E-Voting: a Flawed Solution in Search of a Problem

blorg writes "In the promised follow-up to last-week's I, Cringely column on E-Voting (discussed on Slashdot here), Robert X. Cringely discusses his proposed solution to the electronic voting mess. The ideas in this piece have all appeared already on Slashdot, but this stands as a well-argued condensation of them into a single article. In the article, he looks briefly at possible solutions for the auditability problem but ultimately argues that technology introduces more problems into elections than it solves. Instead, he suggests that elections can be run quicker, cheaper and fairer using the paper-based Canadian model."

Comments

Cringely is a fraud

[nil5]

This dude is on the CANADIAN payroll. No wonder he thinks the "superior" "canadian paper model" is better.

This is yet another Canadian plot to intimidate, impersonate, and infiltrate our precious bodily fluids!

Re:Cringely is a fraud

[Ralph Wiggam]

To prevent the Canadian's from poisoning my precious bodily fluids I only drink rain water and grain alcohol. I came to this realization during the physical act of love. I felt a profound sense of fatigue, a feeling of emptiness followed. Luckily I was able to interpret these feelings correctly. I do not avoid women, but I do deny them my essence.

-B

Had to do it.

Re:Cringely is a fraud

[lightsaber1]

Speaking of their name, it was, for about 10 minutes when the first formed, until someone said it out loud: Canadian Reform Alliance Party

If you can't see the acronym, people, don't ask me to spell it out.

solution

[Hall and Oates]

Vote Quimby!

Re:solution

[Anonymous Coward]

Don't blame me, I voted for kodos.

Oh, great...

[Anonymous Coward]

...now people will blame Canada for the outsourcing of voting ideas and materials.

How do you choose?

[Gilmoure]

I don't know anything about Canadian politicians. How would a mere Floridian know who to vote for?

Re:How do you choose?

[elmegil]

Just don't vote for Dalton McGuinty.

Of course he has some good points...

[statusbar]

But the 'Canadian Model' is not as sexy as a glowy touch screen computer voting system rife with viruses and fraud.

--jeff++

the Canadian model

[s20451]

Yes, you Americans should adopt our Canadian system. Doing away with any semblance of a real opposition party was a great move. It really simplified the way in which we choose our government:

I elect:
[ ] The Liberal guy, for ever and ever amen
[ ] The Alliance, who want to send the Chinese back to Russia where they belong
[ ] The Bloc, running for Canadian parliament on the platform of breaking up Canada
[ ] The PC guy, even though the PCs haven't been a real party in years
[ ] The NDP, bringing together union rednecks and the transgendered since 1935

Re:the Canadian model

[Lee Horrocks]

Actually, for the next election to be replaced by:

I elect:
[ ] The New Liberal guy, who hopes to get actually elected Prime Minister for real
[ ] The New Conservative guy, who hopes that no one notices either that they're really the same as the old Alliance guy, or that they're an old PC guy who lied about not wanting to join with the old Alliance
[ ] The Bloc, still running for Canadian parliament on the platform of breaking up Canada
[ ] The NDP, bringing together union rednecks and the transgendered since 1935 (But not a real party either)

Re:They always say. . .

[MadCow42]

>> Not making use of technology in the information age just doesn't make good sense.

So you're the dumb F&*% that wants to put a web browser in my refridgerator?

Over-use of technology when there's no need for it is a bigger mistake than not implementing the "latest and greatest" when you have a system that already works.

(not to say that the US voting system works)

MadCow.

Re:Go Canada!

[Richard M. Nixon]

Everyone gets to watch the count if they so choose, amazing! You could get real Democracy with that!

I guess the Office of Homeland Security will have to keep their eye on You!

Re:I don't vote but it isn't because of "apathy"

[Jaysyn]

It was for Class President?

Jaysyn

Re:That's only part of the "problem"

[jvalenzu]

Well, that and killing the opposition.