Feds reverse course, approve somewhat better e-voting regulations

We had thought that the whole e-voting thing was wrapped up at the federal level, but apparently everyone (including us) spoke too soon, again. The Technical Guidelines Development Committee apparently has met once more, and now unanimously says that it will start drafting regulations mandating that the "next generation" of voting machines be "software independent." In other words, one that can't be hacked via software. However, old machines that don't meet the new standard will not have to be upgraded or replaced, for whatever reason. "The Technical Guidelines Development Committee (TGDC) has considered current threats to voting systems and, at this time, finds that security concerns do not warrant replacing deployed voting systems," the resolution said. The committee's new resolution, however, did include language that recommends "usability and accessibility requirements to ensure that all voters can verify the independent voting record," which means we may see some paper trail after all. We're still not sure how well such a confused resolution will hold up once it gets out of committee, but we never understood how DC worked anyway.

[Via Techdirt]

[ryan @ Dec 7th 2006 1:41AM]

they say the machines are safe and all..but when Bush wins again in 08 you can't say we didn't see it coming

[Alan Gounley @ Dec 7th 2006 2:15AM]

A president can only serve two terms

[Tavis Veighey @ Dec 7th 2006 3:00AM]

He still has time to get that changed. He has managed to prove that he is NOT bound by laws. *cough* Wiretapping *cough*

[Whynot @ Dec 7th 2006 6:36AM]

Well, according to the 22nd amendment of the Constitution, "No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice", which means that Bush can still win in 2008 and 2012...

:P

[Phil @ Dec 7th 2006 2:26AM]

Very funny Ryan! Laugh now, but when it's Jeb Bush you'll be crying your way to the draft board. Just kidding. Seriously, Stephen Colbert '08, even though he is rootin' for Putin for U.S. president in that election.

We don't necessarily need a paper trail for accountability. Just give people an ID and password when they vote, and put kiosks in every post office so that they can log in and verify their vote was counted correctly, or let them log in from home if they are one of the priviledged elite with access to the Internets.

Some people may cry, "What??? An online database with your voting history??? Foul!" But the party registration system is already corrupt, insecure, and non-private anyway, so why worry?

[matt @ Dec 7th 2006 2:44AM]

Hey Alan I think he was just saying that we will probally be getting another republican in for president of US of A. Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha that's weird because America is suppose to stand for freedom and republican have been for years and years control freak, control freaks guys!!!! they want to take away your freeeeeeeeeeedom!!!!!!!! first The WAR on Drugs then etc etc etc etc and now Morrrrrrrre more security. Wake up it's happening. I give thanks to God Jesus Christ for the democrats to get elected to their many Congressional pick ups. As weird as that sounds people think that most people who are christains vote republicans and I tell you well yea back in the day when i was even a republican but now I Have seen the light and Cannabis needs to be taxed and regulated and that we don't need friggin more security. Thanks for ready nice peoples of AmeriKA!!!!!!


Sincrely,


Nice Stoner Christain

[Luke @ Dec 7th 2006 2:57AM]

Looks like your hierarchtical ethics are in for some damage their chief. But go ahead, keep voting for the party of big government, abortion, and racism, and economic enslavement of the poor. I'm a Christian too, and I certainly would like to see the left ceede the moral issues in exchange for fracturing the evangelical vote for the more left leaning economic and enviornmental issues, but as long as they support abortion it isn't going to happen. Too bad, because it would be good for the country.

Anyway, Engadget looks like the system is working out on those big bad voting machines after all eh? Hard for y'all to believe that democracy works isn't it?