*grin* Yes, there's that too. Coding errors, communication problems, and most of these things seem to be running Windows as their operating system. @.@
While I think the interface to most voting systems is actually pretty clear, I've never ceased to be amazed at how some folks' minds seem to switch off when you put a computerized device in front of them- even very, very smart people. That's one reason I like the system we have where I live- mark a ballot with a special marker (special mostly in that it can sit around all day with the cap off and still mark properly) then feed it into the computer reader. You feed it in yourself, and it stays in a locked container inside the machine once read. So no computer interface to confuse, and all the benefits of computer tallying- with the guaranteed ability to perform a genuine paper hand recount if necessary.
Still, I think the 2000 elections showed that there are forces out there with less than honorable intentions... Imagine what they could do with access to the computer.
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While I think the interface to most voting systems is actually pretty clear, I've never ceased to be amazed at how some folks' minds seem to switch off when you put a computerized device in front of them- even very, very smart people. That's one reason I like the system we have where I live- mark a ballot with a special marker (special mostly in that it can sit around all day with the cap off and still mark properly) then feed it into the computer reader. You feed it in yourself, and it stays in a locked container inside the machine once read. So no computer interface to confuse, and all the benefits of computer tallying- with the guaranteed ability to perform a genuine paper hand recount if necessary.
Still, I think the 2000 elections showed that there are forces out there with less than honorable intentions... Imagine what they could do with access to the computer.