring the wrong kinds of companies to set this stuff up. Hell, let Google do it.

    Who should they hire?

    (I'm not trying to be a jerk here, I legitimately don't know who would be a better option than the existing companies like Diebold.)

    This post was edited by CMXI on 11/6/2012 at 11:29 AM

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    CMXI

  • CMXI said...

    Who should they hire?

    I suggested Google in my post, but really any company with a solid reputation in software creation and network management. The problem is they keep hiring this companies that "specialize" in voting software and management, but has any company that does so proven to you that their products are worth it? No. So why keep hiring those guys? Talk to Google. Talk to Cysco. You get my drift.

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    sf2k4

  • sf2k4 said...

    I disagree 100%. If they would hire competent programmers and network specialists, there would be zero issues. And imagine how much faster votes could be tabulated and, again with good programming, the computer error is MUCH lower than with human error. Again, I don't think it's some conspiracy, I just think they're hiring the wrong kinds of companies to set this stuff up. Hell, let Google do it.

    It's a lot easier to change votes that don't exist physically.

    TroyTide

  • CMXI said...

    Who should they hire?

    (I'm not trying to be a jerk here, I legitimately don't know who would be a better option than the existing companies like Diebold.)

    Use Diebold to assist with the security encryption, I'm all for that, but given the scope of what's trying to be accomplished (total digital voting), I think you have to go big or go home in the software development and network management department.

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    sf2k4

  • TroyTide said...

    It's a lot easier to change votes that don't exist physically.

    Not if the proper security measures and encryptions are utilized. Plus, and I don't mean to insult you, but your comment kind of has a "1984/fear-of-technology" edge to it.

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    sf2k4

  • sf2k4 said...

    Not if the proper security measures and encryptions are utilized. Plus, and I don't mean to insult you, but your comment kind of has a "1984/fear-of-technology" edge to it.

    If the Pentagon can be hacked so can voting machines. You just want to upgrade...just because.

    TroyTide

  • TroyTide said...

    If the Pentagon can be hacked so can voting machines. You just want to upgrade...just because.

    I want to upgrade because:

    1. Electronic voting is faster than paper voting.

    2. Electronic voting can be tabulated faster than paper voting.

    3. Electronic voting has a much lower margin of error compared to the human error of paper voting.

    4. I'm not convinced electronic voting is any more susceptible to voter fraud than paper voting.

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    sf2k4