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Absentee Ballots by Email?

Posted by Hemos on from the how-should-this-work dept.

tordia writes "Bruce Schneier has come out against a plan proposed by the Missouri Secretary of State, Matt Blunt. Blunt's proposal would allow "soldiers at remote duty stations or in combat areas cast their ballots with the help of e-mail." The plan arose when Jim Avery, a Missouri State Representative and National Guard soldier currently on active duty in Iraq, told Blunt that the fax machines required by the current Missouri absentee ballot law are rare, but most soldiers have access to computers. A spokesman for the Secretary of State's office downplays the privacy and security considerations by saying, "If the soldier is uncomfortable with this process, he or she should not consider this option". I agree with Bruce when he says "This is troubling"." Like many things, this is a wonderful idea in theory; it's just that darn implementation that things get...messy.

5 of 385 comments (clear)

  1. You expect me to pay for this? by wheany · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    Nothing for you to see here. Please move along.

  2. Humm... by Bull999999 · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    I wonder which candidate will those soldiers who's pissed off that they are in Iraq vote for?

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    1f u c4n r34d th1s u r34lly n33d t0 g37 l41d
  3. nfp! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic
    Wow, this isn't a first post and yet 'tis totally useless and ridicules, so, why don't you just kill off this message ;-)
  4. Re:Security by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    Why the hell did you spend money on buying someones slashdot account??
    Even if it is a low uid.. jeeze

  5. Re:Yesss! by savagedome · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    I don't really pray.... but you get what I mean

    "You know who I pray to? Joe Pesci. Two reasons: First of all, I think he's a good actor, okay? To me, that counts. Second, he looks like a guy who can get things done. Joe Pesci doesn't fuck around. In fact, Joe Pesci came through on a couple of things that God was having trouble with.

    For years I asked God to do something about my noisy neighbor with the barking dog, Joe Pesci straightened that cocksucker out with one visit. It's amazing what you can accomplish with a simple baseball bat.

    So I've been praying to Joe for about a year now. And I noticed something. I noticed that all the prayers I used to offer to God, and all the prayers I now offer to Joe Pesci, are being answered at about the same 50% rate. Half the time I get what I want, half the time I don't. Same as God, 50-50. Same as the four-leaf clover and the horseshoe, the wishing well and the rabbit's foot, same as the Mojo Man, same as the Voodoo Lady who tells you your fortune by squeezing the goat's testicles, it's all the same: 50-50. So just pick your superstition, sit back, make a wish, and enjoy yourself."

    Absolutely OT but could not resist. And thanks to George Carlin for the insight!

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