Re: [tlug] Re: Somewhat OT- open source software for US voting machines

[Edward Middleton <emiddleton@example.com>]

SL Baur wrote:
> On 10/7/08, Jim Breen <jimbreen@example.com> wrote:
>   
>>  In our usual single-member electorates if the final result is very close,
>>  the paper ballots are recounted several times and every disputed paper
>>  argued over. Usually it ends up in court, and the judge can order a new
>>  election for the district if no clear result is possible.
>>     
>
> Sounds sensible.
>
> Just what "problem" are you e-voting guys trying to solve, again?
>   

They are trying to avoid it ending up in the courts.  It should be
obvious that this is not a satisfactory outcome.  The guiding principles
behind election held in Australia are[1][2]

* transparency
* security
* professionalism
* accuracy
* secrecy
* timeliness
* accountability
* equity

I presume the US process is guided by similar principles?

> Non-USians usually have no idea how much us USians like closure
> on things like this.  We have not had a decisive President since
> President Reagan.  Doubt in the way ballots are being (mis)counted
> is really the last thing we need right now.
>   

The 2000 presidential election residual votes[3][4][5] (invalid votes)
were significant enough to have effect the outcome of the election. 
i.e. the error in the election process (not the counting process) was
sufficient to effect the outcome of the election.  In Australia we have
compulsory voting so it is arguable that some voters intentionally made
invalid votes.  In the US voting is voluntary so the likelihood of this
is very low, i.e. a significant number of voters preferences were not
recorded by the current process and that may have effected the outcome
of the election.  That is a failure of the election process.

Edward

1. http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/pacific/AU/PolFut.pdf
2. http://www.aic.gov.au/publications/tandi/ti224.pdf
3. www.*vote*.caltech.edu/media/documents/vtp_wp21v2.3.pdf
4. http://www.umsl.edu/~kimballd/rtables.pdf
5. http://www.capc.umd.edu/rpts/Impact_of_*Voting*_Systems.pdf