Why do we need electronic voting machines?

Question

We were doing fine for decades with paper ballots, punch cards or the lever machines.

The 2000 fiasco in Florida was an anomaly, not just one of a series of problems.

Answer 1

Neccesity is the mother of invention,They had to win the election in 2004 with out it was like impossible.

Answer 2

The only thing anomalous about Florida in 2000 was that the flaws in ANY system were put under an electron microscope. That said, we don't NEED electronic machines, we need smarter voters. In the 2006 Ohio election, one house race was close enough to trigger a recount. When the PAPER absentee ballots were re-examined, one was found were EVERY box was marked and 'yes' or 'no' was written beside the box. Some were found with check marks or X's although the instructions CLEARLY said to 'fill the box' for your candidate of choice. For what its worth, hand counting of the paper trail from the electronic machines found ZERO errors.

rowlfe misunderstands the electronic machines. I gave him a 'thumbs up' for the rest of his answer anyway. The machines are not networked in any way, at least not in Franklin county, OH. Each machine is totally independent and a memory card from each is physically transported the the board of elections after the polls close. I personally delivered the results for my precinct on November 7. I have owned pocket calculators that were more 'programmable than our voting machines.

Answer 3

The answer is, we do not NEED them. I am 58 and have voted at every opportunity since I came of age at 21. I have used a myriad of types and kinds and to date, the most reliable is the paper ballot where you connect the dots (or complete the arrow) using a #2 pencil. The reason is these are easily counted using an optical reader which looks for the marks and simply tallies the numbers for the connected dots. They build in some error detection, like more than one connect arrow voiding that particular race. Various types and kinds of errors or ambiguities kick the ballot out for hand analysis to determine the intent of the voter. Even if the ballots get wet, the graphite from the pencil remains embedded in the fabric of the paper so a recount is totally possible simply by looking at the physical location of the marks on the physical ballot even if all of the rest of the ink ran because of the water. Using an ink of some kind to stamp a mark might mean loss of the marks if the ballots got wet. The disadvantage, manual labor to process the count. People sometimes do not press hard enough to make a mark dark enough to be accurately read by an optical reader, but still can be easily determined by eye. The electronic machines are an effort to reduce the manual labor and get results sooner. The problem with the electronic machines are that they are not "dedicated" machines, but general purpose machines which are programmed. It is this programming which opens them up to manipulation. A dedicated machine is hardwired (similar in concept to a hand held calculator, and just as hard to modify) and not alterable externally without access to the physical internals, at which point a knowledgeable person COULD alter the hardwired program to some extent. One "feature" of the electronic machines is that they are part of a network, but the problem here is that a machine could be programmed and then like a computer virus, spread to other networked machines, altering their results in a like manner. Kitsap County, where I live in Washington State has gone over to all mail ballots, the connect the dots, complete the arrow kind, and I am glad of it. I will not voluntarily vote on an electronic machine until there is proof there can not be any tampering and the programming is open to independent 3rd party analysis to double check for errors. As a computer programmer with over 30 years of experience in all kinds of platforms from big iron IBM mainframes to embedded microcontrollers in microwave ovens, I say only one thing...there is ALWAYS another bug.

Answer 4

Paper ballot only, electronic voting machines can be hacked to make a favorable result to a curropt politcan. Ask Mexico about using the computer to fix elections occured in the late 1980s lol.

Answer 5

Actually there is a problem with paper ballots besides hanging chads. The average poll worker (which doesn't get paid) is 76 years old. There is also poll worker shortages around the U.S. If everyone was to vote, it would be a disaster as far as tabulations went (it would take 3 to 20 times as long depending on where and what kind of election it is).

Answer 6

I feel that the mail in ballots are easier because alot of people can't make it out to do an electronic ballot. I am sure that after that fiasco they are doing everything they can to prevent it from happening again.

Answer 7

With all the cyber crimes today, you would think the Government would stick to the paper ballots. They are better for real proven counts from any election. Those electronic voting machines are so easily manipulated, that it makes sense to me why the Government encourages its use.

Answer 8

THEY WERE PROVED TO BE EASILY MANIPULATED.

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/local/states/florida/counties/broward_county/15869924.htm

Answer 9

Bamma say everything just fine til Chad came along. Bamma say Chad hang self. Bamma say it become fad. Bamma say many Chads hang selves. Bamma say they no want to vote so they hang around. Bamma say this make Al Gore very angry so he quit race. Bamma say Al just give George job. Bamma say it all Chads fault. Bamma say people mad at Chad and fire him. Bamma otta know.

Answer 10

So they can be rigged more easily with no evidence of foul play! Simple!