News & Insights
We’re Making History in Real Time.
Our timely insights share informed perspectives on the rapidly evolving story of Election Technology, as it unfolds.
We've Finally Arrived, at Least on Wikipedia
Wiki This. For some, it's a sign of "arrival" in the digital community of the Internet: earning a page in the Wikipedia.
Approaching the Challenges of Digital Voting Technology
Provocative.That was a term used to describe the name of the Foundation when we began over a year ago. Why? Well, in part because we’re more – a lot more – than simply a public open source software project.
Another Voter ID Spud from Florida
Confusion. Why does it seem to always cloud polling places? Kenneth Hoffman, an educated, informed Florida businessman and registered voter relays a story to me through an e-Mail list he and I participate on, that I want to pass along here with his unbridled permission.
Voter Identification: A Politically Hot Tater-Tot
Part of the ecosystem of next generation voting technology certainly concerns voter registration. And then along the procees chain comes the "check in" of voters to vote (regardless of where or how they vote ...absentee by mail, in person, or apparently over the Internet for some over-seas, etc.) ...in other words, verifying the person is the person they claim as listed on the Register and entitled to a ballot.
More than High Assurance; It's About Reliability & Sustainability
Whew, what a day its been.
Today is the Day to Be Heard
Well, Super Tuesday is finally upon us. And while OSDV is hard at work on a breakthrough model to demonstrate on HOW American can vote in a digital democracy, today marks a reminder for us of how imperative the mission of the OSDV Foundation is for the future.
And I hope you will join us. But before you think about doing that, please speak up and be heard - its your fundamental right in a democracy to do so - by casting your vote if you are in one of those 22 states casting primary votes today.
Why Complexity? Look to the Balkans
Many thanks to what Dave Barry would call “alert reader Brandon F.” for posing a question that comes up a lot concerning digital voting. To paraphrase slightly: why not specify and standardize on ballot paper, ballot layout, ballot marking locations in the layout, and scanning systems to automate counting? Why is everyone making this so complex?
Press Flak on California Tsunami Tuesday
It's pretty certain that California is in for some serious flak from the press regarding how the Tsunami Tuesday primary election is conducted. Today we saw an opening salvo in the San Francisco Examiner on a refreshingly pragmatic issue of voting technology that has nothing to do with voting devices in precint -- but rather how absentee ballots are counted.
California Primaries, Piles of Paper, and Hand Counts
The upcoming California presidential primary is going to be a great real-world source of insight on the perennial question:"What's wrong with paper ballots?"
Of course, paper ballots are a necessary component of elections in most parts of the US, but one variant of that question is about the so-called pure-paper election with hand-marked paper ballots that are counted manually. With this model in mind, people often ask why is voting technology needed at all?
More on the Map...
Substance. There is definitely more of that to our first year road-map activities. And we'll clarify this through diagrams soon. In the mean time, if you are technically adept or a Developer who may be interested in leaving
The Road Ahead
Mapping. That’s what we’ve been up to –sort of like Lewis & Clark – charting the course of our OSDV expedition. And similar to the trials and tribulations of
The New Order
Change Agency. That's the role of the Internet. While checking e-mail, keeping an eye on the Steelers NFL play-off game, and watching the ABC NH Debates, I am glancing here on the web. Folks this is the new order of a digital democracy.
Snow Job
Happy New Year (sorta)
Seriously, we really are excited about 2008, but not just yet. Please forgive the radio silence these past few days. John and I are on holiday in separate locations (Lake Tahoe, CA and Portland, OR), and due to weather have both been stranded. Without power, storm damage, snow in some parts, and road closures, we've been a bit derailed. But will be back on line very shortly.
Ugly Social Engineering
Voting Fraud. An ugly phrase, and in this case, and uglier reality.
"Ghost Voting" they call it. But whatever it is, reforming HOW America votes (on anything) starts with principles. And no amount of tinkering with technology can fix social engineering problems.
Um, A Global Digital Voting System?
Global Voting System. Ambitious. Provocative. And academic until systemic issues of integrity and trustworthiness in digital voting are properly addressed.
The Best & Worst
An article on the best and worst of election reform in 2007 appears in the progressive Century Foundation available here.
My Holiday Wish List
Wishing. For you and yours to have a peaceful holiday – regardless of your purpose of celebrating some rest and recuperation as the year end nears – that would be my wish today on this Christian holiday.
A Public Digital Works Project
Innovation. Sometimes innovation lies inprocess. And that’s what I want to mention today. And I promise, at the risk of starting to flow like the Hon. Senator Joe Biden, it’ll be simply a mention.