I like computers as much as the next geek. But I'm not under any illusion as to their reliability or perfectibility. So yes, using computers to tally votes is an excellent idea as long as there is a way to validate the program and the votes and a backup system in case of well, the inevitable programming bug, power surge, whatever. Unfortunately, the industry representatives are not being very sensible: for example a Mr. Radke of Diebold is quoted in the NYT as saying “that voters have more, not less, confidence in electronic machines.” And what does this have to do with Diebold ensuring the computers are more reliable and voter confidence is not misplaced? From the article, it appears the software is proprietary and no backup systems are in place, a situation which the companies selling the software and the voting officials buying the software think is perfectly acceptable. Yet, the Washington Post reported (in a now archived article) Maryland used computers in the last election: software patches were applied the night before the election without being tested (not a confidence-building measure) and a computer error was uncovered only thanks to a suspiciously odd shift in voting patterns in one region. This is the Post article: New Voting Systems Assailed which lists enough examples of odd voting situations to give pause. Examples include lost votes (unrecoverable), mislinked names where selecting one candidate from a touch screen resulted in a vote for another (some caught by voters), and, in one Florida precinct, not tallying votes (caught by the significant discrepancy between recorded voters and votes. Fortunately, the votes were recoverable from the voting machine).
None of this suggests avoiding computers. Rather, this means having the good sense to put appropriate measures into place to prevent tampering and miscounted votes, and installing backup systems so when the inevitable happens, no electoral disasters result. In other words, good practices for any system. And these are the kinds of practices that actually build confidence, not just sell it.
Posted at May 15, 2003 01:29 PM | TrackBack