Text 56, 73 rader
Skriven 2012-07-08 17:01:46 av Richard Webb (1:116/901.0)
     Kommentar till text 23 av Michiel van der Vlist (2:280/5555)
Ärende: .fidonet
================
Hello Michiel,

On Sat 2012-Jul-07 22:31, Michiel van der Vlist (2:280/5555) wrote to Roy Witt:

 Roy> First, one has to be able to prove manipulation beyond a shadow of
 Roy> doubt to make such a claim valid.

MvdV> On the contrary. It is the responsibility of those organising the
MvdV> vote that even the appearance of manipulation is avoided.

MvdV> A vote where an interested party controls the communication
MvdV> channel, does not qualify.

Where can you find a place within government or just about
anywhere else where the votes are collected and tallied by a totally
uninterested party?

You don't think the incumbents in office in your government
or mine don't have a very strong interest in retaining teh
status quo?

YEs, i've seen various suggestions to eliminate some of this within Fidonet. 
Example:

the net/region etc. vote is conducted by a system not in the net/region etc. 
An outsider collects votes, tallies and
announces the results.

But then, if that vote is routed at all maybe somebody has
the capability to dink with it.  That's why votes are
collected with an additional password, and the passwords
received published, and sometimes who that password voted
for as well.  IN this way there's accountability.  IF my
vote had to be routed out of necessity and I use the
password xylophone then when I see waht vote was tallied for 'xylophone" i know
with certainty whether my vote was
diddled or not.

Now consider the situation of somebody like myself going to
his local polling place on election day.  I go to vote when
it's convenient for me, which means I may or may not have
somebody I trust along to mark my ballot.  IF the polling
place where I must vote does not have alternate means by
which I can cast a fully secret ballot without assistance, a local teller from
each of the two major political parties
must accompany me into the voting booth to see that my
ballot is marked as *I* choose.

So, many years ago on an election night, i think for some
local and statewide offices, no presidential or anything,  I go to vote.  ONe
of the local election people is a close
family friend.

She asks me to wait a few minutes, but she's technically
taking a break.  i tell her to just walk in with me when it
would be my turn in line, mark my ballot for me.  After all, I know her and
would trust her to mark my ballot as I
request.

She says no can do, even though we're friends, she can't
accompany me into the booth without a person from the other
political party who is one of the local pollworkers as well.

Either way, my vote is not truly a "secret ballot" and there are lots of ways
to diddle the results.  Google up DIebold
and voting machines, you'll find some recent news stories.



Regards,
           Richard
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 * Origin:  (1:116/901)