Dear President Obama, Glad You Won, But Can We Fix The Voting Machines Before 2016?

[deminks]

http://www.forbes.com/sites/anthonykosner/2012/11/09/dear-president-obama-glad-you-won-but-can-we-fix-the-voting-machines-before-2016/

Dear President Obama,

I am very happy, and relieved, that you won reelection by a decisive margin. This is not only because I still have hope that you can prevail over obstruction and finish what you’ve started, but also because a close finish could have thrown our electoral system into crisis.

Without consulting Nate Silver, or the even more prescient Sam Wang, I made my own prediction (privately) the day before the election that you would indeed win by a wide margin. But that evening, I came across the story about how Ohio Republican Secretary of State Jon Husted’s office had contracted with electronic voting system manufacturer ES&S, for last minute modifications to the software that controlled vote counting tabulators in 39 key counties of the most important swing state.

(snip)

If there is any hope that can be drawn forward from my 24 hours of anxiety preceding the resolution of the presidential election, it is that no American should question who is in control of the means through which they vote. The technology that we use to cast and tabulate our votes should be open and public and built to the highest standards of security and integrity that we currently have available. This should not be a political issue. Both parties should be concerned about manipulations from the other side, and want their own victories to be beyond reproach. Can you please make this a priority before your successor is elected?

Thank You,

(end snip)

'No American should have to question who is in control of the means through which they vote', and no private company should be in control of the counting of the votes.

[silvershadow]

1. I'd prefer before 2014. Let's Get'r done! nt

[Scuba]

3. +1

[bkkyosemite]

2. Yes Yes Yes