Hacking Democracy

#1
OWB

OWB

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#1
Has anyone seen this special on HBO? Pretty scary stuff.
 
#2
#2
I guess I'm the only one who thinks it's scary that the Diebold machines can be hacked. Not only can they be hacked, but they can be hacked without any evidence that it ever happened.

The votes are all stored on memory cards which can hold programs themselves turning votes for one thing into a vote for the other.

Republicans and Democrats alike should be concerned about this.
 
#3
#3
I guess everyone forgets about the Daly family and others with the paper ballots as well. It's much easier to commit paper fraud and more people need less technical know-how to commit paper fraud as well. Dems seem to forget how the paper ballots caused a stolen election in 2000...

:)
 
#4
#4
Kind of like credit card fraud - people were/are concerned about it occurring on the Internet but most of it occurs the old fashioned way - physical stealing of numbers or double charging.
 
#6
#6
In this HBO special, they brought in a computer security expert from Sweden or somewhere who hacked the memory cards, after he easily put a program on the memory card, they did a mock vote..

Here was the vote: Do you think that the Diebold system can be hacked? Yes or No

7 voted no and 2 voted yes. Then they ran it through like they would a normal election and when they hit the final tally button, the results came out 8 people for yes and 1 for no, all as a result of a very simple program put on the memory card..
 
#7
#7
CSpindizzy said:
It's much easier to commit paper fraud and more people need less technical know-how to commit paper fraud as well.
Click to expand...

Yep - No method is foolproof, but the current system is a heck of a lot more secure that paper.
 
#8
#8
You know how many good old boys for years have manipulated the paper system?

The problem for the paper receipts that some want to see is that people (homeless, etc.) can now use that to get paid after the fact to vote. Not exactly the best method of ensuring a higher standard of voters.
 
#9
#9
So really what you all are saying is that it's still inaccurate but that's the way it's always been? Is there not a way that we can fix this voting system so it will be honest and accurate? Why should we spread Democracy around the world when we don't even care about it enough to get it right here?
 
#10
#10
Biometrics to every voter....but any effort to do this has been downplayed or ridiculed. Many groups have advocated some sort of IDs even free ones but the fringe on all sides come out blasting this. From those accusing this of being a racist and class warfare operation to those saying this is the world ID for the Antichrist, nothing truly secure will ever come to pass.
 
#11
#11
OWB said:
So really what you all are saying is that it's still inaccurate but that's the way it's always been? Is there not a way that we can fix this voting system so it will be honest and accurate? Why should we spread Democracy around the world when we don't even care about it enough to get it right here?
Click to expand...

I equate electronic voting to the BCS. It is flawed and gets harped on constantly by the losers, but it's better than what we had.
 
#12
#12
If people want to go back to a system of dangling chads and the dead voting in droves, so be it.
 
#13
#13
I don't know how we can make it any easier to vote unless they start sending people door to door.
 
#14
#14
Shhhh....that will be the next 'bright' idea. The only problem is that you'll get a group of minimum wage quality workers being paid $20/hr to do it on the taxpayers' dimes.
 
#15
#15
The new Democratic congress should implement a tiny microchip inserted in your hand and that is how we I.D. voters and ensure fairness.
 
#20
#20
we'd all be going to hell...and a certain element would then be prohibited from voting....OWB is secretly pushing for this now.
 
#21
#21
CS, when you mention higher rates on paper ballots, you are thinking of single instances, not the effect that a single instance can carry. One person in a electric system can effect every vote on that machine.
 
#22
#22
No not single instances. Read up on fraud in Chicago. Entire elections have been thrown on paper ballot fraud. Hacking can only be done on small cells or precincts. If a heavily GOP precinct somehow comes out flipped to the Dems, clearly there is an issue.
 
#25
#25
I read Jimmy Carter's 'Turning Point' several years ago and it was full of interesting anecdotes relating to election fraud by the old political machines, although the crux of the book dealt with requiring both houses of a bicameral state legislature to be seated according to equal representation.
 
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