National ID card that one has to swipe to vote? What happened to secret ballots? And don't give me any BS answer about data encryption and protection. If the data's there, it's there. Subversion of the secret ballot. Sorry, no good.
Now, before you cast your secret ballot, should you need to register? Well, of course. Should there be a way to verify that you are not only a resident of your district but also a citizen of the US? Yup. Is there today? Nope. Do you need a national ID Card to do this? Not even close. You need political will to do it, not a new card system.
My state uses fill in the circle paper ballots which are counted by machine. This is an acceptable compromise in my eyes, because it leaves a paper trail of "X" marks the vote ballots that can be Human counted, if there is a challenge.
I'd still rather see ballots counted by hand. Not just for the integrity it can add to the process, but it is a way for people to actually be involved in the political process that rules the nation rather than the trend of being further and further disconnected from it as our "push button" society continues it's seemingly ceaseless march. This is important enough stuff for us to stop and take time out for. In fact, I'd even be in favor of making the day of national elections a national holiday. Let's honor how much choice we have rather than neglecting it and losing it and handing control of it to a small group of faceless politicians and corporate technologists.
How about this? I know it sounds novel. I might have said it before:
No touch screens, no machines. Paper ballot. X marks the choice. Election judges, actual humans, count the paper ballots. Paper trail is in now intact. No one can hack enough election judges to make a real difference unless the election is remarkably close. Takes a little bit longer to tally results, but has infinitely more integrity.
And what does having a laptop have to do with learning? The most brilliant humans that ever lived, Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein didn't have laptops. That didn't seem to hold them back much.
Not a cool concept, doesn't need better development. Dumb concept, will easily wear out and become obsolete. Stow your photos in your mobile. You always have it with you, it's much more durable, etc.
I could add a lengthy philosophical comment on the nature of freedom and the ability of power to abused and be corrupting - I could, but I won't, because I can sum it all up by just seconding what was already said:"It looks like Alan Moore was right."
Proof of citizenship before voting. Vote on a paper ballot using indelible ink to provide a paper trail. Dip finger in ink after voting to reduce fraud. Typical, common citzens as election judges counting the ballots in precints. Publicly posted and published ballot results from each precint audited by the election judges.
Once again - leaving something as important as the security of an electoral system in the hands of a few voting machine companies and individuals of opportunity is recipie for fraud. Technology is great, the integrity of the process is more important than speed or convenience. Democracies have been holding polls for over 200 years without the need for frickin' touchscreens, and we can do it for 200 times 200 more!
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