Making your vote count

Posted: Tuesday, October 21, 2008 9:31 AM by Domenico Montanaro

The folks over at the SciFi Channel have a great online tool for voters to find out what kind of voting machine they'll be using. The tool allows you to see their study on hackability and error rates. Idaho and New York appear to have the most error-prone ballots. On the hackability front, the study views optical scan and electronic voting (a large chunk of the voting machines out there) as more hackable than the other ways (punch card etc.)

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Comments

Let me see .. If you're intelligent you're an elitest, If you lost your job to China you're nonproductive, when you were middle class you didn't exist, now that you can't pay your mortgage you caused this recession, social programs have to be cut because the banks were saved, when you get sick you have decide whether seek medical help or pay rent for a house owned by McCain, and now that you live out in the street you can't vote. What a shame....I was going to vote for McCain because he's better qualified to keep my cardboard shelter from being bombed by a terrorist who teaches Kindergarten.

Frank the unemployed

Frank Zavala, Tucson, AZ (Sent Tuesday, October 21, 2008 9:38 AM)

There are some other documentaries out about how easy it is getting to steal votes, alter votes, and change the outcomes of elections. It's pretty terrifying that some people want to do away with paper trails.

Feel free to comment:
http://lastofourkind.blogspot.com

LoOK (Sent Tuesday, October 21, 2008 9:43 AM)

Go Obama! I know I haven't been too kind to you these past few months, but you can add me to the list of the converted!

Full Moon (Sent Tuesday, October 21, 2008 9:45 AM)

Here's where we need a substantial technology program: development of an accessible, transparent and reliable voting system nationwide. It isn't sexy, but what's more important in a democracy than the mechanics of the voting process?

And let's not wait until some time in 2012 to think about it.

Joe Don (Sent Tuesday, October 21, 2008 9:46 AM)

Ummm, I live in NY, and have you heard of voting irregularities here? No. And why's that? We use the old mechanical pull lever machines here..they've never failed us, and they are tamper proof, unlike those wonderful Diebold machines used in Florida. No one here ever complained they couldn't vote because of broken down computerized machines or anything like that.

pat huntington ny (Sent Tuesday, October 21, 2008 9:51 AM)

Wanna vote. Keep it fair and simple.

1) Be at the polls IN PERSON.
2) Your name should ALREADY be registered and LISTED
in the registered voter pages.
3) You are to show an appropriate ID and you are
photographed.
4) Cast your ballot.

No problem with cheating, double votes, etc. In other words, no problem with ACORN. Too many ways to vote only brings cheating and voter fraud into the picture.

Those who are disabled will have a rep come to their house for the same procedure.

Spinout (Sent Tuesday, October 21, 2008 9:54 AM)

I haven't felt the U.S. has been much of a democracy since 2000. I'd like to feel that something...anything has been corrected. I used to be a republican but I feel that the RNC, the Bush administration and his stacked supreme court have just about ruined this country. If it continues I'll take my retirement in Europe where I served in the military for years. This great country has been diminished by neo-conservatism and will sink further if the hate and divisive propaganda of McCain/Palin win out. Vote Obama for the sake of our children and their futures.

subgruvet, ok (Sent Tuesday, October 21, 2008 9:55 AM)

Interesting, and the attached article detailing the differences between the different types of models and machines is fascinating for a techie like me :)

It's also funny to see that here in New York we lead the national technology race with 91% of the electorate using voting machines described as "archaic". Guess that's what happens when you've been a solid blue state for decades.

Matt, Buffalo, NY (Sent Tuesday, October 21, 2008 9:57 AM)

Error-prone ballots in NY? You bet.

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5j9YDTLWNOCPajU80ZrttdJwCeATwD93NRLQG0

Pete - Albany, NY (Sent Tuesday, October 21, 2008 10:04 AM)

A cautionary note - there are lots of reports coming in of the touchscreen electronic voting systems incorrectly selecting the other candidate - if you must use a touchscreen voting booth, please triple check every vote. There should be a final confirmation screen - select CANCEL if you do not see the correct choices.

Just as important - several states separate votes for President from straight party tickets, as such, if you select straight party, your McCain/Obama selection is not made. You must make BOTH selections.

Axel, Philadelphia, PA (Sent Tuesday, October 21, 2008 10:11 AM)

Just when McCain thought he was gaining ground and was on to something, he awoke this morning to a rude awakening... Obama's up at the most by 13 points in one poll, and at the least 8 points in about 7 other polls. This is by all "Likely Voters"... LIKELY VOTERS??? That's not even weighing in the many newly registered voters, nor is it including the many younger voters who have yet to vote in prior elections, OR the folks who aren't being polled due to not using land line phones...

The media would have you believe this thing is close, but it's their duty to keep a story going...

13 MORE DAYS AWA..... OH, DID YOU SAY 14??? DAMN!!!

Droppin' Science, Miami, Fl (Sent Tuesday, October 21, 2008 10:19 AM)

I VOTED TODAY, AND FLORIDA IS WITHOUT DOUBT GOING BLUE!!!

{It was plenty encouraging today... I saw old, young, black, white, white collar, blue collar, so much diversity at the polls sportin' Obama/Biden shirts}

This is what's up!!!

Droppin' Science, Miami, Fl (Sent Tuesday, October 21, 2008 10:33 AM)

Very interesting. With the uproar about the electronic machines, I've always considered those big old lever machines to be dependable.

Susan, NC via LA (Sent Tuesday, October 21, 2008 10:53 AM)

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