Online Voting In 2004 To Require Windows

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Online Voting In 2004 To Require Windows

Posted by timothy on Sunday July 13, 2003 @11:22AM from the trial-tribulations dept.

letxa2000 writes "According to this article at CBS, a trial Internet voting system will be made available to 100,000 voters in 2004--particularly military and overseas U.S. citizens. As an American living overseas I think this is a step in the right direction. But the article also says 'Voters using SERVE can register to vote and cast their ballots from any computer using Microsoft Windows with Internet access.' Why the Windows requirement? Is that really going to make online voting secure?"

15 of 811 comments (clear)

Excellent! by Scoria · 2003-07-13 11:22 · Score: 5, Funny

UPDATE candidates SET votes="0" WHERE name="Your Opposing Candidate";

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Do you like German cars?
1. Re:Excellent! by Jardine · 2003-07-13 13:28 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  What the hell is with the current american voting machines? Why is a machine with buttons or levers and a hole punch needed? The ballots where I live are nice and straightforward. They look a bit like this:
  
  O Candidate 1 Party Name
  O Candidate 2 Party Name
  O Candidate 3 Party Name
  O Candidate 4 Party Name
  O Candidate 5 Party Name
  
  To make your vote count, you must perform the extrememly complicated task of marking the circle next to their name. Large signs demonstrate the preferred "X" in the circle method, but apparently a checkmark is also fine. Pencils are provided. The ballots are put in a box by the voter and are counted by hand when the polls close. I hope this system stays the same.
Stardate: November 4, 2004 by mrpuffypants · 2003-07-13 11:24 · Score: 4, Funny

Ladies and Gentlemen, It is my pleasure to introduce the new supreme ruler of the United States: William Gates!

Gates:"....exxxxxcellllent....."

Ok, so it's pandering that this will get modded as funny, but I'm a whore for good karma!
Becuase... by darkov · 2003-07-13 11:25 · Score: 4, Funny

Why the Windows requirement?

Because your vote has to be sent to Redmond to be "verified" and rejected in the case of an "incorrect" vote.

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1. Re:Becuase... by Blikank · 2003-07-13 11:46 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  At least its better than sending it to Florida.
Re:one reson why by Scoria · 2003-07-13 11:26 · Score: 5, Funny

I am sure there are some proactive Slashdot readers that know more about this issue that could try to enlighten the ruling parties

For instance:

l00k mr. 53n470r,

u b3773r 5upp0rt *n1x 0r 1ll h4x0r ur b0x3n and r3pl4c3 ur w3bs173 w17h g0ats3!!!!!!! h4w!

51nc3r31y,

c0nc3rn3d c1t1z3n H4X0R

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Do you like German cars?
Oh No... by Quaoar · 2003-07-13 11:26 · Score: 4, Funny

All those hermits who never leave the house are going to be able to vote. How long do you think it will be until they repeal the Sun?

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I'll form my OWN solar system! With blackjack! And hookers!
NO! THIS IS A MISTAKE! by neema · 2003-07-13 11:32 · Score: 5, Funny

You fools! Surely the computers will be exploited for this! This could lead to something completely unprecedented like one man being backed by the majority of American voters for the presidency and then the other man winning, as crazy as that example is!
Re:one reson why by YOU+LIKEWISE+FAIL+IT · 2003-07-13 11:37 · Score: 5, Funny

I think they should try to concentrate on creating a solid, platform independent system.
Over here, we call them "ballot boxes". HTH!
YLFI

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One god, one market, one truth, one consumer.
Re:Devious plot? by csnydermvpsoft · 2003-07-13 11:52 · Score: 5, Funny

A friend of mine suggested tonight that since American power extends so far around the world, it would only be fair to let everyone vote in US elections, not just US citizens.

One major problem with that would be that they wouldn't know enough about our candidates. Oh, wait, never mind.
Right on. by twitter · 2003-07-13 12:03 · Score: 4, Funny

Why only serve 90% when you could serve 100%?. 90% compatibility is obsurdly optomistic figure for Microsoft specific stuff anyway because Microsoft makes changes between their OS releases that force the upgrade train. Be sure that electronic voting in 2004 wont work on Windows 2000, NT or 9x. They will be lucky to get half of windoze users. If they would just make a standards complient site, anyone could use it.
As for security, hmph. It's hard to think of a computer company with a worse record. I imagine someone will make a "I vote you" virus that votes early and often for everyone.

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Friends don't help friends install M$ junk.
Online voting is being incouraged by GMontag · 2003-07-13 13:05 · Score: 3, Funny

Online voting is being incouraged

Maybe so, but it is being encouraged because of cost, as aut0pron states above.

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Why? You ask.. by Loki_1929 · 2003-07-13 13:19 · Score: 4, Funny

"Why the Windows requirement?

They wanted to use a stable, reliable, and secure operating system to ensure that all American voters have equal and unhindered access to their right to vote.

Unfortunately, they couldn't think of anything, so they just chose Windows.

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-- "Government is the great fiction through which everybody endeavors to live at the expense of everybody else."
Re:one reson why by CoolVibe · 2003-07-13 14:14 · Score: 4, Funny

Hmm, I'm more concerned with the fact that I could actually read that without blinking...
I need more vodka...
Re: That and... by op51n · 2003-07-13 14:59 · Score: 4, Funny

The Windows requirements is to put a stop to those damn Commies voting.