Pentagon Cancels Internet Voting System

Ben B writes "The Pentagon won't use an Internet voting system for overseas U.S. citizens this fall because of concerns about its security, an official said Thursday. The official, who requested anonymity, said Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz made the decision to scrap the system because Pentagon officials were not certain they could 'assure the legitimacy of votes that would be cast.' Computer security experts who last month reviewed the Secure Electronic Registration and Voting Experiment, or SERVE, had urged the Pentagon to scrap the system, saying it was too vulnerable."

Comments

That's nice. Does it finally kill the idea?

[ObviousGuy]

It's bad enough that the internet was going to be used to count votes outside the country. How much worse would it be with all those illegals voting online here inside the U.S. borders?

Can't this be fixed?

[El]

Couldn't they just require every voter to encrypt and sign their vote with a unique PGP key? Or are they assuming voters are too stupid to do this?

Re:Can't this be fixed?

[Anonymous Coward]

Couldn't they just require every voter to encrypt and sign their vote with a unique PGP key?

OMG! You solved the problem! And in one sentence too! Could you tackle spam next? Thanks.

From a non-expert perspective

[The I Shing]

I'm not a security expert, but voting on the internet strikes me as being about as secure as locking up your bicycle with twist-ties.

I'm glad they've dropped this idea.

Re:From a non-expert perspective

[t0qer]

I'm not a security expert, but voting on the internet strikes me as being about as secure as locking up your bicycle with twist-ties.

I've been in twist ties handcuffs before and I can assure you they are VERY SECURE.

Re:From a non-expert perspective

[indianajones428]

I've been in twist ties handcuffs before and I can assure you they are VERY SECURE.


I hope you're confusing twist ties with zip ties.

Re:I really have to question

[Rotten168]

Well, the Pentagon considered the implication that worldwide "hackers" could alter the outcome of the election. And seeing as how popular GWB is worldwide, their decision was wise.

Admit it

[ObviousGuy]

Aren't you just the tiniest bit curious to see how cool a Sharpton presidency would be?

Just imagine all the quotes he'll leave for posterior.

S.E.R.V.E

[skzbass]

SERVE another acronym brount to us by the people who concocted such obcenities as: US VISIT and US PATRIOT ACT. Who is this wonderful group you ask? why the Federal Acronym Reasearch Team (who mysteriously doesn't go by their acronym)

Old ways

[t0ny]

I guess they will just have to go back to the old method of giving your absentee ballot to your local alderman.