Demand electronic ballot accountability

[Adam D]

http://action.truemajority.com/actio...mm1&ref=353951

[johnny861]

While I don't agree with technological regression as an answer, I will agree that there needs to be accountability.

Certainly a need for data redundancy with counts verified by independent sources... as for the onbboard flash memory dying, accidents of this scale are as likely as somebody dropping a zippo on the box containing the ballots...

[Adam D]

There's a lot of concern about fraud from the companies that make these machines. One of them, I'll have to find the name, pretty much said outright that they will stop at nothing to ensure Bush wins the next election. That's pretty fucked up, and that's what started the campaign to demand a paper trail.

[johnny861]

I just feel people have an unusual fear of technology and maybe it is simply a fear of the unknown or rather what they have experienced with their home pc or some sloppy half assed website.

Technology that handles billions of calls a day, billions of credit card transactions daily, ess realtime management systems monitoring nationwide telecom networks...

To suggest that the risk of human error is less than the risk of technological error, reminds me of the story of John Henry vs. the Railroad and that I'm afraid, is simply a tall tale.

[Adam D]

Originally posted by johnny861
I just feel people have an unusual fear of technology and maybe it is simply a fear of the unknown or rather what they have experienced with their home pc or some sloppy half assed website.

Technology that handles billions of calls a day, billions of credit card transactions daily, ess realtime management systems monitoring nationwide telecom networks...

To suggest that the risk of human error is less than the risk of technological error, reminds me of the story of John Henry vs. the Railroad and that I'm afraid, is simply a tall tale.

If the CEO of mastercard came out and said we're going to take $5 from your account everytime you make a transaction, I bet a lot of people would be in an uproar as well.

[johnny861]

Originally posted by Adam D
If the CEO of mastercard came out and said we're going to take $5 from your account everytime you make a transaction, I bet a lot of people would be in an uproar as well.

And I agree with you... and I go back to my argument of redundancy and independent verfication...

something that needs to be done

I agree with moving on with the technology available. I also agree with creating a paper trail.

Originally posted by Adam D
There's a lot of concern about fraud from the companies that make these machines. One of them, I'll have to find the name, pretty much said outright that they will stop at nothing to ensure Bush wins the next election. That's pretty fucked up, and that's what started the campaign to demand a paper trail.

Are you saying that the ballot counting machine manufacturers will make sure GW wins the 04 election by rigging their amchines?

Originally posted by johnny861
I just feel people have an unusual fear of technology and maybe it is simply a fear of the unknown or rather what they have experienced with their home pc or some sloppy half assed website.

Technology that handles billions of calls a day, billions of credit card transactions daily, ess realtime management systems monitoring nationwide telecom networks...

To suggest that the risk of human error is less than the risk of technological error, reminds me of the story of John Henry vs. the Railroad and that I'm afraid, is simply a tall tale.

http://www.npr.org/programs/morning/...atc/johnhenry/

Not necessarily a tall tale

[johnny861]

Originally posted by xiannaix
http://www.npr.org/programs/morning/...atc/johnhenry/

Not necessarily a tall tale

Regardless... there's an interesting metaphor I see in a man of the old guild struggling against innovation to the bitter end.

[Adam D]

Originally posted by xiannaix
Are you saying that the ballot counting machine manufacturers will make sure GW wins the 04 election by rigging their amchines?

One company was essentially saying so. I'll find the article, because I found it pretty incredulous when I first heard it too.

[johnny861]

Originally posted by Adam D
One company was essentially saying so. I'll find the article, because I found it pretty incredulous when I first heard it too.

You were assuming they were saying this, or did they say they were going to rig the machines?


I'd find such a statement would merit an investigation of the corporation... A statement like that is certainly self incriminating.

Is this company under investigation?

Originally posted by johnny861
Regardless... there's an interesting metaphor I see in a man of the old guild struggling against innovation to the bitter end.

agreed

Originally posted by Adam D
One company was essentially saying so. I'll find the article, because I found it pretty incredulous when I first heard it too.

cool - appreciate seeing it - does sound incredible.

[JoshM]

From the posted site:

Without them we would just have to trust the companies that make the machines--companies like Diebold whose CEO, Walden W. O'Dell, recently wrote in a fundraising letter for the Republicans, "I am committed to helping Ohio deliver its electoral votes to the President next year."

Walden W. Odell is also part of an organization that supports and raises funds for the Republican party. Not to mention there were lots of security holes found in the electronic voting system:

http://www.detnews.com/2003/technolo...ogy-268045.htm

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/te...-problem_x.htm

http://www.wired.com/news/business/0...w=wn_bizhead_5

Your vote on the Federal level doesnt count anymore.