Online Voting Approved for Michigan Democrats

[Judi Lynn]

Online Voting Approved for Michigan Democrats
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Published: November 24, 2003


ASHINGTON, Nov. 23 (AP) — The Michigan Democratic Party's plan to allow Internet voting in its presidential caucus won approval on Saturday from national Democrats.

Opponents said online balloting was not secure and discriminated against poor and minority voters, who are less likely to own computers.

The Michigan party will allow those participating in the Feb. 7 caucus to have the option of voting over the Internet, by mail or in person. Democrats in Arizona used the Internet in the presidential primary in 2000. Voter turnout was more than double the previous record and about 40 percent of the 86,000 ballots were cast online.

Twenty Michigan voters objected to the state party's plan, saying it would disadvantage poor and minority voters and be subject to fraud.
(snip/...)

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/11/24/national/24MICH.html

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[The Backlash Cometh]

1. You know, I could tell you stories about why I hesitate to help out

Democrats, but I think this story about says it all.

[dusty64]

2. I generally

vote for them, but it helps to explain why I haven't registered in a party. This plan sucks, not to mention that it is completely open to hacking.

[Upfront]

3. More People Vote

This is bad? Democrats win when more people vote. Michigan Democrats will have far more on foot places to vote then ever before. This was a requirement by the DLC. You can still vote absentee, and now, on line as well. We are constently trying to get more young people to take an interest in the democratic process and making it easy to vote is one way. Think of it as an experiment. Hacking, will be watched closely, and won't happen. I am a retired person who travels to Fl. for the winter, and it makes it much easier for people like me to vote. Give it a chanch, you may like the result.

[SadEagle]

4. It's insecure.

BBV connected to a network for easier hacking.

[LeftHander]

5. Watch Lieberman win Michigan now....

Stealth republican Dem candidates that Bush can beat will win when GOP hacks Democratic internet voting.

However Remeber that internet voting requires security, Internet security requires authentication so proof of identity will be requried for internt voting. No doubt it will also record how you voted.

"No sir I don't like it" - Mr. Horse, Ren and Stimpy

[Zephyrbird]

6. Heyzeus Marimba, people!

Don't you think folks in Michigan are smarter than that????

Procedures are in place to prevent the very things you are saying are GOING to happen! Internet voting will allow folks to go to their neighborhood library and vote there if they don't have a computer at home. Applications must be made to the party for the caucus before you can vote, and you are recorded and assigned a ballot vote.

This will actually allow more folks to vote who can't get to their voting sites. It should make voting much easier. Remember, the head of the party in Michigan is Butch Hollowell, who hardly wouldn't consider how many ways votes could be cheated!! He's worked on it ever since the fiasco in Florida. The man is smart as a whip and concerned about minority votes, shut-ins, elderly folks, etc.

Give the people in Michigan some credit!

Honestly! :mad:

[Zan_of_Texas]

7. From bad to worse

Electronic voting without a paper trail is bad. Internet voting is worse.

Remember, convenience and speed are NOT the only goals of voting.

Accuracy, transparency, confidentiality, and verifiability -- the ability to conduct a meaningful recount -- are goals too.

Without accuracy, and the perception of accuracy, we are nowhere.

Don't give me that load about the shut-ins and the elderly. A voting place can be set up in every nursing home and assisted living center, if an official is concerned. People have been using absentee voting for a long time, and that allows a ballot to be sent to the home so no travel is required.

The military is hatching a little pilot project for at least 8 states' voters abroad (military and other) to vote on the internet in 2004. This is NOT the way to go.

The goals of voting should not be the same as the attributes of a woman of the evening -- quick. and easy.

There's already enough whoring by those supposedly representing us, without the election itself becoming completely devoid of a shred of accuracy.