By now, I'm sure many of you have heard that many of the Diebold voting machines can be easily hacked by people with the right knowledge. This matter should concern both liberals and conservatives alike, because anyone could potentially corrupt the system for either side. If you don't know about this already, take a look at the video below. The study has been featured on both CNN and Fox News as well.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WMG34cv0zM
What do you think? Should the good old paper ballots be resurrected? Or is there an alternative? Can/Should people demand a less vulnerable machine?
2006-11-01 00:58:47 · 6 answers · asked by zucchero81 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Elections
Problem is that regardless of what system you use their is always going to be someone smart enough to figure out a way to cheat it.
E-machines with paper backup (signed by voter) might be a more reliable system
2006-11-01 01:25:48 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
I think it is time to switch.There has to be some mistakes before it can become full proof.It will become full proff in time.No doubt in my mind.It might be a while but eventually it will.I strongly believe this.
Each machine, once the ballot software is loaded, is locked and sealed with a “tamper evident” red tape. When any part of the tape is lifted or even scraped slightly, it shows previously invisible words in white letters: “VOID OPEN.”
Princeton University researchers who studied Diebold machines say a malicious virus can be introduced by anyone who has access to a voting machine or its memory card. Researchers had to open the unit with a screwdriver or pick the lock, making any such intrusion obvious.
The Princeton experiment was conducted on an older-model Diebold machine no longer used in California.
Many San Diego County voters will cast touch-screen ballots when they use the electronic voting machines on Election Day.
Some say hacking the machines may have happened already. They offer no proof, saying it would be impossible to know if the machines had been compromised.
“At least when we had hanging chads in the 2000 election, we knew what we didn't know, and that was the voters' intent,” said DeForest Soaries, the former chairman of the federal Election Assistance Commission, which oversees implementation of the Help America Vote Act.
“Now, with the growth of electronic voting, we won't know what we don't know. Just because we don't know something was hacked doesn't mean it didn't happen.”
Some bloggers suggest there is a government conspiracy, aided by the media, to keep the public in the dark.
2006-11-01 01:12:25 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
I like optical scan the best. They can be quickly machine counted, but the marked ballot is still available for recount if needed.
2006-11-01 01:05:17 · answer #3 · answered by LoneStar 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes,voting should return to paper ballots.
Machines can be manipulated and probably have been,but we just don't know it.
Todays government is anything but honest.
Todays corporate america is anything but honest.
2006-11-01 02:01:01 · answer #4 · answered by shaneh235 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I like paper ones. Seems like it would be cheaper than having thousands and thousands of computers.
2006-11-01 01:00:28 · answer #5 · answered by leena 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It doesn't matter what they use, the Democrats are going to demand recount after recount anyway regardless.
2006-11-01 01:01:47 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋