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Concerns Over Electronic Voting: Technical Issues And Security Risks

Computer scientists have been protesting the switch. They're particularly concerned that few of the computers provide paper records, making it nearly impossible to have meaningful recounts, or to prove that vote tampering hasn't occurred. Politicians, voter-rights advocates and even some secretaries of state have acknowledged that the systems could theoretically fail -- with catastrophic consequences. In several software and hardware tests, critics have shown it's easy to jam microchip-embedded smart cards into machines, or alter and delete some votes -- in some cases simply by ripping out wires. . . .. Electronic voting made its debut in cities and towns from Maryland to California on Tuesday as election officials beefed up security for the record number of voters expected to cast E-ballots for the first time. Scattered technical problems were reported in the early hours as voters in 10 states, including California, New York and Ohio, went to the Super Tuesday polls to choose a Democratic presidential nominee and decide primary contests for congressional and state races. Advocates of electronic voting say paperless ballots save money and eliminate problems common to old systems. But the technology brings a new breed of security concerns, like software errors and hackers that could make the results unreliable. In California, new security measures range from random tests of touch-screen machines by independent computer experts to a recommendation that poll workers prevent voters from carrying cell phones or other wireless devices into booths. Computer scientists have been protesting the switch. They're particularly concerned that few of the computers provide paper records, making it nearly impossible to have meaningful recounts, or to prove that vote tampering hasn't occurred. Politicians, voter-rights advocates and even some secretaries of state have acknowledged that the systems could theoretically fail -- with catastrophic consequences. In several software and hardware tests, critics have shown it's easy tojam microchip-embedded smart cards into machines, or alter and delete some votes -- in some cases simply by ripping out wires. The link for this article located at salon.com is no longer available. . Digital ballot mechanisms encounter opposition stemming from safety concerns and the possibility of ballot manipulation in electoral processes.. E-voting System, Voting Risks, Election Integrity, Electronic Ballots, Voting Technology. . Anthony Pell

Mar 03, 2004 • Anthony Pell Government