Diebold has receipts for ATM Machines, but not Voting Machines

[ck4829]

Why is that?

"Diebold is demonstrating a wireless PDA/ATM link for dispensing and printing of paper or electronic receipts."
http://www.finextra.com/fullstory.asp?id=853

"Diebold Bond Patriotic Receipts. Give your ATM users a fresh look with our designer series receipts."
http://www.diebold.com/nasadmk/products/receipt_2d.htm#3

So, why is it that they can't let voting machines have receipts so we as voters know our votes were counted.

[BlueEyedSon]

1. Because then elections could be audited. That's bad for

democracy.

[rwork]

2. This is the

biggest scandal in US voting history.Someday people will look back in shock and disbelief.

[zbdent]

4. If successful, it will be written in history as the best thing that

happened since sliced bread.

And nobody will wonder anything, because there will be no mention of the faults. Who will teach the masses? Will the middle and lower classes even be able to read?

[Kingshakabobo]

3. Paper trails are absolutely necessary but giving voters

a receipt showing how they voted could open up another can of worms.

If people were able to prove how they cast their ballot they could be subject to coercion by family members or employers etc.

Perhaps a receipt could be printed for "view only" and the deposited.

[Sparkly]

5. I'm not sure what you're saying

I think there's some confusion about the idea of a "receipt." It's not a receipt like an ATM or store receipt in the sense of taking it home with you. It becomes a paper ballot. It stays there, for the record -- for a recount.

It's unbelievable we didn't phase in electronic voting with paper trails in order to ensure the process works. I think there should be a system where some percentage of the paper is counted routinely and compared with the electronic results to make sure there's accuracy.

[Kingshakabobo]

7. I agree.

Yesterday, I withdrew money from the shiny new Diebold ATM that was recently installed in my building. As I withdrew the cash I wondered how the bank or its customers would feel if they "misplaced" five hundred dollars here or a thousand dollars there every once in a while. I wondered how long they would stay in business if they handled our cash like they handled our votes.

[zbdent]

6. The issue is not really about whether or not the voter gets a receipt

but whether or not there is a valid paper recording of the transaction.

All that Diebold would have to do is have a "window" where the voter could see the printout. Then the voter can select "Yes" or "No" on the confirmation screen. If "no" is selected, the receipt gets "Void" and the revote goes on.

If "Yes" is selected, the machine goes to the startup screen, the receipt gets "Confirmed" printed on, and then the printout goes past the window out of view.

Geez, I wrote good programs which printed out reports that had numbers I felt were correct. My boss still went over the numbers to confirm them. Repukes are happy to just say "OK" - except if they lose it.