Expatriate democrats abroad can now vote online

[Crazy Dave]

MEXICO CITY - This year, for the first time, expatriate Democrats can cast their ballots on the Internet in a presidential primary for people living outside the United States.
More at:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080121/ap_on_el_pr/overseas_voting_5;_ylt=AuRkgHlQDeYcqps8MB7NbA8E1vAI

[bdamomma]

1. thanks!!

we need all ex-pats to vote especially this year.

[Fresh_Start]

2. have they provided that to the military station abroad as well?

I hope so because the military shouldn't be overlooked

[Crazy Dave]

5. As long as they can register online

But rest assured, even before the internet, a long time ago when I was enlisted overseas, voting was very accessible and easy to do. The only thing the have to worry about is a candidate stateside trying to keep their votes from counting.

[Fresh_Start]

6. I'm sure I read stories in 2006 where ballots were late

being sent to troops so that they weren't able to participate

[EFerrari]

17. I remember that, too. Also happened with some expat ballots, iirc. n/t

[dkf]

3. Why can't we all vote like this?

Seriously?

[pinto]

4. Good deal. And hopefully an option for military overseas, as noted.

:kick:

[flashl]

7. Let's hope it sticks, this time.

Americans Abroad To Vote Online
Internet Experiment In 2004 May Lead To Further Cyberspace Elections

WASHINGTON, July 12, 2003

Thousands of people serving in the military and American civilians living abroad will have that option next year in the nation's most extensive Internet voting experiment, viewed by some as a step toward elections in cyberspace.

The Secure Electronic Registration and Voting Experiment, which began as a tiny demonstration project in the 2000 general election that involved just 84 voters, could give 100,000 voters the chance to cast absentee ballots online in next year's presidential primaries and general election.

The Pentagon-run program will be limited to eligible voters whose homes in the United States are in South Carolina and Hawaii or in a handful of counties in Arkansas, Florida, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Utah and Washington.

Pentagon Votes 'No' On E-Balloting
Cancels Plan To Use Internet Voting System In November

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6, 2004

Citing security concerns, the Pentagon has canceled Internet voting that would have involved as many as 100,000 military and overseas citizens from seven states in November, a Defense Department official said Thursday.

[Karenina]

10. It's SUCH a scam...

:puke:

[Heidi]

13. What's a scam? I don't understand.

The government oversight of online voting? :shrug:

[EFerrari]

18. These guys told DoD in 2007 that this system was not secure:

The new report in response to the May 2007 DoD report on Voting Technologies for UOCAVA Citizens
June 13, 2007

New Report (June 2007): Click to download PDF

DoD Report (May 2007): Click to download PDF

A Security Analysis of the Secure Electronic
Registration and Voting Experiment (SERVE)
January 20, 2004

Authors
Dr. David Jefferson
Dr. Aviel D. Rubin
Dr. Barbara Simons
Dr. David Wagner

To contact the authors send mail to: authors AT servesecurityreport.org
To view the authors' bios: click here

Full Paper: Click to download PDF

French Translation: Click to download PDF

Press Release: Click to download PDF

New York Times article: click here (free subscription required)

Executive summary

This report is a review and critique of computer and communication security issues in the SERVE voting system (Secure Electronic Registration and Voting Experiment), an Internet-based voting system being built for the U.S. Department of Defense's FVAP (Federal Voting Assistance Program). The program's web site is http://www.serveusa.gov/. While the system is called an experiment, it is going to be used to count real votes in the upcoming general elections. The authors are members of SPRG (the Security Peer Review Group), a panel of experts in computerized election security that was assembled by FVAP to help evaluate SERVE. Our task was to identify potential vulnerabilities the system might have to various kinds of cyber-attack, to evaluate the degrees of risk they represent to the integrity of an election, and to make recommendations about how to mitigate or eliminate those risks.

http://www.servesecurityreport.org/

[Heidi]

20. I :luv: you.

But you prolly knew that.

Thank you for this information. :yourock:

My vote is the most important thing I'll send to the US this.

[EFerrari]

23. It was posted in the ER forum this morning!

:hi:

[Karenina]

24. Danke Dir!!

Doing a redux of that disgusting, egregious BETRUG from '04 was really more than I could handle today.

[Heidi]

8. Kicked and recommended!

:kick:

[Heidi]

9. !

:kick:

[in_cog_ni_to]

11. I would NEVER vote online. RW Computer hackers are at the ready...no doubt.

:( OR it's already programmed to go to the Repukes instead of the Dems. I'd get a paper ballot and mail it in, but that's just cynical me.

[Heidi]

12. Who controls the ebb and flow of the US Post?

I trust the Swiss Post to get my absentee paper ballot to the US border within three days ("A posta, of course), but beyond that point, I'm not so trusting. I have to say that I trust Democrats Abroad and their system a great deal more than I trust the US Postal Service.

[in_cog_ni_to]

15. Use UPS or DHL. I wouldn't go through the U.S. Post Office either.

:)

[EFerrari]

16. Or the State Department or for military, the Pentagon. n/t

[Heidi]

19. Totally agree.

:thumbsup:

[EFerrari]

14. It's a terrible idea. Even I could probably figure out how to mess with

those votes.

[Heidi]

21. Do you think it would be better to send an absentee ballot by Post, CERTIFIED?

This is a serious thing with me, and with many of my US-citizen friends living here.

[EFerrari]

22. I don't know which of the carriers is most reliable but

I'd for sure avoid any batching set up by State or even by any political group. If it were me, I'd send it via a private carrier.

/grammar