Cyber Voting

Cyber Voting
"Hanging chads" of the 2000 presidential race, many election officials looked to technology to come to their rescue” (Walton, 2003). The electronic voting technology has features such as touch screens and added features the older punch card voting systems doesn’t. Most argue that it is efficient, secure and cost effective. However, a congressional research service concluded that the system may be vulnerable to attacks and other faults that could prevent its functionality.

Security/functionality:

“The popularity of DREs, particularly the touchscreen variety, has been growing,
and many expect that growth to continue” (Fischer, 2004). Many voters perhaps may like the opportunity to avoid long lines to perform a quick secure vote, The congressional research service has concluded that electronic voting systems accurately records a voter’s choice and reduces the likely hood of submitting the wrong choice. The machines are multicultural where each can display ballots in different languages depending on voters’ needs. (Fischer, 2004). but what good is the transaction if it is hard to understand and subjected to attack via the internet?

Problems:

The machines are said to be standalone machines so the hacking and data compromise is not possible. However, telephone connections are increasingly internet based. This provides the possibility of interception with voting data. The machines use modems to communicate over telephone lines. These transmissions in the past that traveled only over copper lines are now being routed over the internet. So, the chances of compromise are equal to any networkable communication devices. Another issue is the changes of votes without detection. According to Everett, “Entire races can be added or Removed from ballots and voter’s candidate selections can be flipped and the majority of users do not notice” (Everett, 2007). So are we ready for the electronic voting? The concept is growing and the concerns of how to vote in cyberspace has members in our government and private sector searching for solutions. One thing is certain is that E-voting is going to expand when the security flaws has been removed.

Rowe K
References:
Walton, M. (2003) Electronic Voting no magic bullet. Retrieved from http://articles.cnn.com/2003-12-11/politics/elec04.nist.evoting_1_electronic-voting-rebecca-mercuri-new-voting-technology?_s=PM:ALLPOLITICS
http://www.election-america.com/?gclid=COHdo_6x-awCFacZQgod7D7SRw
Fischer, E. (2004) Electronic Voting Systems (DREs): Legislation in the 108th Congress retrieved from:
http://votingmachines.procon.org/sourcefiles/Electronic%20Voting%20Systems%20Legislation%20in%20the%20108th%20Congress.pdf