with this, my bladder's empty

[David Barts]

Rich Littleton writes:

> To all readers: (from Rich)
> Kurt sent this extended reply to my requesting clarification of his
> statement that e-voting is risky.  My understanding of Kurt's message is:
> 1.	E-voting software is not used much;
> 2.	This software might have glitches in it; and
> 3.	It would take heavy use/testing to be sure it was safe;

He also says (to me at least), perhaps most important of all, that:

4.   Unlike traditional paper voting systems, the technology behind
     E-voting systems is not understandable by the majority of the
     voting public.  This removes a key component of any voting system:
     public oversight, and a resulting trust that is based on observable
     and comprehensible facts, not blind faith in a technology and
     its priesthood.

I.e., even if *all* technological barriers to E-voting systems are solved,
there are still social, psychological, and political barriers that make
it unlikely that E-voting will *ever* be as appropriate as traditional
voting systems.

-- 
       David W. Barts (n5jrn at ricochet.net) / http://www.scn.org/~davidb
      LEGAL NOTICE:  I am a WASHINGTON STATE RESIDENT.  Unsolicited bulk
       E-mail may be billed $500 each in accordance with Chapter 19 RCW.
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