You can't recount electronic votes

[LukeP]

Hi all. I just want to add my input and maybe some perspective regarding the benefit of a recount. My understanding is that you can't really recount electronic votes. Computers do not make errors in making totals. Computers also make errors in mathematics and this is just simple addition. If there are errors, they are 100% intentional and a recount will not help at all. People don't really seem to understand how computers work. For those who believe there is fraud they are better spending their energy trying to get their states to select non-electronic voting machines. Most of the states selected electronic voting machines because of the Help America Vote Act of 2002. It provided federal funds for states to buy machines from approved vendors. Much of the logic for buying the machines was to help handicapped voters. I agree with the analogy someone made of bank ATM machines. Would anyone really trust an ATM if you did not have the choice of printing our a paper receipt?

 

[Levitikuz]

i believe some of the machines if not all of them you send a paper ballot thru it like a "scan tron trest" and it spits the paper out te other side with your vote makred on it. So if tey used those machines then you can do a recount with the paper ballots that are fed into and tru the machines. its just where are those paper ballots and did they get replaced with others?

 

[damon04]

http://grannywarrior.chipin.com/recount-

 

[LukeP]

i believe some of the machines if not all of them you send a paper ballot thru it like a "scan tron trest" and it spits the paper out te other side with your vote makred on it. So if tey used those machines then you can do a recount with the paper ballots that are fed into and tru the machines. its just where are those paper ballots and did they get replaced with others?

I see. Well then a recount might make sense. Thanks.

 

[ChrisV]

I work in a similar field and I do not personally believe that the electronic machines have been rigged. However, I must say that it is entirely possible to do this for someone with first hand knowledge of the hardware and software involved.

Electronic voting is great, as long as vote manipulating is prevented. This is entirely possible and I do not understand why the manufacturers do not implement addition features to eliminate the possibility of vote manipulation. The only two conclusions are either they aren't smart enough, or they don't want to...both of which scare me.