Reply #25: Well, since I'm currently a controller [View All]

I know a thing or two about double entry bookkeeping. It never, ever matches the first time. You have to continually find discrepancies by reviewing individual transactions and individual ledger entries. You can't do that in a secret system, because looking at voting discrepancies means looking at how individuals voted.

The electronic record and the paper ballot will never, ever match. There will be a hundred little reasons why, but they won't. I run a very simple point of sale computer system, where all that happens is an item is entered into the system when it is bought, and taken out when it is sold, and the costs and incomes are balanced automatically. Very simple, it should match 100% every time. It never, ever does. If it did, I'd have no job. Computer problems keep it from matching. Human error keeps it from matching. There are times when odd little glitches in the programming make things happen that wouldn't even seem possible. Most errors are caused by humans, though. They don't do what they are supposed to. They improvise, they cut corners, they enter items wrong then experiment until the system takes what they've entered even though it's wrong. I deal with a staff of thirty. Imagine a staff of thousands, and how many mistakes they can make.

The standard procedure will become to ignore the discrepancies, probably in favor of the electronic vote, just because it is easier. People will become complacent, stop watching for problems, and just ignore the differences over time.

The system has to work in the field, and in the field it will be run by volunteers who handle the equipment once every two years at most and who will make mistakes. Creating paper ballots along with the electronic vote may seem like a great idea-- and I know it sounds great because I was touting here long before I had heard anyone else suggest it, so I came up with it on my own-- but it's going to create more problems, more discrepancies, and more fraud (since the former two make the latter easier).

Better to stick with punch cards, then we don't have the added distraction of having to decide which of two competing systems is right. If the paper is going to be right, save money and skip the electronics altogether.

I admire the work you've done on this, Bev. I'm not sure you aren't falling into the trap of believing your own point to where you exclude the possibility that the other side may have one, too. As always, I'm between the two sides on this (well, I'm a long way from the Republicans on any idea, but there are competing sides amongst liberals), or rather I see what both sides are saying and am trying to incorporate all the facts into my ideas. Both are talking past the other, so both are missing key points the other is making.