Why not use the internet for voting?

1. 61

   maplethorpejposted 13 years ago

   I'm curious as to why the United States hasn't implemented a system where each citizen can vote on national issues using the internet? For example, if you didn't support the new health care system you could go onto a government controlled website, sign in with your ssn and vote...

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      Cagsilposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Much simpler answer- Politicians wouldn't want that kind of power in the hands of the people, because then it takes the power out of their hands.
      
      Fairly simple actually.

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      tony0724posted 13 years agoin reply to this

      To easy to minipulate the data !

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      jackie riskinposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      If anyone thinks it makes any sense to vote on line for our public elections, here is a quote that should wake you up.  Dr. David Jefferson, an internationally respected computer security expert warned the FCC in  December 2009 that "There are so many kinds of attacks that can corrupt such an election that the mind boggles...botnet denial of service attacks, malicious software attacks, phishing attacks, switch and router attacks, privacy attacks, online electioneering attacks, automated vote buying and selling attacks, and many kinds of official and vendor insider attacks."
      
      Can anyone reading these comments refute Dr. Jefferson's conclusions?   If you are an internationally respected computer security expert, maybe you can discuss your views with him.  But, I'll put my money on Dr. Jefferson, and you should, too.  And, no one should be simplifying the problems with internet voting that can and will corrupt our elections!! Think about this:  Could hackers in China choose our next President?

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         Aficionadaposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Well said!

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         William Kelleherposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         That's a silly quote.  Billions of dollars are transferred around the world every day, without any loss due to the failure of security technology.
         
         But Barbara Simons made an even goofier statement.  She said a teenage hacker in Iran could control a US presidential election conducted via the Internet.
         
         So, why doesn't he boost his allowance and rob all the banks in the world?
         How come he doesn't know all the US military secrets?  Why doesn't he get books for free from amazon?
         
         Why don't you calm your fear, and think for a minute?

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      Caine39posted 13 years agoin reply to this

      What, do you work for ACORN? Seems pretty easy to circumvent voting laws using the internet. Why are our citizens so lazy that they can't make a brief trip to a voting booth in order to decide the future of our country; and feel they need the internet?

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      Sab Ohposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      "I'm curious as to why the United States hasn't implemented a system where each citizen can vote on national issues using the internet? For example, if you didn't support the new health care system you could go onto a government controlled website, sign in with your ssn and vote..."
      
      That's an incredibly bad idea.

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   ediggityposted 13 years ago

   You're thinking way out of the box man.  We can't even get paper voting straight.

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      wildernessposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      "hanging chads" in Florida.........

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   maplethorpejposted 13 years ago

   I just don't understand why it's so 'out there'. NASA has telescopes aimed at distance galaxies searching for Earth-like planets and yet we can't even perfect individual representation?

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4. 59

   ediggityposted 13 years ago

   One day they probably will incorporate this, but for now there is to much Hoopla and to many whatsits to overcome.  Each and every voting district would have to agree in all of the U.S.A.

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   Rafiniposted 13 years ago

   The biggest problem would be the fact that anyone around the world could type in random numbers until they hit a Legal SSN and then vote - hackers!  And computer programs, such as viruses-worms-trojans can get be created to get around that issue quickly!!

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      Michael Willisposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I would worry about the hackers also. lol, especially the best politician with the best hacker. lolol

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6. 61

   maplethorpejposted 13 years ago

   It's simply disappointing how power hungry our government has become. I just wish things could be fair... of course then no one would have power over anyone else and that's apparently unrealistic.

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   liberposted 13 years ago

   To much potential for direct democracy?

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   brianzenposted 13 years ago

   Because we would hack our way in and post nude pics of Megan Fox?

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      tony0724posted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I could deal with that !

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   brianzenposted 13 years ago

   I just cast my vote!

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      Ohmaposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      and thank-you for that!

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    Rochelle Frankposted 13 years ago

    And what about sock puppets?

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    Shil1978posted 13 years ago

    As some have said already, there is the risk of manipulation/fraud. However, I am not so sure if the current primitive system (which is also not error-free or manipulation-free) needs to be followed in perpetuity.
    
    Perhaps, they can come up with a secure, credible electronic voting system that isn't plugged in to the internet, available locally at each ballot booth, and which can be accessed (for revealing the results) by plugging in a security code made available only to those authorized.
    
    I am not too sure though this would ever happen, or happen anytime soon!!

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12. 61

    maplethorpejposted 13 years ago

    Aww most of you seem to be controlled by fear. Obviously the terrorists are controlling this country if we're doubting ourselves this much already. If it really came down to it, I'd rather have China deciding who our next president was than a bunch of people who are worried about the haxzerz!!! But really, maybe our economy would get back on track then? I don't know.
    
    Until then, we'll just keep on doubting our abilities to create a fair and equal system under which to live. Oh well, I guess 9/11 had a bigger impact on the way we think about terror than I thought.

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    William Kelleherposted 13 years ago

    Hey maplethorpej!
    
    Everything is ready to go!  All the technology is here, and in use in Europe and Canada.  The security issues are manageable.  The e-commerce security technology used by the superrich corporations is transferrable to voting systems.
    
    See the interview of me on Blip TV, just search Internet voting there.
    
    Also see the Young Republican interview of me, for an excellent short introduction as to how Internet voting would work in practice, at their jumping in pools blog search my name
       
    (Its only a five minute read.)  The first question is, “How would Internet voting have changed the 2008 election?”
    
    Don’t believe that quote by Jefferson.  Think critically:  how reasonable is it?  E-commerce would not flourish if it was even close to true.
    
    William J. Kelleher, Ph.D.
    
    InternetVoting@gmail.com

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    OregonWinoposted 13 years ago

    I also think that fraud would be a big concern.  People would find ways to inflate the votes etc.  You also have to remember that there are those who do not have access to or know how to use the internet (like my 82 year old Grandma.)

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       alternate poetposted 13 years agoin reply to this

       The simple vote counting machines that were manipulated to get Bush into power should be enough argument against this idea.  However, as an unbiased third party is the normal control on these things, which country should verify your elections, allow your choices, in the event of internet voting?

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          Sab Ohposted 13 years agoin reply to this

          "The simple vote counting machines that were manipulated to get Bush into power "
          
          
          Funny how when a Republican wins there is always some 'funny business' with the voting machines, but when a democrat wins everything works just fine. Hmmmm...

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             Dave Barnettposted 13 years agoin reply to this

             Using the net for voting is too imperfect. You'd have to have some type of positive identy verification. The present system is bad enough, net voting would be a nightmare!

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