Gizmodo: voting machines

Voting Machines Coincidentally Elect Voting Machine as President

Mark Wilson — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 09:50:00 EST

It's amazing that you can fall asleep with the polls showing one thing and wake up to a world you don't even recognize. Despite who I may have supported as of November 4th, as a fervent supporter of both democracy and touchscreen technology, I accept DRE 700:259 as the 44th President of the United States. But I'm totally using a paper ballet in 2012. [The Onion Thanks Mr. Ponies!]

Question of the Day: Do You Prefer a Paper Ballot or a Voting Machine?

Sean Fallon — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 19:00:00 EST

When I went to vote this afternoon, I was kind of disappointed to find that my location was using paper ballots. Not that I have anything against that really—other than the waste of paper it is actually pretty hard to screw up as a voter (although, once my ballot was scanned I suppose anything can happen). I guess the gadget dork in me was just hoping for a touchscreen model—despite the potential reliability issues. So, I have a two part question for you: Which voting method would you prefer? Which did you actually use?

Results from "How Many Times Has Your Xbox 360 Gone Down With a RROD?"

0: 32%
1: 28%
2: 17%
3: 9%
4: 4%
More than 4: 11%

Internet Voting Is Here (Kinda)

matt buchanan — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 21:30:00 EDT

Voting from home, over the internet. That's the dream. It's when the vast majority of people will finally vote. Hell, even I might register to vote if you could online. But this year, fittingly in the election that the internet has mattered more than ever before, we're taking a solid (baby) step in that direction. Starting Friday, a pilot program will let about 700 U.S. citizens in Germany, Japan and the UK vote for the president over the internet using hardened PCs.

Besides being ironically hard drive-less, they have most of the parts turned off for extra security. Even with essentially iron-clad dumb terminals, security remains a huge issue like it was when internet voting was considered in 2004, so we're still a couple elections away from voting while pre-ordering our next Nintendo system just one tab over. But at least we're getting there. [Pop Mechanics via Dvice]

Homer Simpson Explains the Problem with Electronic Voting

Mark Wilson — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 12:15:00 EDT

Conspiracy theorist or not, any time I'm typing information into a computer at any time of the day, I know that it can be lost at a moment's notice, by the simple glitch of a program or power supply. There's simply no permanence to digital information, which makes the potential alteration of such data both frightening and perfectly realistic. Apply that principle to something like a presidential election, and the prospects become downright scary. That is, unless you're Homer Simpson. Then it's just kind of funny. [via Wonkette - Thanks Diebold!]

Uncle Sam Wants to Know How You Feel About E-Voting Machines

Matt Buchanan — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 19:20:10 EDT

If you're not exactly down with the state of e-voting in the US (and you really shouldn't be), the Election Assistance Committee (a federal oversight committee that now has reign over certifying e-voting machines) wants to hear about it and what you think of their recently proposed guidelines (PDF, 600 pages).

Ostensibly they're designed to improve notoriously non-existent security, but they were drafted in part by reps from voting machine companies. One place to start, besides simply saying the machines should be more secure and add paper trails, would be to push for them to use open source code, according to some researchers. Regardless of what you think, you have 120 days to let 'em know. And you should, even if you aren't registered to vote (like me) so maybe at least someone else's vote will be worthwhile. [EAC via Threat Level]

Voting Machine Tutorial Uploads To iPod, So You Don't Accidentally Vote For Pat Buchanan

Wilson Rothman — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 09:45:00 EDT

Connecticut's Secretary of State released a video on YouTube explaining how to use the state's new optical scan voting machines. The video is also available for download to something called an "iPOD." It is frightening to think of an electoral process where you're encouraged to watch a training video over and over. What happens to the people who don't have "iPODs" or YouTube-ready PCs? But the funniest thing is that this dorky-ass video, straight out of the public-service playbook, is specifically supposed to appeal to young people.

There's no rock music, no B-actor on a skateboard, no spunky cheerleaders. The video, which you can watch for yourself, has nothing that would even apparently appeal to a youngin' besides the fact that it comes in .mov form. Nevertheless, Conn's Sec O' State says, in her own press release:

"In today's world it's difficult to reach voters, especially younger ones, unless you're using the same technology they use. So, I took a cue from my teenage children and decided we'd produce videos that people could download, and then watch when and where they want."

My favorite line from the film is when they say the ballot looks like a "standardized test or lottery ticket"—they left out "depending on whether your collar is white or blue." [YouTube and Conn Secretary of State via AP]

Diebold Pulls a Reverse Cingular, Rebrands Voting Machine Division

Matt Buchanan — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 00:11:53 EDT

Diebold takes such pride in the secure craftsmanship of its voting machines that it's changing the name of that division to Premier Election Solutions Inc., and even giving it its own board of directors. This is after no one stepped up to take the division off of Diebold's hands, probably because they'd feel guilty for relieving it of such a stellar asset. Wonder why they wouldn't want their ATMs and safes associated with their voting machines? [Threat Level, Image via Flickr]

Diebold Sues Massachusetts Because the State Doesn't Like Them

Adam Frucci — Mon, 26 Mar 2007 18:10:00 EDT

Diebold, everyone's favorite manufacturer of easily hacked voting machines, wasn't happy when the Commonwealth of Massachusetts decided to go with one of their competitors when purchasing voting machines for the disabled. In fact, their feelings were so badly hurt by the snub that they've decided to sue the state.

Yes, Diebold is suing because Massachusetts chose competitor AutoMARK instead of them. Why is it worth suing the state over this? Because Diebold thinks their machines are better. That's the reason. Really. That's the only reason. I'm speechless. –Adam Frucci

Boston.com [via SlashDot]