points by theluketaylor 2 days ago | 0 comments
The poll worker executing mail in ballots can be completely observed without any special skills or tools.
Even a fully trustworthy poll worker executing an email workflow can’t be fully observed. The code they are running can betray the vote.
XKCD 2030 remains fully accurate. Electric voting: run away.
[–] Spivak 2 days ago
[–] theluketaylor 1 day ago
If you can tie people to their vote you can intimidate them or purchase votes, both very bad outcomes for a democratic process. A secret ballot is a core element of a strong, stable democracy. That's a rare attribute to value to the same extent, so no technology platform has really been built with that in mind. There is plenty of active research underway to make it possible, but as it stands old fashioned paper ballots, whether done in person or by mail, have some unbeatable properties.