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Maryland Plans Code Review for Voting Software

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the refactoring dept.

asmithmd1 writes "We already knew Diebold software is insecure, now the Baltimore Sun is reporting that the Governor of Maryland has asked SAIC to review the software in Diebold voting machines. Diebold has graciously allowed SAIC access to their proprietary code. Why isn't this code open source by law?" In a related story, a trade show for closed-source electronic voting systems is doing their best to keep critics out. Update: 08/07 15:23 GMT by M : Diebold's website security is less than outstanding.

11 of 307 comments (clear)

  1. BSOD by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    your vote has caused a fatal exception in kernel32.dll - try picking another option

  2. And in a surprise landslide... by packethead · · Score: 4, Funny

    Independant hopefull Kevin Mitnick was elected President of the 2004 elections.

    --
    .sig
  3. Insecure, closed source voting software? by ihummel · · Score: 3, Funny

    Before, it was whoever had the best campaign and the most money that won. Will elections in the 21st century be determined by whoever has the best crackers?

  4. Re:Electronic Voting by TWX · · Score: 5, Funny

    "If electronic voting becomes the norm (likely), I just won't vote."

    The odds are already heavily against your voting currently anyway, so I don't see how this will matter much.

    At least we don't use the "Telelection" methodology a'la Max Headroom...

    --
    Do not look into laser with remaining eye.
  5. Re:I thought that was what Palladium was for. by DAldredge · · Score: 2, Funny

    No. The point in having trusted binaries it to stop piracy so MSFT (and others) do not have to worry about people using their software with out a license. How else do you expect them to continue to grow their revenue each quarter?

  6. Re:the problem is... by UnknownQ · · Score: 3, Funny
    even if the code is opensource, how can you be sure the voting machine executable has been compiled from the genuine source code ?

    Compile it yourself! Every voter would compile the code Gentoo-style when they entered the booth.
    I knew Gentoo was the answer for everything!
    --
    Wherever you go, there you are!
  7. Re:the problem is... by cybermace5 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Heh, guess we could teach all voters to type "./configure; make; make clean"

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    ...
  8. Re:Electronic Voting by vudujava · · Score: 4, Funny
    It doesn't matter, the code will vote for you.

    --

    Word Axis

  9. Re:Voting Software = REPUBLICAN MANIPULATION by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny
    Remember the 2000 election. It's not how many votes, but who Daddy installed on the Supreme Court bench.

    Jesus Tap Dancing Christ, let it die already. Anyone still harping of the 200 election is a braindead obsessive nutcase that is in dire need of a lithium milkshake.

    I am not registered to any Party, and I don't really like any of them, but you "REPUBLICANS ARE DEMONS!" people are the biggest fuckheads I have ever witnessed. You're worse that the rightwing assholes who tried to claim Clinton personally had 40 people killed in Arkansas.

    GET A FUCKING LIFE!

  10. Results for 2004 Marlyand elections by Lord_Slepnir · · Score: 4, Funny
    They're showing off the source code for a voting system, so you know that some people will find security holes in them (and not tell anyone). Here's what I predict the presidental election will yeild:

    GW Bush: -234,524 votes
    Troll4x0r: 538 votes
    Howard Dean: 864,234,234 votes
    Natalie Portman: 784,245 votes

  11. Re:blurring of language by gorgon · · Score: 2, Funny
    I'm going to start calling my bowel movements intellectual property, just to be safe.

    You should really call it intestinal property. You could still call it IP, though.

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    And I'd be a Libertarian, if they weren't all a bunch of tax-dodging professional whiners.
    Berke Breathed