Computer Experts, Civil Rights Groups Call for Fixes in E-Voting

Controversy has surrounded the introduction of electronic voting machines, known as DRE voting machines, across the nation. Fears abound that hackers could fix elections, unscrupulous voting machine corporations could fix the machines themselves, and that there would be no verifiable paper trail in case of a recount. The Brennan Center for Justice and the Leadership Council on Civil Rights, along with numerous computer experts, have laid out a list of steps to ensure that e-voting machines function properly and instill confidence in voters. E-voting machines will be used by one-third of the nation during this election and experts still believe there is a long way to go to ensure that all votes will be protected. From the NY Times:

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Aviel D. Rubin, a computer security expert at Johns Hopkins University who consulted with the authors of the report and endorsed its conclusions, said the machines have a long way to go before they can be considered reliable. "If your child was going to drink and drive no matter what you did," he said, carrying out the recommendations of the report "would be like convincing them to wear a seatbelt."
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The report has been endorsed by the highest election officials in the nation and hopefully will ensure that hackers are kept out of the voting machines. However, the report does not call for a voter verifiable paper trail. To learn more about e-voting and verified voting check out www.verifiedvoting.org.