If you havn’t go vote: A few thoughts on the evoteing machines
Nov 07, 2006 in General, Tech, Game, MCE
Ok, We had the electronic voting machines in Sunnyvale, not sure what model, I’ll have to try and find out. The poll works complained a bit about one of them being up and down. While I was there some of the older folks had some issues but I imagine they were the same ones that couldn’t work a punch machine right either, at least in this case they could ask for help and go back and fix single mistakes. I don’t know how the data will be handled on the back in end or if the whole thing was as facade but it certainly appeared to work well.
Get card after checking in Put in card, process starts. Card is locked in place.
Touch screen vote, everything lined up and was easy to read. No errors vs the sample ballot I was working from. No defaults set or anything screwy. Next for each new screen (duh)
Hit finish. Get on screen confirmation of all votes.
Option, request a print out. The print out goes up the left side via a register type tape. You don’t get to keep it but it was totally accurate (I wonder if they are actually used in any meaningful away against final totals or if they just get trashed as plausible since they are optional).
Confirm cast of vote or go back for a do over. Cast vote, card pops out and you turn that in to the ballot box.
I give the whole front end process a B+, the back end might be a little more worrisome.
I dug around just a little bit, there is ZERO transparency on how the data in handled, how the card are handled. Etc. I give that a F, there should always be total process transparency on a public election. The poll works all had totally scared blank expressions if anyone asked questions about the machines or process… little sad but I guess understandable.
Oh they did have my name totally wrong, right address though. The inexcusable bit about that is that I sent them I typed form, so it’s not like the had to struggle with my printing.
While the tech didn’t exactly wow me, the version we had seemed solid enough on the front end. It was easier to make corrections then having to do a new paper one.