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“A Horrifically Bad Idea”: Smartphone Voting Is Coming

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Re: “A Horrifically Bad Idea”: Smartphone Voting Is Coming

#271

Post by PhasmaFelis »

logifail wrote: post #50
bilbo0s wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> and “blockchain,” which it claims allows it to secure the voting process... (I'm rubbing my temples right now) I don't even have the words for how bad this would be for a democracy or republic. I will, however, make a curt but general comment on blockchain: Anytime you see that buzzword, be on your guard.

Question: Are there (m)any people other than those involved in the manufacture and sales of voting machines , or their lobbyists, that support increased automation in the voting process? I'm absolutely, 100% happy with putting a pencil mark onto a paper ballot, which I fold and place into a box (with people watching), which is later taken (with people watching) to a counting place, emptied out on a table (with people…

For the average person, it probably seems weird that you can buy groceries online but you have to go to a place with a special machine to vote. Online voting seems like an obvious win, if you don't realize how fragile online security is.

Re: “A Horrifically Bad Idea”: Smartphone Voting Is Coming

#272

Post by alistairSH »

kiallmacinnes wrote: post #250
mr_tristan wrote: post #131

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Oregon's had voting by mail exclusively, and, it _automatically_ registers voters in a number of places, so unless you are fully off the grid, you're pretty much gonna get a ballot. Consequently, Oregon has had consistently higher turnouts in most elections. Each vote gets the signature reviewed by a person, one at a time. I actually had my ballot put on hold this year because the signature wasn't quite close enough…

No two signatures I've ever written actually look the same. I do wonder how this might affect people like me!

Gotta agree. My signature is chicken-scratch. Much like my handwriting in general. Yes, it's a personal failing. But, if it disenfranchises me, I'll be pretty upset.

Re: “A Horrifically Bad Idea”: Smartphone Voting Is Coming

#273

Post by NoblePublius »

CWuestefeld wrote: post #3

If we think that not enough people are voting, the way to solve this is NOT through get-out-the-vote efforts, voter registration drives, and tools like this to make it easier to cast a vote. These are not the bottleneck. Voting may be a duty, but it's one that carries a lot of responsibility. Getting ignorant people to cast poorly-informed votes does not help our society. And I think that people realize this. So when…

Ok Socrates we get it the democracy is only as strong as the polis is educated. But maybe the polis will be forced to educate itself once a technology makes any barrier to voting irrelevant. Either you value an individual’s will or you don’t. It sounds like you’re advocating a poll tax.

Re: “A Horrifically Bad Idea”: Smartphone Voting Is Coming

#274

Post by smpetrey »

athenot wrote: post #12
CWuestefeld wrote: post #3

If we think that not enough people are voting, the way to solve this is NOT through get-out-the-vote efforts, voter registration drives, and tools like this to make it easier to cast a vote. These are not the bottleneck. Voting may be a duty, but it's one that carries a lot of responsibility. Getting ignorant people to cast poorly-informed votes does not help our society. And I think that people realize this. So when…

Moving voting day from a Tuesday to a Sunday would also make a big difference. There are many people who have have informed opinions but can't afford to take off work (write-up for being late to work/take off early, lost income, transport issues). Also that would avoid removing a school day since most public schools are used for polling. Another option would be to switch to make mail-in ballots only.

Fuck that, emulate the Australians and move it to a Saturday. Go one step further and make it a national holiday. Need to work? Mail-in your ballot before-hand and work if you must.

Re: “A Horrifically Bad Idea”: Smartphone Voting Is Coming

#275

Post by smileysteve »

athenot wrote: post #12
CWuestefeld wrote: post #3

If we think that not enough people are voting, the way to solve this is NOT through get-out-the-vote efforts, voter registration drives, and tools like this to make it easier to cast a vote. These are not the bottleneck. Voting may be a duty, but it's one that carries a lot of responsibility. Getting ignorant people to cast poorly-informed votes does not help our society. And I think that people realize this. So when…

Moving voting day from a Tuesday to a Sunday would also make a big difference. There are many people who have have informed opinions but can't afford to take off work (write-up for being late to work/take off early, lost income, transport issues). Also that would avoid removing a school day since most public schools are used for polling. Another option would be to switch to make mail-in ballots only.

Weekend voting can be a part of early voting; But mail-in or smart phone solves the availability problem much better than a holiday (where the very people who don't have the flexibility to take off work now would likely still not be able to take off work (like thanksgiving, memorial day, and labor day)

Re: “A Horrifically Bad Idea”: Smartphone Voting Is Coming

#276

Post by starbeast »

maxerickson wrote: post #170
lbotos wrote: post #168

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If this was a subtle starship trooper reference, bravo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdrjzE1SE58 (depictions of violence, satire) For those that don't know, Starship troopers is a scathing satire about how "war makes fascist of us all".

I thought it was pretty blatant TBH.

Lummox thought so too. Now I must get back to raising John Thomases.

Re: “A Horrifically Bad Idea”: Smartphone Voting Is Coming

#277

Post by CWuestefeld »

sailfast wrote: post #134
twtw wrote: post #99

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Wow. What if someone is informed but disagrees with you? OP didn't say anything about agreeing with their positions. I honestly don't see what your "wow" is about - do you believe that it would be helpful to society to have poorly-informed people casting votes?

No - I believe everyone should try to educate themselves as much as possible about what they are voting on. What I "heard" in the original statement is something implied - something deeper (my hearing may be wrong) To say "we don't need more ignorant uninformed votes" when the only thing you know about a voter is who / what they voted for (not the _why_), while also saying there is a way to vote that will "help our s…

OP here. You won't find a word in my comment suggesting that ANYONE should be barred from voting, that there should be any kind of test or filter. What I said was that it's legitimate for someone to arrive at their own decision that they are unable to make an informed choice, and that they'd rather abstain rather than make a choice.

TLDR: don't stop anyone from voting, but also don't pressure them into voting.

Re: “A Horrifically Bad Idea”: Smartphone Voting Is Coming

#278

Post by smileysteve »

smpetrey wrote: post #274
athenot wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Moving voting day from a Tuesday to a Sunday would also make a big difference. There are many people who have have informed opinions but can't afford to take off work (write-up for being late to work/take off early, lost income, transport issues). Also that would avoid removing a school day since most public schools are used for polling. Another option would be to switch to make mail-in ballots only.

Fuck that, emulate the Australians and move it to a Saturday. Go one step further and make it a national holiday. Need to work? Mail-in your ballot before-hand and work if you must.

In America; a lot of people work on Saturdays; and less, but still many people work on national holidays.

Re: “A Horrifically Bad Idea”: Smartphone Voting Is Coming

#279

Post by downandout »

rootusrootus wrote: post #224
downandout wrote: post #78

Earlier quoted context omitted.

many people don't vote because they feel it doesn't make a difference This is actually the case in many areas. For example, casting a vote for a Republican Presidential candidate in California is a pointless endeavor. This sentiment doesn’t arise from lack of voter education, but rather from voter education - people understand the political makeup of the areas in which they live, and in those that are overwhelmingly…

That's a self-fulfilling prophecy. Kinda like millenials complaining about boomers voting for things they don't like, while simultaneously not turning out to vote even though as a group they outnumber the boomers and could actually effect change if they bothered to show up.

This effect could easily be counteracted by paying attention to polls and voter registration numbers. If you're in a competitive area, sure, go ahead and vote. But if the numbers are clearly lopsided, as they are in places like California and New York, Republicans are free to vote, their vote just won't do anything except waste their time.

Re: “A Horrifically Bad Idea”: Smartphone Voting Is Coming

#280

Post by gpm »

zaroth wrote: post #21

My town has annual “Town Meetings” where everyone pours into a gymnasium (turnout is up to 800 voters in a town with population ~15,000) to vote on all the “articles” of which there can be upwards of 20. The annual meeting often extends multiple evenings as much discussion is permitted on each article, and traditional voting can add several hours to the process when vote counts are close. Instead of shouting aye or n…

I have reason to trust that device more than your phone. Your phone is exposed to malware over the internet 24x7 and is basically known to be vulnerable based on history.

On the other hand I'm not sure I'm too worried about hacking of in person town meetings. It seems high risk/reward and relatively likely to be caught.

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