. The bad news is that the evidence is overwhelming that electronic voting technologies are horribly flawed, leading to inaccurate and unverifiable election results that lack transparency to the degree of the total absence of light. The worse news is that if left in place and permitted to evolve, electronic voting technologies will become for all practical purposes, operationally functional. Simply, they will work within a margin of error that no argument will defeat. It is at that point in time where transparency is gone forever, and likewise the integrity of American democracy.
The overarching standard and priority for any voting methodology is that of transparency. Any and all voting systems must have as their hallmark, the quality where the average literate American citizen can serve as a fair witness auditor. Failing that simple criteria, any methodology would be void and illegal.
That pretty much leaves paper ballots as the only reasonable media upon which to record the vote. Paper ballots meets the criteria of the fair witness audit. Paper ballots meet the standard for any after the fact investigation. Paper ballots renders moot those problems associated with technological support. All that paper ballots require are an ink pen and a voter. Paper ballots provide start to finish transparency. When it comes to voting methodologies, the mantra should be Keep It Transparent Stupid !
Obviously, voting is far too important a process to leave in the hands of government. (Which leads one to ask, what’s going on with the creation of the Election Assistance Commission?) The American democratic system of checks and balances was devised precisely to prevent any one element of government to hold unfair sway over the other, and or the people. Long ago, the founders of American democracy realized that the people needed to control the government. “Government is not reason, it is not eloquence, it is force! Like fire, it is a dangerous servant, and a fearful master”…George Washington. Thus, the three co-equal elements of American democracy, the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial. Yes, in recent modern times, illicit forces are playing fast and loose with the balance of power. That too is a HUGE issue, and one that must run in close parallel with transparency as our first priority, but even that falls a very close second and must run in trail to transparency.
I’m not telling any reader anything new by informing them that our democratic internal constructs are being hollowed out from within. We have enjoyed the good life all while the termites moved in right under out nose. So, lets pull ourselves up by our boot straps and accept our guilt…then lets buckle up the battle gear and take our democracy back from the brink of extinction. To date, it’s OUR fault. Where the fault will lie in the future is unknown…but this I do know.
So, back to So-crates; he did indeed offer mankind some most excellent advice. Following his lead, I know myself and the American democratic system well enough to know that our first priority should and must be…
Keep It Transparent Stupid !
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