[Novalug] OT: Re: Remember to vote!

[ethan at 757.org]

> Ob linux content - with the electronic machines on their way out, I wonder
> what software is used in the optical scan systems? Could be Linux.  But will
> it be open source and auditable?  Or still proprietary and "trust us"?
> (That's a more important question than the underlying OS).

Not sure about the optical systems, but according to the HBO documentary 
"Hacking Democracy" the head end is a Windows box and the end results of 
the election (on the Diebold system) can be modified with wordpad/notepad.

It has been prooven that malware can be introduced to tamper the election 
via the smartcard slot on the voting machine.

There *are* open source voting platforms on sites like Freshmeat, but they 
probably won't gain huge popularity.

I heard Virginia is planning to scrap the electronic systems, but heard it 
from a coworker didn't read it myself.

If *I* made the machines, it'd be cool. It'd have a killer theme, and 
allow people to print their own custom sticker at the end. And have a 
paper audit trail as well.