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Several people I hang out with one of the amateur radio repeaters have mentioned this, also. "Why don't they just computerize the whole damn mess?"

I'll be highly surprised if we see this in the next 20 years. The MAIN reason that it won't happen is that punching a piece of paper is tangible evidence of having voted. While the system is flawed, and can (and has) been spoofed, it's relatively reliable. A voter holds a piece of paper in his/her/other hands, and knows that they have voted, and it will be seen (except in Florida, where there seems to be lots of stupid people).

I know that we can all make a case that a computerized system would actually be more reliable, but like a cashless society, I find it highly unlikely anytime soon. It's about emotional security. It's about distrust of computers by a large section of the population (I'm one of them). It's about the cost of deployment. It's about security. It's about reliability (you can still send e-mail and not know if got there or not, and it's been 25 years).

There's also the issue of poor area voting. Punching paper is something that can be done when the power goes out. Are you risk a some controlling entity deciding to cut power to a large area of a state, as part of a voter terrorism campaign? (backup power systems, you say? At what cost, to whom?) Hell, ol' Jesse Jackson is already screaming discrimination, and all they had to do was punch holes in paper. Low tech has these problems, you think he's gonna trust real tech?

A better method would be to vote on your tax return, and only if you're a producer. File late? Tough beans. Welfare receipent? Then why should you be allowed to vote? Society is supporting you, you play by our rules (and this includes mandatory non-permanent sterilization for both sexes, while on welfare. I'm not paying for them to have children.) Don't file a tax return? Why should you be allowed to vote?

--Chris

e-mail jcwren

In reply to (jcwren) RE: Of Dead Trees and Democracy by jcwren
in thread Of Dead Trees and Democracy by brainpan

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