Vote Openly

It is my opinion that the voting kiosks used in elections should be using open source software. I know that I am not the first to come up with this idea but there seems to be little mention of this on the internet (not that I have looked particularly hard). Some might ask, what are the benefits of open source voting machines. The answer is simply transparency.

It is far too easy to say one thing in software and do another. Most of the time you will never be able to tell that this has happened either. In fact its probably harder, to do exactly what you intend most of the time. Software is difficult to get correct even in the best of times. And even though I doubt there is any attempt at the voting machine companies to corrupt the vote it probably happens just as simple computer bugs. A computer is (usually) perfect in its execution of code but its only as good as the instructions its given.

Making the source code of the voting machines open goes a long way to alleviating these problems. Having the eyes of hundreds of programmers in effect doing a peer review of the code produces some of the highest quality code in existence. And we will know that the software is at least trying to do what it is intended to do. It would also give security experts the ability to find and fix vulnerabilities that would probably otherwise go unnoticed.

This project would probably need to be taken up by a decent sized government body to be taken seriously. I think it would need the backing of at least one state to gain the widespread use required to achieve the benefits mentioned. The project would also be relativity cheap for the sponsors. They would need to provide space for web presence, source control and hire a small technical administration team to oversee the project. All things most state level governments have already. So the outlay is small compared so say, building a bridge.