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VeriSign and Secure Internet Voting

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the oh-this-will-work-out-great dept.

Bucky Katt writes "VeriSign announced Monday that it will provide key components of a system designed to let Americans abroad cast absentee votes over the Internet."

4 of 290 comments (clear)

  1. GREAT! by TiMac · · Score: 5, Funny

    So if you misspell the name of your candidate, Verisign will use its * wildcard to vote for its CEO automatically!

    --

  2. Electronic voting by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting
    Why is there such an obsession with electronic voting.

    Yes, the algorithms for secure anonymous fraud-proof voting exist, but I don't think the implementations are up to the task yet - in particular, if they cannot be independently verified before, during and after the elections.

    There's just too much potential for a fraud to justify dropping the good old pencil-in-the-number-of-your-candidate method.

  3. This could be good by slimak · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Naturally most /.ers are going to complain about this for various reasons generally involving security. However, this could be a good thing IF a GOOD system is actually developed (now or in the future). I for one would love to be able to vote from the comfort of my home/work/cafe without having to wait in lines. Overall voter turnout could be boosted.

    Chances are though that this first pass will not be great, which will slow/stop future development due to cries of the public for and end to insecure online voting.

  4. Only in limited cases... by pangian · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Notice that the article only talks about using Internet voting as an alternative to absentee voting for citizens abroad and only in U.S. government agencies where secure Internet-enables voting stations can be set up. This is good .

    Internet voting on a large scale will never take place due to logistical [for lack of a better word] rather than technical reasons. Electoral law requires that your vote be made in a manner that is free from influence (intimidation or vote buying). This is controlled by ensuring that voting goes on in select locations where campaigning is not permitted. Even campaign posters within sight of a voting station must be taken down.

    With Internet voting, essentially anyplace could be a voting station. I could set up a little voting party for my friends and let them vote on my computer. Don't mind that there is paraphernalia all around for my candidate, or that I'm looking over your shoulder. After the party, laptop and cell in hand, I could help all the little old ladies in my neighborhood vote too.

    [Your sig here]