Election debacle: How could technology help?
Takeaway: Can technology ensure the recent ballot fiasco doesn't happen again? Share your thoughts on how technology could help by joining our discussion.
While last week’s election debacle left the country wondering who won, I couldn’t shake another, and in my mind, more important question: Why are we filling in circles and punching holes?
For those of you who don’t keep up with U.S. politics, the presidential election appears likely to wind up in the courts after approximately 19,000 ballots in the key state of Florida were discarded for being punched twice.
Surely, I reasoned, we have the technology to do better than this. Didn’t programmers solve this "hole punch" thing about 20 years ago?
And I’m not the only one wondering this, as I discovered when watching the news and citizen after citizen asked the news camera: Don’t we have the technology to fix this?
We all know technology could resolve the confusion problems caused by these types of ballots and provide faster, more reliable results. In Europe, for instance, some countries use electronic voting.
But how do we ensure that an electronic voting system would be accurate and hacker-proof? And who would be responsible for implementing e-voting? Do you think this means the President or Congress should appoint a national CIO to tackle this task?
Share your opinion and comments by posting below.
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 Bridged Transferginsbergj@... | 11/13/00 |
 ProblemBrian Lusk | 11/13/00 |
| Security is the key of coursemwolff@... | 11/16/00 |
| Re: Securityzamski | 11/16/00 |
| Saturday?hutsonk@... | 11/21/00 |
 Re: Securityjd.wheelis@... | 11/27/00 |
| Chip ID technology.stonej@... | 11/17/00 |
| Better yet...hutsonk@... | 11/21/00 |
| Quick @ Dirty Systemsoapymac@... | 11/17/00 |
| MIS Dir: GLITCHES EVERYWHEREalan@... | 11/16/00 |
| I agree. Paper is permanent.Firefox | 11/17/00 |
| From a local government, I must agreeC J | 11/17/00 |
 Printinghutsonk@... | 11/21/00 |
| same problem there-alan@... | 05/08/02 |
| Paperless Votingjwolfe@... | 11/17/00 |
| Electronic voter cardmichaelgabriel@... | 11/14/00 |
| Good IdeaGBlaze | 11/14/00 |
| yes but!sheldonkeough@... | 11/16/00 |
| IMHObobbyl@... | 11/16/00 |
| If we can make ATM cards work.george.murphy@... | 11/16/00 |
| ATM type cardscmiller3021 | 11/16/00 |
| Nothing is safeUmblink | 11/16/00 |
| My soapbox...Plaza Oly WA | 11/17/00 |
| E-Votingtexacct | 11/16/00 |
| Finger Print IDjdskinner@... | 11/16/00 |
| YYAAAAAGGGHHH!alan@... | 11/16/00 |
| Your rightThe Dane | 11/21/00 |
| Secure I.Dhbonet@... | 11/16/00 |
| Secure IDdgerry1@... | 11/16/00 |
| Secure IDjrlarge | 11/16/00 |
| This is more a state issue then federal.aer2001 | 11/16/00 |
| YES!alan@... | 11/16/00 |
| Does technology matterrogntina@... | 11/16/00 |
| Yes technology matterswillie.lash@... | 11/16/00 |
| A better wayjjax@... | 11/16/00 |
| this is easyrthomas5@... | 11/16/00 |
| This probably sounds to simpleTahiti16 | 11/16/00 |
| Technology Great but show me the moneymgm@... | 11/16/00 |
| Sounds similar to Time Clockinglady@... | 11/14/00 |
| It's under our noses!acohen167 | 11/14/00 |
| "MODERNIZED" DOESN'T MEAN ACCURATE!alan@... | 11/16/00 |
| There's a privacy issue hereSmac | 11/16/00 |
| Secure sitesrushrad@... | 11/16/00 |
| The issue is "secret ballot"ggfuller@... | 11/16/00 |
| Electronic Voting Cardgreg_robinson@... | 11/16/00 |
| Are any of these 'solutions' universal?gary.lee@... | 11/16/00 |
| I agreejdskinner@... | 11/16/00 |
| It has to be simpleScupper | 11/14/00 |
| states rights and electoral collegetroy37@... | 11/14/00 |
| HCFA & Voting.Say What? A Common Ground?kg_net@... | 11/14/00 |
| Social In-Security!Xwindowsjunkie | 11/14/00 |
| Technology is no panacea.MrjKong | 11/15/00 |
| Great explanation of the Processkcrab | 11/15/00 |
| People underestimate the difficultiesJay_H | 11/16/00 |
| Re: People Underestimatezamski | 11/16/00 |
| *** READ MRJKONG ***helpdesk@... | 11/16/00 |
| I agree!Miata Lady | 11/16/00 |
| Can't read arrows-Use a computer?dkeller@... | 11/16/00 |
| computer votingengelke2@... | 11/16/00 |
| Morons Incorporatedbanjo_guru | 11/16/00 |
| Uniform Flexible Solution To Vote Issueskliternick@... | 11/16/00 |
| Uniform Flexible Solution To Vote Issueskliternick@... | 11/16/00 |
| Power in Americamcadamsc@... | 11/16/00 |
| Other OptionsRayG314 | 11/16/00 |
| Voter Card Should be a "ATM Type Card"Aquarius | 11/16/00 |
| Votingrinderknechtd@... | 11/16/00 |
| New Technology & Votingdj269 | 11/16/00 |
| Dose of RealismHypkip | 11/16/00 |
| It's rough row to hoe!!!!jwittenberg@... | 11/16/00 |
| Something that needs updatingShanghai Sam | 11/16/00 |
| Something that needs updatingdgust | 11/16/00 |
| ATM VotingGaspe | 11/16/00 |
| There are small towns in this country where the...DisillusionedMember | 11/16/00 |
| Take Out Subjective Elementsmclaughlinde@... | 11/16/00 |
| Gradual Phase-inrtmcgeorge | 11/16/00 |
| Computerize votingjgolden@... | 11/16/00 |
| why do 30 voters need electronic voting?rlepage@... | 11/16/00 |
| Technology Help at Multiple Levelsjames_p_okvist@... | 11/16/00 |
| No matter what there will be faultrdjhmath@... | 11/16/00 |
| Social Security networknrfkknight@... | 11/16/00 |
| And how about hackers?TokyoPete | 11/16/00 |
| A Risk Evaluation Is Necessarymclaughlinde@... | 11/17/00 |
| E vote yes but no net!B cat | 11/17/00 |
| E vote yes but no net!B cat | 11/17/00 |
| Electronic vote yes, but no net.B cat | 11/17/00 |
| E-Slate Best of BreedPMcGoHorns | 11/17/00 |
| Bill Gates moneyRita Smith | 11/27/00 |
| Probably already posted, but...O/Siris | 11/28/00 |
| some countries use electronic voting.laborc | 12/06/00 |
| Embedded computersjoel.g.altman1@... | 11/13/00 |
| Ack!!!durocshark@... | 11/13/00 |
| Privacy and Simplicitybill.vasel@... | 11/14/00 |
| Are we then sayinglady@... | 11/14/00 |
| A joke right?mcorr@... | 11/14/00 |
| RF ID tags, we'd be just like dogs.Xwindowsjunkie | 11/14/00 |
| Great Idea! the Mark of the Beastdrobinson@... | 11/16/00 |
| How stupid, unsoundly, and impractical.SirLeo | 11/16/00 |
| You've got it!Concerned Citizen | 11/16/00 |
| 666roturske@... | 11/16/00 |
| Embedded Computers???Gull | 11/16/00 |
| I hope you are jokingWes Jolly | 11/16/00 |
| Ever Heard Of the MARK OF THE BEAST?ledger | 11/16/00 |
| Drastic measures...rambo_j | 11/16/00 |
| You Are A Freaking IdiotMrjKong | 11/17/00 |
| Simplicity is ParamountYukYbloke | 11/13/00 |
| E-Voting, but need insurance... hardcopyguru2000@... | 11/13/00 |
| Start simple, and wait for technologyjohnvalleau@... | 11/16/00 |
| simple local fail-over clustered serverDisillusionedMember | 11/16/00 |
| simple local fail-over clustered serverjohnvalleau@... | 11/17/00 |
| Now is the time when all good...Denise*I*Am | 11/16/00 |
| One ballot for all statesJeff L | 11/16/00 |
| Excellent and thought provokingDenise*I*Am | 11/16/00 |
| Absolutely NO on cyber voting!Happy Dog | 11/16/00 |
| Here's my 2 cents....msandven@... | 11/16/00 |
| Sophisticated Technology, Simple GUIphilip_j_candreva@... | 11/13/00 |
| Good Idea - Let's expand this furtherhf@... | 11/16/00 |
| Idiot Proof the TransactionBill Pupp | 11/16/00 |
| As soon as you idiot proof something....fmlazar@... | 11/17/00 |
| in addition...hmtung@... | 11/16/00 |
| Three things to think aboutdavid.engelstad@... | 11/14/00 |
| Good points, but...dlw6 | 11/14/00 |
| Not possiblefcruchaga@... | 11/14/00 |
| The Hardware CsotsMrjKong | 11/15/00 |
| Then where did all my tax money go?dlw6 | 11/16/00 |
| Fix the Back EndSidK | 11/14/00 |
| The best answer yet!sherkarr@... | 11/14/00 |
| ...and the front will followPlShark | 11/14/00 |
| Best idea so farkstair | 11/16/00 |
| The ONLY answerccs07@... | 11/16/00 |
| Verifiable and Accuratemcorr@... | 11/14/00 |
| IRS?sherkarr@... | 11/14/00 |
| Just say no to IRS!jeffc@... | 11/14/00 |
| Anything Better?mcorr@... | 11/15/00 |
| I did not complainlady@... | 11/15/00 |
| Database Issuesmcorr@... | 11/16/00 |
| Not everyone files with IRSDisillusionedMember | 11/16/00 |
| Still on Rollsmcorr@... | 11/17/00 |
| Punch cards are okaywbj_pet@... | 11/16/00 |
| Eliminate the deadWes Jolly | 11/16/00 |
| I See Dead Peoplemcorr@... | 11/16/00 |
| Voting MachinesD. Brinson | 11/14/00 |
| Why?Brian Lusk | 11/14/00 |
| Re: Why?zamski | 11/17/00 |
| The real answer is not High TechXwindowsjunkie | 11/14/00 |
| Boy You have that RightCommon Man | 11/16/00 |
| BioCard & Drivers Licensecbolle@... | 11/14/00 |
| Problems with IDsmcorr@... | 11/15/00 |
| Why stop at BioCard?jeffc@... | 11/15/00 |
| laugh or crylodi44@... | 11/14/00 |
| Not a Democracymcorr@... | 11/15/00 |
| not a democracylodi44@... | 11/15/00 |
| EU and Democracymcorr@... | 11/16/00 |
| EU and democracy vs US and democracyShanghai Sam | 11/16/00 |
| More on EU vs USAmcorr@... | 11/21/00 |
| not a democracylodi44@... | 11/15/00 |
| laugh or crylodi44@... | 11/14/00 |
| First Principles of technology solutionBobArtner - TechRepublic | 11/15/00 |
| One more thing that mightlady@... | 11/15/00 |
| The problem lies deeperlodi44@... | 11/15/00 |
| Don't think you quite understandMrjKong | 11/16/00 |
| I dont think YOU quite understandlodi44@... | 11/16/00 |
| Stop showing your ignoranceMrjKong | 11/17/00 |
| The problem lies deeperlodi44@... | 11/15/00 |
| Anyone think there are other issues?LorenBC | 11/16/00 |
| Good Process - Other issues4kibble | 11/16/00 |
| And..DisillusionedMember | 11/16/00 |
| Dimplesbpaxton@... | 11/16/00 |
| Fraudwbj_pet@... | 11/16/00 |
| Cross reference SS #foley@... | 11/16/00 |
| Technology not readykstarks@... | 11/16/00 |
| Why not Touch Screen?YCDBSOYA | 11/16/00 |
| Gore missing the boatmbarciz@... | 11/16/00 |
| Dealing with the Nowdavid.engelstad@... | 11/16/00 |
| Electronic Ballot Stuffingdavenport.scott@... | 11/16/00 |
| Digital Divide Barrierthorn@... | 11/16/00 |
| embarassinggary@... | 11/16/00 |
| Two security concernsParrish S. Knight | 11/16/00 |
| How Can Technology Help?airammh@... | 11/16/00 |
| www.votefraud.orgRawbit | 11/16/00 |
| Enjoyed the trial election on lineztomcat | 11/16/00 |
| Not for computer voting - fraud?mkrupar1@... | 11/16/00 |
| I am all for changing the election process to e...jamie@... | 11/16/00 |
| Parking Garages and Gas PumpsdaveyPIT | 11/16/00 |
| Security is a NON-Issuephgray@... | 11/16/00 |
| AUTOMATE IT - Instead of paying Lawyersdavid_wilcox@... | 11/16/00 |
| Importance of a Clear UICCY | 11/16/00 |
| Election checkoffHarleyman | 11/16/00 |
| Technology in Electionslarry.bullock@... | 11/16/00 |
| wetware v hardware/softwareivan@... | 11/16/00 |
| Appropriate use of technologyrobert.latshaw@... | 11/16/00 |
| accuracy of technologyrowx | 11/16/00 |
| Not happening anytime soongiermanr@... | 11/16/00 |
| I hope you're jokingLanManager | 11/16/00 |
| I think that a computer should be set up at eac...rregner@... | 11/16/00 |
| Electronic Balloting vs Accountabilityimaskeptic | 11/16/00 |
| Not as easy as it soundsjim.cassell@... | 11/16/00 |
| Definatelyaittala@... | 11/16/00 |
| e-electionsatrofman@... | 11/16/00 |
| It's inevitable...RastaTech | 11/16/00 |
| New use for old PC'shammaren@... | 11/16/00 |
| No reason not to use tech. for electiondlmehalek@... | 11/16/00 |
| Transition to Internet Votingllevine@... | 11/16/00 |
| Electoral Vote....???Common Man | 11/16/00 |
| What People?hammaren@... | 11/16/00 |
| The New Erra?prust@... | 11/16/00 |
| If our leaders do not wish to use new technolog...mike@... | 11/16/00 |
| Non-networked PC solutionabaldwin@... | 11/16/00 |
| It works...DOaten | 11/16/00 |
| How difficult can it be?ken lillemo | 11/16/00 |
| Back to Basics: Count ALL Votesjkrupa@... | 11/16/00 |
| I agreerlowe@... | 11/16/00 |
| Technology in votingrfd@... | 11/16/00 |
| Disgracefuljeff.nemanius@... | 11/16/00 |
| We have the technologyjerry.l.rogers@... | 11/16/00 |
| I think that electronic voting would help the s...Scarlett_O | 11/16/00 |
hand recounting  texasclassic@... | 11/16/00 |
| The world is changing and we know itd-reynolds@... | 11/16/00 |
| Thoughts on electronic votingbcwatson | 11/16/00 |
| Electronic votingjeff_gagne2001@... | 11/16/00 |
| can't do paperchase, can't do mousechasechicagoanalyst | 11/16/00 |
| electronic votingpaul.colbert@... | 11/16/00 |
| not in favor of it.dontwantspam@... | 11/16/00 |
| Election debaclebabrady@... | 11/16/00 |
| The Lottery is the election answer.dvassallo@... | 11/16/00 |
| Realityearlkaplan@... | 11/16/00 |
| Electronic Votingvig0711@... | 11/16/00 |
| Well, yeah, but...oratune@... | 11/16/00 |
| Can you imagine?soccernut | 11/16/00 |
| Paper Ballots vs Securityichristensen@... | 11/16/00 |
| A beacon of faithoratune@... | 11/16/00 |
| electronic votingrtflansburgh | 11/16/00 |
| Florida is a joke!jsoden@... | 11/16/00 |
| Many Layered Problem(s)stevem001@... | 11/16/00 |
| The question I had after listing to all these d...brian.decker@... | 11/16/00 |
| Online voting, the way to go.alan.e.beebe@... | 11/16/00 |
| What's wrong with using the phone?crazymatt | 11/16/00 |
| e-voting?gmaprog | 11/16/00 |