23388: lyall: computerized elections? (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: J.David Lyall <postmaster@lyalls.net>

Devin forwarded an interesting article on the possible computerized
elections in hayti.
It is a strange idea, but alleging that the system used in the
Venezuelan referendum is designed to ensure
selection/nomination/plebiscite rather than election is a strange
position for a third world progressive to be taking.

India has designed new computer voting machines which run on low
capacity batteries and are simple. They think that computers will
drastically reduce the opportunities for fraud.

The Venezuelan referendum was run with their own machines. It was
judged fair by the OAS and Carter Center (no friends of the
Venezuelan revolution) but the conservative conspiracists insist that
it was used to endorse a fraud. The alleged fraud of confirming the
President in office in that recall election.

I know nothing of the details of the digital system which they are
talking about using in Hayti, but alleging that poor people cannot
comprehend using a computer to vote is, how do you say...classist or
racist?


>A report released by the Associated Press in late August revealed
>that "Haiti has signed an agreement with the United Nations and the
>Organization of American States to organize elections next year and
>already has US$9 million in U.S. aid available to help cover the
>costs. The U.S. aid will be spent on training elections personnel,
>creating a new voter registration system and setting up an electronic
>voting system." This is why, despite Julien's statement on the
>rejection of computerized voting machines, American and Venezuelan
>experts are on the ground conducting demonstrations on the
>significance and benefits of electronic voting.

-- 
J. David Lyall
http://www.lyalls.net/