¶ … e-voting, or voting through ATM-like electronic terminals. Specifically, it will discuss the pro and cons of the election process moving into an electronic age away from the "hanging chads." It will include issues of security such as hacking and vote count integrity. E-voting is a controversial new way for many people to cast their ballots, but it is not foolproof. E-voting faces challenges on many counts, and it will be interesting to see how the terminals work in the upcoming Presidential election in November. Voting electronically sounds like a good, workable idea, but is it really?
The 2000 Presidential election and the fiasco in Florida's vote count were just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to voting in America. Today, voters are faced with more than punch cards. They are faced with "e-voting." What is e-voting? E-voting is a more practical way of voting by using electronic touch-screens or optical-scanning systems that record the vote when a voter touches the screen, clicks a mouse, or marks a ballot than can be optically scanned. The systems work electronically, and votes should be tallied almost instantaneously. The machines automatically show each office or item on the ballot as the voter enters their vote, and "If a voter makes a mistake, such as selecting two candidates for the same office, the computer points out this error and allows the voter to correct it" (Bonsor). These machines eliminate the inefficiencies of punch card and manual voting, and they are quicker for voters to use, so polling places can handle more voters in less time. In addition, they bring voting to many more people, including the blind and non-English speakers, for there are screens that talk back and screens in other languages. These are important considerations in a country where so many minorities still flock every year. If we want voting to be open to everyone, then ballots and voting areas must also be accessible to all.
Proponents of e-voting cite a number of reasons this technology needs to be implemented and implemented quickly. These machines make voting much quicker, and the touch-screens are simple to use. Voters do not have to spend as much time waiting in line at polling places to cast their vote, and this could attract more voter turnout, especially during large elections. They are also much more accurate than the mechanical machines used by so many states. There are no levers to pull, no cards to line up, and mistakes can be corrected if the machines are the optical-scan variety - the ballots can simply be rescanned. In addition, these systems have been in use in several foreign countries, such as the Netherlands and Brazil for several years, and while they have had a few problems, the systems overall have been successful and popular. Many proponents also point to e-voting as the precursor to voting at home via the Internet. Internet voting would open up voting to many who find it difficult to get to a polling place now, and "would allow people to vote from their home or work computer - or any computer with Internet access" (Bonsor). While there are certainly many security issues to work out with Internet voting, it would be quick, painless, and would probably result in many more people taking the time to cast their vote.
While there are many persuasive reasons for using the E-voting technology, there are quite a few compelling reasons not to use the technology until some issues have been addressed. One of the major issues facing the technology is the amazing lack of security surrounding many of the leadings systems. One of the most notorious for their lack of security is Diebold, manufacturer of the AccuVote touch-screen voting machine that is extremely popular around the country. An activist for voting, Bev Harris made a startling discovery one day online. "Harris found about 40,000 unprotected computer files. They included source code for Diebold's [...] voting machine, program files for its Global Election Management System tabulation software, and a Texas voter-registration list with voters' names and addresses" (Zetter). Amazingly, these files were open to anyone with enough wherewithal to discover them. Even more amazing, Harris found what seemed to be live tallies...
Physical vs. Digital GovernanceIntroductionIn recent years, the Greek government has undergone a remarkable digital transformation in order to better serve its citizens. Through initiatives like the Athenian Digital Strategy, the Greek government is using digital technologies, data analytics, and AI-supported technologies to optimize service delivery, engage with citizens more effectively and track progress on goals faster. This shift towards digitization has also opened up opportunities for more efficient and productive
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