The Washington Post, last week, had a good article on the electronic voting shenanigans in the US. There was nothing new in it but lots of useful links to related stories.

There are lots of very experienced election registrars genuinely supporting electronic voting and suggesting there has been too much focus on the tecnology and not enough on the overall election process, which has other built in safeguards, not least of which are vast numbers of dedicated election officials of impeccable integrity. Whilst I understand that point of view and the need to 'get the job done', whilst critics complain about 'hypothetical scenarios that have never happened', there have been significant failures with these machines. Officials who have not experienced such failures believe that they will not happen on their watch. But the security of the system is only as good as the weakest link and at the moment the weakest link is the technology, as has been repeatedly demonstrated.

Folk like Avi Rubin and David Gill really do understand the technology. With people of that calibre saying it neither implements security that is possible nor even implement security safeguards that are easy, we should be taking serious notice. Deploying technology in such a mission critical way fundamentally requires an understanding of that technology.

Whilst I have every sympathy with election officials, I have none at all for those like the Information Technology Association of America (ITAA - the trade association representing amongst others, surprise suprise, the electronic voting machine vendors) spouting complete nonsense like "Electronic voting systems work, and work well. Our recent survey shows that over two thirds of Americans believe that electronic voting is a secure, reliable way to conduct elections." This reminds me of the line from one of my favorite BBC TV shows of all time, Yes Prime Minister where Sir Humphrey Appleby is persuading the Prime Minister that he should invest in Trident: "It's the biggest and the best and the British people must have the best." Also the following sequence where Sir Humphrey and Bernard are discussing opinion polls:

Bernard: "He thinks..he thinks it's a vote winner."

Sir Humphrey (Sir H).: "Ah, that's more serious. What makes him think that?"

Bernard: "Well the party have had an opinion poll done. It seems all the voters are in favour of bringing back national service."

Sir H.: "Well have another opinion poll done showing the voters are against bringing back national service."

Bernard: "They can't be for it and against it."

Sir H. : "Oh of course they can, Bernard. Have you ever been surveyed?"

Bernard : "Yes. Well not me actually, my house. Oh I see what you mean."

Sir H.: "Well Bernard you know what happens. Nice young lady comes up to you. Obviously you want to create a good
impression. You don't want to look a fool, do you?"

Bernard: "No."

Sir H.: "No. So she starts asking you some questions. Mr. Wooley, are you worried about the number of young people without
jobs?"

B: "Yes"

Sir H.: "Are you worried about the rise in crime among teenagers?"

Bernard: "Yes"

Sir H. "Do you think there is a lack of discipline in our comprehensive schools?"

Bernard: "Yes"

Sir H.: "Do you think young people welcome some authority and leadership in their lives?"

Bernard: "Yes."

Sir H.: "Do you think they respond to a challenge?"

Bernard: "Yes."

Sir H: "Would you be in favour of re-introducing national service?"

Bernard: "Y… oh ..well I suppose I might be."

Sir H.: "Yes or no?"

Bernard: "Yes"

Sir H. : "Of course you would, Bernard. After all you've told you can't say no to that. So they don't mention the first five
questions and they publish the last one."

Bernard: "Is that really what they do?"

Sir H.: Well no not the reputable ones no but there aren't many of those. So alternatively the young lady can get the opposite
result."

Bernard: "How?"

Sir H.: "Mr Wooley, are you worried about the danger of war?"

Bernard: "Yes"

Sir H. : "Are you worried about the growth of armaments?"

Bernard: "Yes."

Sir H. : "Do you think there is a danger in giving young people guns and teaching them how to kill?"

Bernard: "Yes."

Sir H. : "Do you think it is wrong to force people to take up arms against their will?"

Bernard: "Yes."

Sir H.: "Would you oppose the re-introduction of national service?"

Bernard : "Yes."

Sir H. : "There you are you see, Bernard, the perfect balanced sample. So we just commission our own survey for the ministry
of defence. See to it Bernard."