Reply #115: A Modest Proposal - Design And Produce Our Own Voting Machines

[mhr]

A Modest Proposal - Design And Produce Our Own Voting Machines

Hi All,

Like most here, I have anguished over the election and the possibility of election fraud. This is made more real, personally, since I observed the ES&S touchscreen machines err in Dallas, TX.

So, instead of using much of our valuable energy fighting for existing election machine changes, I suggest that we short circuit the problem by leading an effort to design and produce an Open Source voting system. This is easier than it sounds and can leverage the vast technical resources at DU and elsewhere. One has only to look at all the successful software developed for LINUX.

Using an Open Source model we can build an election system that is open and transparent to all scrutiny. The end-game would be the gift or sale of the technology to all counties, cities, and sates at no more than cost. If managed properly, we could undermine the existing corrupt e-voting companies and enable fairer voting by cash strapped governments. Eventually voters would demand their votes be counted on trustworthy equipment.

Since I have not the resources of a Soros, I can volunteer only time and skill. To that end, I now volunteer to coordinate this effort and look forward to hearing from all similarly motivated individuals. I also suggest that Skinner and company consider setting up some forum space which will enable the initial and continuing dialog on this effort.

Working together we can lick this problem and lick the Repubs at their own game.

Sincerely,

MHR