Re: Hand count or open source

[Nicholas Bernstein <nicholas.bernstein@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Computers have the potential to be faster and more accurate. But we need 
a way of verifying their accuracy.

I have said it before and I will say it again...

What we need is a way for people to check whether or not THEIR INDIVUAL 
vote counted. Statistical sampling is a poor way to verify the accuracy 
of a tally. Letting individuals check their own ballot is more accurate 
with less work. David Chaum's ideas are a step towards this. I'm not 
crazy about his specifics but I like the idea: everyone gets an 
encrypted paper receipt that they can check against a public list. Their 
are, of course, many variations on this theme. All of which make it even 
more incredible that their are machines that give no receipt at all.

BTW, IEEE Spectrum had a good article on e-voting in their October issue 
with a sidebar explaining Chaum's idea. I have downloaded the pdf to my 
webpage. You can get it at osl-www.colorado.edu/~bernsten/chaum.pdf


Nick




Mary Eberle wrote:

> I support computer counts backed up by statistical sampling and full 
> hand counts if necessary, which is to say that I think we need to make 
> our first goal to change the Colorado law that stands in the way of 
> such a rational, modern approach.
>
> Mary
>
> Some Guy wrote:


--
My razor-sharp wit was confiscated at airport security.