Gartner: Florida Voting Machine Data Loss Shows Need for Safeguards

[PhillyKev 0]

Quote

On 28 July 2004, Florida election officials said that electronic voting records for the 2002 gubernatorial primary — Miami-Dade County's first widespread use of touch-screen voting machines — were completely erased in computer crashes in May and November 2003. State officials say they began backing up data daily in December 2003 to prevent further loss of data.

http://www.gartner.com/DisplayDocument?doc_cd=122142

Personally, my opinion as a network engineer is that electronic voting machines with no paper record is a ludicrous idea that is just an invitation to tampering or vindictive attacks to derail the democratic process.

[Ron 10]

Quote

Personally, my opinion as a network engineer is that electronic voting machines with no paper record is a ludicrous idea that is just an invitation to tampering or vindictive attacks to derail the democratic process

Well that will hurt all the dead people who tend to vote Democratic.

"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

[PhillyKev 0]

Yeah...funny.

I'm not being partisan. Try it. I'd like the will of the people to be the determining factor in elections. Do you have an argument with that? Do you oppose my stance? Will you attack my punctuation and spelling in order to disagree with me?

[Ron 10]

Quote

I'm not being partisan. Try it.

I can do it....I have done it. But you must admit it was funny.

Quote

I'd like the will of the people to be the determining factor in elections. Do you have an argument with that? Do you oppose my stance?

Nope I agree...I would like the will of the people to decide who wins..I would also like once that person is elected that people quit bitching about how it was illegal when it clearly was not....I tell you what, you start defending the Election results when your lefty buddies say it was illeagal, And I'll gladly quit doing it.

Quote

Will you attack my punctuation and spelling in order to disagree with me?

Now THATS funny ME attack someone for spelling or punctation? You know who you are typing to here?

"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

[PhillyKev 0]

Quote

I tell you what, you start defending the Election results when your lefty buddies say it was illeagal

I've said on here many times. The outcome of the 2000 election was the only fair, reasonable, and legal outcome possible from that fiasco. I hereby defend the results of that election.

But, I still have problems with the method in which it was carried out, including purging people from the rolls, and throwing away absentee ballots for missing a post mark. I'd like to be sure that doesn't happen this time. I'd also like to be sure that the problem is not compounded with computer tampering.

Bottom line is, the election was decided in a fair and equitable manner given the circumstances. However, the circumstances are that many peoples votes were not counted, on both sides of the fence. That is wrong, and that needs to be corrected and prevented.

[Zennie 0]

A number of civil livbertarian groups have been concerned about the security (or lack thereof) of all-electronic systems.

Personally, I think the touch-screen concept is fine, but there should be a paper printout (ironically enough, punchcards?) which can be seperately run through a counter as a cross-check and backup.

- Z
"Always be yourself... unless you suck." - Joss Whedon

[Botellines 0]

Yeah, maybe giving a printed receipt to the citizen and keeping a printed version for backup.

[FallRate 0]

So is anyone else noticing today's theme?

Florida, bad.

FallRate

[kelpdiver 2]

Quote

So is anyone else noticing today's theme?

Florida, bad.

While we could name many other locations with questionable election histories, Florida is again shaping up to be the state that will decide the election. Bush might open up a lead, but if he doesn't, this state is the main deal.