Lecture questions security level of electronic voting
By Gala M. Pierce Daily Herald Staff Writer
Posted Thursday, August 19, 2004

With the presidential election on the horizon, Americans are wondering if their vote will count.

And Dan Wallach of Rice University in Houston has asked the question: How reliable and secure are electronic voting systems?

The computer science assistant professor presented research Wednesday at a Fermilab Colloquium lecture in Batavia that showed the vulnerabilities of electronic voting.

"Is it technically feasible for such a person or for a conspiracy of people to throw an election with these systems?" he asked a crowd of mostly employees of Fermilab. "Absolutely. Would there be any evidence? Not if they knew what they were doing."

About 29 percent of the United States will vote this November on direct recording electronic machines. These computerized systems offer several advantages, including a way to double-check for mistakes, big type for people with low-vision, and a headphone jack for people with no vision.

The problem?

"The electronic machines are not more fundamentally accurate in catching voter intent," Wallach said.

While companies claim increased security and reliability, independent parties aren't allowed to certify them and there's no way to double-check results if paper ballots are not printed.

Wallach argues the only thing that should be secret in an election is voter confidentiality.

Along with three other researchers, Wallach published a paper on the major electronic voting machine manufacturer, Diebold. Recently, the source code for its voting system, which was used in statewide elections in Georgia two years ago, was leaked on the Internet. They also attacked its security, which they said offers minimal standards and is subject to network threats.

Stephanie Hughes, past president of the Naperville League of Women Voters, voiced her concerns during a question-and-answer session.

"We feel in this area, the issue is not just with the machines or the individual voter, but what goes on with the tabulation," she said. "There is so much secrecy about the technicality on that level."

The league will discuss the issue during a public meeting at 7:15 p.m. Sept. 13 at the Naperville Township building. Another program this Sunday will address the issue 2 p.m. Sunday at the DuPage Unitarian Church in Naperville.

Larry Quick of Aurora, a founder of the National Ballot Integrity Project, attended the talk. The organization argues electronic voting threatens the democratic process.

"We can ditch these machines this election," Quick said.