Date: 09/23/2004 04:46 PM
From: Tom Steiner (tom_steiner@techemail.com)
Subject: E-Vote Fears Soar in Swing States
It seems crazy to me that some of these electronic voting techniques do not have a "paper trail" as a basic necessity ("E-Vote Fears Soar in Swing States," Sept. 23, 2004). How is it possible to trust the election results without physical evidence that can be relied upon to verify any incongruities?
The solution is clear: Voters cast their vote on one machine, it produces a physical copy of their vote (which they can verify). This physical vote card is then fed into another machine that confirms the voter's intentions and records the vote. Both machines are to be produced by separate manufacturers and both keep count of the votes cast. At the close of the election, both systems tally the votes. These two independently produced numbers should match, if not, something is amiss. Election officials can rely on the physical evidence to decide the election.
The physical evidence is an essential part of this process. How else can voters be sure that their vote has been recorded correctly? How else can results be confirmed? If I was a voter in a state that considered the "paper trail" component of the election optional I would raise my voice in protest.
- - -
Date: 09/24/2004 02:08 AM
From: Kenneth Knox (nawckz@gmail.com)
__Subject: IPod Promoters Feel the Heat __
The problem with Freeipods.com is not the spam that may be sent out to its users -- they have at least chosen to sign up -- but the constant barrage of spam on other sites from Freeipods.com users trying to get others to sign up using their referrer link ("IPod Promoters Feel the Heat," Sept. 23, 2004).
- - -
Date: 09/23/2004 09:30 PM
From: jesse zook mann (jesse@jessemann.com)
__Subject: IPod Promoters Feel the Heat __
I have to say that my associates and I love Freeipods.com ("IPod Promoters Feel the Heat," Sept. 23, 2004). The delay in shipping was stated when signing up, and was not longer than if I ordered from Apple directly (I called Apple to ask what its internal delays were, and it was the same as Freeipods.com).
I use osx mail with my junk-mail filter on and have not noticed any extra junk mail. It took a couple hours to get my friends to sign up, and for that I got a $300 product. My only request is that Gratis start a Freevwbug.com.... I'm pretty sure I can get 350 people to sign up for a free car.
- - -
Date: 09/22/2004 02:21 PM
From: twaifi (mycatguen@yahoo.com)
__Subject: Activists Find More E-Vote Flaws __
No one needed to go to such great lengths to discredit Diebold's electronic voting ("Activists Find More E-Vote Flaws," Sept. 22, 2004). I was a programmer a long time ago.
Everyone thinks a printed receipt is the answer. But, it only takes five lines of code, as the author described, to count a vote for Bush and print a receipt that says "Kerry." It's very, very, very simple. Anyone who is forced to use electronic voting should request an absentee ballot now.
- - -
Have a Rant or Rave for Wired News? Send it.
Note: If you do not want to see your message published in Rants & Raves, please let us know in your letter.
