pudge's Journal: Pudge and Newspaper

The local paper published an article about me and all-mail voting.

I think we should allow females to vote though!

[John Harrison]

But seriously, you seem to be the only geek I've heard of the loves electronic voting, and this after having hacked an electronic voting system. You really think it is superior to, say, the Canadian paper ballot? Concerns about mail voting aside to you prefer electronic voting to paper or are you just pissed that the democrats got their way on something so you want to make them look dumb?

Re:

[pudge]

Electronic voting is fraught with problems. But no more than any other system, and in most ways, far less, and the problems with electronic voting machines are fixable with verifiable paper audit trails and open source software, problems we will never fix if we keep going backward to the inherently unfixable paper ballots.

Re:

[John Harrison]

So do the machines in your district use verifiable paper audit trails and open source software? Because I think that while reasonable electronic voting is possible, I have yet to hear of a system that isn't significantly worse than some of the better paper systems. I also think that promoting an inferior electronic system is going to get us to complacency rather than a good system, which is exactly what happened with the paper system.

Re:

[pudge]

So do the machines in your district use verifiable paper audit trails

Yes, as per state regulations which went into effect this year, I believe.

and open source software?

Not yet. But it is still much better than mail-in voting.

Because I think that while reasonable electronic voting is possible, I have yet to hear of a system that isn't significantly worse than some of the better paper systems.

Now you have.

I also think that promoting an inferior electronic system is going to get us to complacency rather than

Re:

[John Harrison]

So who makes these wonder machines?

Re:

[pudge]

Hm?

amazing

[nocomment]

Sometimes this world shocks me with how small it is. I know Jeff Switzer. I worked with him at the old Eastside Journal (now King County Journal) where I still work.

Re:

[pudge]

Neat. Finally met him today. He seems like a good guy.

Re:

[nocomment]

were you the only one in line?

Re:

[pudge]

Three people were there when I was. 28 in all had voted on the machines the past ... couple days I guess? I expect some more tonight after work, though I won't be there to see.

I think the lack of turnout bummed Jeff a bit. :-)