Report: State systems for overseas voters vulnerable [USA Today]

Report: State systems for overseas voters vulnerable

A report on state voter systems evaluates each state on five criteria: 1) paper ballots or a paper record of electronic votes; 2) paper backup for electronic return of overseas ballots; 3) contingency plans at polling places if machines fail; 4) reconciliation of voter lists with vote/ballot totals; and 5) post-election audit of vote tallies. --->>> How the states rate

Full Report: http://www.commoncause.org/countingvotes2012
 

Press Release: Microsoft Enables Online Voting For Overseas Citizens

Microsoft Enables Online Voting For Overseas Citizens

LiveBallot, based on Microsoft’s Windows Azure cloud computing system and developed by Democracy Live, allows voters who are overseas the chance to vote in a simple and easy way. The system has been in use since December for soldiers who are overseas, but will be used in the upcoming Florida primary. --->>>

Also see: Three States Roll Out Electronic Ballots
"One thing to remember: this isn’t Internet voting. The logins generally are based on a name and birth date (basically what’s in the voter registration database) and the voter only gets a ballot, not a vote. The vote itself still has to be mailed or faxed in, just as before. This obviates the need for really heavy security. (The security concerns are basically those of paper ballots at that point). Even so, it is a step in getting absentee ballots to people who are in places that getting mail is a problem."

Press Release: Survey & Ballot Systems (SBS) launches The Election Experts

Survey & Ballot Systems (SBS) launches The Election Experts – A blog dedicated to helping member-based organizations with online voting, elections and surveys.

The Election Experts will be updated twice per week and will offer advice regarding online voting, elections and surveys for associations, cooperatives, unions, financial institutions and other member-based organizations. Recent election news, technology and case studies will also be spotlighted. --->>>

Blog url: http://www.surveyandballotsystems.com/resource-library/blog/

Internet Identity Releases Its Top 5 Enterprise IT Security Predictions for the Coming Year (Press Release)

Online Voting, London Olympics and Infrastructure Cyber Attacks Top IID Internet Security Threats for 2012

IID (Internet Identity), a provider of technology and services that help organizations secure their Internet presence, today released its predictions of the top Internet security trends for 2011. Highlighted areas of concern surround online voting, the London Summer Olympics and exploits of enterprise infrastructure.

"Cyber criminals have gotten much smarter about capitalizing on current events to swindle victims. In this sense, cyber criminals are acting just as much like psychologists and pollsters as thieves," said IID president and CTO Rod Rasmussen. "In 2012, there are several events that cybercriminals have had years to prepare for." --->>>

Researchers propose simple fix to thwart e-voting attack

Researchers propose simple fix to thwart e-voting attack

Researchers have devised a simple procedure that can be added to many electronic voting machine routines to reduce the success of insider attacks that attempt to alter results.

The approach, laid out in a short research paper (PDF), augments the effectiveness of end-to-end verifiable election systems, such as the Scantegrity and the MarkPledge. They're designed to generate results that can be checked by anyone, by giving each voter a receipt that contains a cryptographic hash of the ballot contents. --->>>

See also: E-voting remains insecure, despite paper trail

Microsoft Research has revealed a potential flaw in verifiable e-voting machines through which fraudsters could easily use discarded ballot receipts as a guide for altering votes. Fortunately, the researchers also offered a solution -- linking new receipts to previous ones with cryptographic hashes -- but that alone won't make e-voting entirely secure, they cautioned. --->>>

Kenya: 2012 could be an electronic voting year

The country may next year start full scale electronic voting after a team of international consultants arrived in Nairobi to assist in developing a master plan for e-voting in line with the Constitution.

The team from IBM's Corporate Service Corps Programme will volunteer their expertise for the next four weeks after which they will present findings and a plan to the government.

"IBM is partnering with the Government of Kenya to propose a framework that addresses Kenyan voting challenges," said IBM Country General Manager Anthony Mwai. --->>>

Egypt Tomorrow: A call to action towards e-democracy

In continuation to Intel’s “Egypt Tomorrow - IT vision for a brighter future” initiative that has been running for several months now, Intel held a session yesterday at El Sawy Cultural Wheel in Cairo that aimed at providing an open discussion and a number of solutions to how ICT can be the first stepping-stone in shaping free and democratic Egyptian elections in the future. The session discussed how ICT can pave the way for the democratic process because it relies on the integrity of data available through an e- platform. --->>>

Kenyan Parliament Approves Electronic Voting

Kenyan Parliament Approves Electronic Voting, Asks Executive To Facilitate Move

NAIROBI, May 26 (BERNAMA-NNN-KBC) -- The Kenyan Parliament has given the nod to compel the Executive to facilitate the development of a modern electronic voting system in the country by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

The approval Wednesday of the motion system, sponsored by Karachuonyo MP James Rege, will legalize electronic voter registration in all polling stations in the country up to the national level in readiness for electronic voting by the time of the next general election due in 2012. --->>>

The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences has officially begun its shift toward electronic voting for the Oscars.

The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences has officially begun its shift toward electronic voting for the Oscars.

The academy has sent a letter to voting members asking them for their personal email addresses as Step 1 in its effort to eliminate paper ballots. The news was first reported by Deadline and confirmed by the L.A. Times. --->>>

No electronic voting for Egypt, says minister

No electronic voting for Egypt, says minister

The Minister of Communications and Information Technology cites cost and lack of preparation as reasons why electronic voting will not be used in the next presidential election. --->>>

City in favour of online voting - Lethbridge Herald

City in favour of online voting

If Alberta someday allows online voting in municipal elections, Lethbridge may be at the front of the line of cities waiting to adopt the practice.If Alberta someday allows online voting in municipal elections, Lethbridge may be at the front of the line of cities waiting to adopt the practice.

--->>>

Voters Are Entitled To Know Their Votes Are Properly Counted, Says ACLU In Letter To South Carolina State Election Commission | Canada Views

Voters Are Entitled To Know Their Votes Are Properly Counted, Says ACLU In Letter To South Carolina State Election Commission | Canada Views

The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of South Carolina sent a letter today to the South Carolina State Election Commission asking the commission to require South Carolina counties to copy or preserve the flash memory cards from voting machines used in the June 8 South Carolina primary elections for the U.S. Senate so that the information on the cards can be audited. --->>>

Break up ES&S - Editorials - MiamiHerald.com

Break up ES&S - Editorials - MiamiHerald.com:

The acquisition of one company by another for the relatively small sum of $5 million doesn't usually set off alarms. But the September 2009 acquisition of Premier Diebold Solutions by Election Systems & Software means that one firm controls more than 70 percent of the voting machines used in the United States. No matter how well-intentioned this merger, it is not good for U.S. voters.

more ...

Editorial - Antitrust and Your Vote - NYTimes.com

Editorial - Antitrust and Your Vote - NYTimes.com:

When the nation’s largest voting machine manufacturer, Election Systems and Software, acquired the voting machine business of Diebold, the nation’s second-largest manufacturer, it set off alarms for anyone who cares about election integrity. The combination meant that 70 percent of the nation’s voting machines would be provided by just one company.

The Justice Department has now announced that it intends to block certain parts of the deal on antitrust grounds. That is a very welcome step, but the department and Congress need to do more to protect the vote.

more ...

Philippine News -- Manila Standard Today -- Election body chooses semi-electronic voting -- jan20_2009

Philippine News -- Manila Standard Today -- Election body chooses semi-electronic voting -- jan20_2009: "Election body chooses semi-electronic voting

THE Commission on Elections will use the less expensive Optical Mark Reader technology, part manual, part electronic system of voting in 2010 elections, officials said yesterday."