News & Insights
We’re Making History in Real Time.
Our timely insights share informed perspectives on the rapidly evolving story of Election Technology, as it unfolds.
Nothing ‘Authentix’ About It
Recently, the Washington Post ran an article about a new initiative surfacing in at least four states in effort to improve election integrity by making anti-counterfeit ballots. This is a solution in search of a problem that is a waste of taxpayer dollars. We explain why…
Piling on the Kraken-Busting of Waldron...
This week the TrustTheVote Project posted an article that is a breakdown/take-down of a slide presentation circulated inside the Trump Administration in the final weeks leading up to 1-6-21. That article combined with some other events this week led us to offer a couple additional points here…
One Last iVoting Consideration: Blockchain
One last item for this series on iVoting that I’m adding by popular inquiry is this new bright shiny object called “Blockchain.” If you’re involved in election technology or computer science in general you’ve probably heard of Blockchain.....
What Would a Realistic iVoting System Look Like?
When we last left the discussion in Part 3, we looked at the 5 big technical challenges to an adoptable, credible, and defensible iVoting system. For Part 4 we begin to consider what a new iVoting System solution could or would have to look like...
The Technical Challenges Facing iVoting
iVoting faces several technological challenges before it can begin to be implemented. Most election officials and experts in the field are hesitant or skeptical about implementing iVoting with current Internet and Web technology. Even when we view iVoting as simply returning a digital absentee ballot or the digital equivalent of voting by mail, as I explain in this installment of my series, there are still substantial innovations required....
The Challenges of iVoting Implementation
When we last left this discussion, I had laid out a basis for our interest in technologies just over the horizon or "ready next" and in particular the growing interest in smartphone voting. I am essentially carving up a technology backgrounder white paper for easy reading here. Today I help us dive in with a survey of the challenge areas to "Pajama Voting" (I love that phrase)...
Finally, Gov Starts Talking About Critical Democracy Infrastructure
This week the Government started earnest discussions about election infrastructure as possibly rising to the level of critical infrastructure. Like us, we think they're sensing that this coming general election is ripe for disruption, both from foreign operator but potentially even domestic actors. We think this is a great idea, but not without the required action to make it really happen. Designations are start, but there is a bunch of work to be done...
I Totally Just Voted!
Ms. Voting Matters here, and I'm going to start spending more time sharing things with our readers here who couldn't care less about code (although it does cause change ;) but who, like myself, really care a bunch more about how we preserve our right to be a part of our democracy. And for us, that means more easily and conveniently casting our ballot and knowing our ballots are counted as cast, right? So for you, my thought today is about something that makes total sense on the one hand, and totally doesn't on the other... the voter selfie. I went back and forth on this for days, reading various views from Vogue to the NY Times, and here is where I come down on this. I hope you'll think about it, and reach a similar conclusion...
Hacking Elections: Opportunity Clicking
An emerging media outlet, Who.What.Why posted an article on Monday in their Threats to Democracy section that is totally worth reading. Seriously. When people think of election theft, most assume that amounts to somebody doing something to alter how ballots are cast or counted. Apparently, we should start thinking bigger.
Into the (Voting) Wild
Alaska will allow absentee voters to submit their ballot via a "secure online voting solution", aka e-mail. We're holding our breath.
Open Silliness: The Security Flaw Blame Game
Last Tuesday Chris Strohm and Jordan Robertson posted an article on Bloomberg Government (BGOV) (now available on Bloomberg.com) about open source, suggesting that recent hacks on web services have “shaken the confidence in the free software movement.” Really? Whose confidence, precisely?
Ms. Voting Matters' Take: "No Magic Will Bring About Online Voting"
Ms. Voting Matters would really like to wave her magic wand and allow everyone on the planet to cast their votes, securely, with their smart phones, tablets, or laptops. Really truly, I would do it if I could. But I can’t. The Internet of Voting is just not safe and secure enough now, no matter how much we all would wish it so. Let me share why.
