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Hardly Anyone Cares About Computer Voting Problems
Avidwriter writes "It's a sad thought that Roblimo explores in a NewsForge article about computer voting fraud and how you'd think all honest politicians would be working to make sure computerized voting systems are open source, and why open source wouldn't hurt well-run voting machine companies' profits. Not that most people care, since they don't even bother to vote, right?"
Not that most people care, since they don't even bother to vote, right?
Most people don't even bother to click the link to read the article; you think they'd actually get up, leave the house, drive to the voting center, and push some buttons to vote? That's way too much effort involved.
I browse Slashdot at +3, Funny
Security through Obscurity works as a temporary stopgap. It doesn't last long, but it does keep a system secure for a short time until someone discovers the security hole.
Voting takes place once every two years in the US (different for other countries). And it only takes place on one day. Security through obscurity can hold that long.
On the other hand, divulging the source code to the system beforehand (otherwise, what's the point to having the system being Open Source) makes it that much easier for evil-doers to find the holes in the system. Keep in mind that these fraudsters aren't going to fix the hole and "turn it back over to the community". They will have plenty of time to find the exploits and they will exploit it on election day.
Yes, in general Security through Obscurity is a bad idea, but in one-off systems like electronic voting, it is the best method of keeping the system secure short of armed guards and video cameras.
Its sad that the same people who scream for open source voting and open source this and that are the same people who bemoan the cheaters once quake 1 and quake 2 source was made public (though not open source) .
You would think that voting machines you would want simple and private code with high encription.
Voting, on the other hand, is a much simpler problem, and the problems with fraud are much better documented and understood. Those that control the rules can control the voting -- but that's a problem with paper ballots as well as electronic. In this case, the risks of opening the code are outweighed by the risks of not opening the code.
Yeah, the duty of the government is to protect the rights and well being of its citizens but it's also up to the citizens to protect each other.
Being required to vote is in the best interest of everyone in the country and it's a small price to pay. You can't tell me that you're life is so significant and hectic that you cannot accommodate casting your vote? Give me a break.
I truly believe that if you don't vote (or in an Australian citizen's case cast a blank ballot) you have no place to criticize politics or the actions of politicians until you do so.
Just my $0.02.
I love the smell of Karma in the morning
" If you want to talk about requiring things of your subjects for the common good of all, then you're talking about communism"
So a criminal justice system is commie plot now is it?
Seriously as members of a community we are expected to contribute to that community as well as take away, other wise the community collapses. Voting is your way of saying this is the person/group I want leading the community. If you don't vote then you have no right to complain about who gets in.
I think you're being unrealistic. Instead, I side with Scott Adams' comment on the importance of your vote: The value of your vote is actually negative if its influence on the outcome is outweighed by the time and effort spent casting it.
Throw in the fact that you can be a conscientious citizen, get yourself well informed on all the candidates and issues, and have your vote negated by some ninety-five year old lady who is voting for Al Gore because he wore the best tie... can you blame us for getting cynical?
You want the truthiness? You can't handle the truthiness!
gantrep obviously hasn't thought this through. Paying taxes to pay for roads and education is also a commie plot (according to his view). As is 911. Stupid government attempting to help people help others.
If you don't vote then you have no right to complain about who gets in.
I'm not so sure about this one. I use to think this, but have now modified my view somewhat. While holding that view, I couldn't see how I could complain about a government who I helped vote to power. IE, only those who did not vote for the ruling party can complain (or vice versa). Also, people I know in politics would also tell me that "I can't complain if I don't directly do something about it". IE Unless I'm attending peace marches, writing letters to papers, signing surveys, or even stand for government I shouldn't be complaining about it. Locally, it makes more sense. If I care about the dog droppings in my local park (I do), then why aren't I picking them up myself, or writing letters telling the pollies to do something, or even attempting to be voted in on a "no dogs" policy.
My modified view is something like "Everyone can complain, but the more someone does about something, the more they care about it". IE, listen to complaints of people who make a lot of effort regarding fixing the problem (Voting is an effort). If they can't even be bothered to vote, then I may not think their complaint is worth listening too.
Numbered Ballot Papers. I wonder why they didn't think of that before.
Oh, I remember. The greatest advance in democracy since, well democracy really ,SECRET BALLOTS.
I have enough nightmares about electronic voting already. You go into the polling station at 08.30am and they tick your name off against the roll. At 8.32am a vote is cast for Candidate X (as certified by the audit trail in the system.) Guess who voted for whom.