[svlug] [volunteers] governance charter

[Edward Cherlin]

Linux topic moved off volunteers to the main list. Open Voting
Consortium has a Live CD demo of their Free/Open Source voting
software running on Linux. Python developers wanted.

The OVC system is not an EVM (Electronic Voting Machine). It is an
Electronic Ballot Marker (EBM). Since paper alone can easily be
compromised, and electronics alone can easily be compromised, the OVC
system uses each to audit the other. Total numbers of ballots must
match, and also checksums for individual ballots. Based on a
comprehensive threat model, many other security provisions will be
included, not just for the hardware and software, but also for chain
of custody and other matters of importance.

On Feb 6, 2008 1:49 PM, K Sandoval <indigo.kai at gmail.com> wrote:
> > Welcome back.
> >
> Thanks!!!
>
>
> > Two excellent points. The fact that Internet voting is utterly
> > insecure is probably irrelevant to us, but nevertheless deserves
> > mention.
>
> For the record I do agree on this point.
>
> > I thought I had done that, but I see that I didn't do it in one place.
>
> If I missed these post I apologize, I did skip some of the passionate
> and heated emotional post
> I might have missed the bio info and vision statements.
>
> > Ed Cherlin
> > Generalist and Cat-Herder
> > BA Mathematics and Philosophy <--That's where they hid the Computer
> > Science courses back in the Old Stone Age.
>
> Thank you for this info, it helps me get a feeling for who you are.
> And I do take my responsibility to make an educated vote seriously.
>
> > The Cheshire cat said something like that, too. If you don't care
> > where you are going, it doesn't matter what direction you go in.
>
> Yoo hoo!  Coolio someone who is speaken my language here!
>
> > > Therefore I realized that for me to feel like a responsible voter, I
> > > need to show up at the meeting, hear the candidates talk, and make my
> > > decision in person.
> >
> > My kind of voter. Can I talk to you about the parlous state of
> > electronic (and paper) voting in the US? And OVC's plans for Free
> > Software voting systems that the public can test, with actual security
> > measures built in? And canvassing (vote counting) systems that allow
> > the public to watch every vote being tallied?
>
> Whoa!  Yes this is an issue I am also very interested in
> discussing/listening/ and learning about.
> I remember in 2006 when the Video the Vote movement was building
> speed. I remember seeing "American Blackout" and other documentaries
> on the 2000 voter scandal in Florida and how that election was also
> stolen.  At the time I found some video of Debra Bowen on youtube and
> that is specifically why I voted for Debra Bowen.

Exactly right.

> I also remember reading about some kind of group or coalition of high
> tech professionals that was forming to thoroughly vent this issue. But
> I lost track of the issue and have not had the opportunity until now
> to revisit this issue.
>
> I would like to discuss this issue further, and see what people think.
> Personally I don't trust the machines that "scan" the ballots anymore
> than I trust the e-voting machines.  It seems like there really should
> be a "manual" audit process in there somewhere to verify that the
> electronic components have been programmed/set up correctly.

Exactly. The OVC system has been tried in an internal Democratic party
election. The scanning is done on a different computer than the
voting. Before each ballot is scanned, an election official can read
out the human-readable version on the ballot. Then the scanner can
read the printed bar code of the vote, and put it on a screen for
comparison, simultaneously highlighting and updating the individual
vote tallies for candidates and issues.

There is, of course, much more.

> If anyone has any good links they could send my way in regards to
> e-voting and where this issue is at currently i would appreciate it.

http://www.openvotingconsortium.org/  Free Software for voting
http://www.blackboxvoting.org/  Problems with the machines and with officials
http://www.uscountvotes.org/  Problems getting voting data, and
problems revealed in data

> - Kai
>
>
> > Thanks, Kai. See you at the meeting.
> >
> > --
>
> See you all there!
>
>
>
> --
> Ms.Kai Sandoval
>
> http://www.linkedin.com/pub/1/677/a41
> http://people.tribe.net/da12c6fd-0b2e-4ba6-ac41-b760bdbe9675

Y'all come, hear?

-- 
Edward Cherlin
End Poverty at a Profit by teaching children business
http://www.EarthTreasury.org/
"The best way to predict the future is to invent it."--Alan Kay