Election Fraud in Kentucky

[Timemaster Tim]

From Schneier on Security (http://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2009/03/election_fraud.html), "Election Fraud in Kentucky".

This example of vote-rigging on an electronic voting system is rather low-tech as it exploited a poor design on the user interface. But it does point out that more sophisticated exploits are not out the question given that most voting systems have known documented vulnerabilities. And even worse, most don't have any auditable record of votes that would allow post election verification.

It's astounding that systems like theses are allowed to be used for elections.

[Houngan]

Clay county is hideously corrupt. I believe they derive something like 40% of their populace's income from marijuana and pharm.

H.

[Jojo]

If your precinct uses electronic voting machines, is it possible to demand to cast your vote on a paper ballot when you turn up? Or would the only way around it be to vote by mail or something?

[WildElf]

If your precinct uses electronic voting machines, is it possible to demand to cast your vote on a paper ballot when you turn up? Or would the only way around it be to vote by mail or something?

Depends on the precinct. I know some of the areas of highest concern last election (Ohio and Florida, I believe) did not have a paper ballot option, which is why they remained a high concern for potential fraud.

[Glenn]

If your precinct uses electronic voting machines, is it possible to demand to cast your vote on a paper ballot when you turn up? Or would the only way around it be to vote by mail or something?California lets you request a paper ballot at the polling place, if you distrust the robots.

[Timemaster Tim]

As a Canadian, I'm not all that familiar with the US election system. The impression I get is that everything from President of the country right through to local sheriffs, judges and dog catchers are elected. And they are elected at the same time. And all sorts of propositions are added in an voted on as well.

It's this huge number of things to be elected or voted upon that generate the need for automation in elections in the US. Is there are reason why all of these positions are elected? Must they all be done at the same time?

[Funkula]

That's not quite right. Speaking only for the Texas process (which is where I've voted my entire life), state and federal elections are lumped together every two years, but municipal elections are held on a different timetable. I'm not actually quite sure what the municipal schedule is, because I have not voted in any such elections due to lack of info/interest, but it seems to come up in the spring.

Ballot propositions are present to varying degrees throughout the US. California is tremendously fond of them, but here in Texas I've only seen a couple ever.

When I voted in 2008, the ballot consisted of President, House, Senate, state House and Senate, circuit court judges (I think), and a handful of state offices like Treasurer, Railroad Commissioner, etc (I don't remember exactly how many or which ones). Including the ballot proposition (which was about a local hospital and had very clear language), the entire ballot was one scantron page front and back.

Personally, I'm tremendously fond of the scantron method. It provides the speed of automation while reducing error (from faulty touchscreens, etc) and preserving a paper trail.

[BostonBum0]

As a Canadian, I'm not all that familiar with the US election system. The impression I get is that everything from President of the country right through to local sheriffs, judges and dog catchers are elected. And they are elected at the same time. And all sorts of propositions are added in an voted on as well.

It's this huge number of things to be elected or voted upon that generate the need for automation in elections in the US. Is there are reason why all of these positions are elected? Must they all be done at the same time?
Our system in Massachusetts is very similar to the one Funkula describes in Texas. We use the scantron method, which leave a nice paper trail and avoids hanging chads. I found a copy of our most recent ballot for you to take a peek at if you wish. It is in PDF format.

2008_State_Election_Ballot.pdf (http://hingham-ma.gov/townclerk/documents/2008_State_Election_Ballot.pdf)