NYT Calls For Open-Source Election Machines

anti-drew writes "The New York Times Magazine has an interesting editorial (free reg. req.) calling for open-source voting machines. From the article: 'Electronic voting has much to offer, but will we ever be able to trust these buggy machines? Yes, we will -- but only if we adopt the techniques of the 'open source' geeks.' That's quite an endorsement coming from the Times. Of course, one of the justifications was that open-source enthusiasts are 'libertarian freaks, nuttily suspicious of centralized power', who would 'scream to the high heavens if they found anything wrong'."

But who will get

[Anonymous Coward]

First Vote?

In Related News...

[k4_pacific]

MSDN Magazine [msdnmagazine.com] has an article calling for closed source voting machines with .NET Passport validation.

wait... what?

[hellmarch]

librertarian freaks? i think not. i'm a compasionate conservative anarchist.

Make $5250 Guaranteed!!! All you need is a PayPal account and $25. We'll do the rest. Click here to find out how. [flamingboard.com]

Re:nutty?

[Kiryat Malachi]

And once again, a /.er bravely steps up to the plate to play America's favorite game:

Proving the point.

Wow...

[SbooX]

'libertarian freaks, nuttily suspicious of centralized power', who would 'scream to the high heavens if they found anything wrong'.

I guess they read /. at the NYT.

A well-oiled WHAT?

[14erCleaner]

From the article:

Already, Australians have used the open-source strategy to build voting software for a state election, and it ran like a well-oiled Chevy.

The last Chevy I owned was a '74 Vega, and it burned a quart of oil every 100 miles. I guess that's what he's referring to here.

Comment removed

[account_deleted]

Comment removed based on user account deletion

Hmm, thanks NYT!

[coupland]

libertarian freaks, nuttily suspicious of centralized power', who would 'scream to the high heavens if they found anything wrong'

Hmmm...

libertarian...
suspicious of centralized power...
scream to high heaven if there is a loophole in the democratic system...

Wow, three compliments in a row, Thanks NYT!!!

Re:well.. not completely true

[14erCleaner]

As a further exercise, find the real author's name and spell it correctly. (hint: several slashdotters have already posted it :)

Re:nutty?

[Joe Tie.]

I know, imagine. Suggesting not only reading, but dull history at that. An obvious nut.

Re:That would be perfect!

[WindBourne]

...because Microsoft would be in charge of validating our ballots!

I suspect that it would be however wrote the best worm that would control the election.

Re:In Related News...

[Anonymous Coward]

Imagine if you did need to use your Passport ID to vote.

I know I wouldn't want to log in to vote as [e-mail].

Re:Yeah, right

[EvanED]

"It's akin to the neighbor jumping through the window, rooting around inside, using your TV"

Only if your TV ate through $300,000 worth of power while he was in there.

Not a bug, but a feature

[highwindarea]

Geeks being "'libertarian freaks, nuttily suspicious of centralized power', who would 'scream to the high heavens if they found anything wrong'." is not a bug but a feature.

Re:nutty?

[Killer Napkin]

Socialists? I thought we were an autonomous collective.