Advantages of Electronic Voting
Michael Shea
Mentor: David Ross
SOS 101 –Written assignment #5
June 3, 2012
The advantages, disadvantages, and impact of electronic voting systems There are advantages, some disadvantages and the world will be forever impacted by electronic voting systems. I will tell you about the many advantages that electronic voting systems offer as our world is forever evolving into new and improved technology. With new technology though we must always be aware of system problems and glitches in new technology. We must ensure the new technology is tested and as accurate as we need it to be. Proponents will argue that electronic voting machines are more secure and able to capture the intent of voters. They are capable of preventing residual votes, reliable, easy to use and calculate and report voting results faster. They are accessible to disabled, illeriterate, and non-English speaking voters. (http://votingmachines.procon.org)
First let’s talk about reliability because this is what really matters the most, we want and need to have accurate results. Diebold ElectionSystems,a manufacturer of electronic voting machines, stated in a Jan.23,2006 press release titled” California Tests Find Diebold Touch-Screen Voting 100 Percent Accurate During November 2005 Election” (http://votingmachines.procon.org//view.answers.php?questionID=000278)
. The performance of Diebold’s touch screen system was also verified when the system was testing conducted more than 11,000 votes were cast on over 100 touch screen stations with voter verifiable paper audit with 100% accurate results. The California election division determined the results would be successful if there were less than 1% errors. These systems are tested and very reliable, they are not allowed into use until their accuracy and reliability have been demonstrated. Finally no more Chads which are a small fleck of cardboard that is forced out when a machine reads the card. Nationwide almost two
Mentor: David Ross
SOS 101 –Written assignment #5
June 3, 2012
The advantages, disadvantages, and impact of electronic voting systems There are advantages, some disadvantages and the world will be forever impacted by electronic voting systems. I will tell you about the many advantages that electronic voting systems offer as our world is forever evolving into new and improved technology. With new technology though we must always be aware of system problems and glitches in new technology. We must ensure the new technology is tested and as accurate as we need it to be. Proponents will argue that electronic voting machines are more secure and able to capture the intent of voters. They are capable of preventing residual votes, reliable, easy to use and calculate and report voting results faster. They are accessible to disabled, illeriterate, and non-English speaking voters. (http://votingmachines.procon.org)
First let’s talk about reliability because this is what really matters the most, we want and need to have accurate results. Diebold ElectionSystems,a manufacturer of electronic voting machines, stated in a Jan.23,2006 press release titled” California Tests Find Diebold Touch-Screen Voting 100 Percent Accurate During November 2005 Election” (http://votingmachines.procon.org//view.answers.php?questionID=000278)
. The performance of Diebold’s touch screen system was also verified when the system was testing conducted more than 11,000 votes were cast on over 100 touch screen stations with voter verifiable paper audit with 100% accurate results. The California election division determined the results would be successful if there were less than 1% errors. These systems are tested and very reliable, they are not allowed into use until their accuracy and reliability have been demonstrated. Finally no more Chads which are a small fleck of cardboard that is forced out when a machine reads the card. Nationwide almost two