http://news.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=09/04/26/1418219&from=rss
Irish Reject E-Voting, Go Back To Paper
Posted by Soulskill on Sunday April 26, @12:07PM
from the progress-is-progress dept.
Government News
Death Metal tips news that the Irish government has announced their decision to abandon e-voting and return to a paper-based system. “Ireland has already put about $67 million into building out its e-voting infrastructure, but the country has apparently decided that it would be even more expensive to keep going with the system than it would be to just scrap it altogether.” John Gormley, Ireland’s Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, said, “It is clear from consideration of the Report of the Commission on Electronic Voting that significant additional costs would arise to advance electronic voting in Ireland. …the assurance of public confidence in the democratic system is of paramount importance and it is vital to bring clarity to the present situation.” He added that he still thinks there is a need for electoral reform.
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As some one who has some modest experience in computer security, this is a wise decision. The only process that I thought was worthwhile was to use technology to create the ballot that was “cast” by depositing the paper receipt in the ballot box. Those cash register receipts, with a crypto hash that can preserve the document’s integrity, would be available for recounts and verification.
Sorry, but anything less is unacceptable.
I laugh at the Minnesota debacle where they had more votes than voters and the courts say that’s ok. Makes banana republics look downright honest.
Argh!
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Reinke Faces Life 