Hi folks,

I had a thought while replying to Tamar this evening and thought I'd toss out a new thread with the idea. Please feel free to add your ideas & suggestions.

Question: Is it possible to have everyone vote electronically and at the same time securely?

Answer: I think so, though I'd leave the technical details to others however here's one way it might work:

1) Give each voter a 'credit card' type card with a magnetic stripe card with a unique ID and password.

2) Give everyone a PIN that is unique to the card, much like today's credit cards.

3) Manufacture voting machines that can read these cards.

4) Provide a screen which allows voters to vote for ALL candidate - then confirm their vote. Make sure to provide double checking. This screen could be made to have larger or smaller type to accomodate visually impared folks as well as provide audible feedback as well. All technology available today.

5) Once confirmed then let voter confirm or finalize their vote - after they have confirmed their vote they will 'finalize' their vote.

6) Once the vote has been finalized confirme once more.

7) Once confirmed disable that user's ID to prevent duplicate votes.

8) Print one recipt outside and one inside of voting booth. Simple NCR-type store receipt printers would work well here. Print LARGE number on top for comparison.

9) Voter and official compare receipts. Official stamps both and initials both.

10) Voter keeps one receipt, official deposits other in a box.

11) Since votes are electronically tabilated this makes for almost instantaneous counts.

12) In the case of a dispute over whether or not the electronic count is accurate both voter and official 'receipts' will be compared.

13) The voter will have a record of their vote so there will be no mistake about whom they 'intended' to vote for.

Any thoughts?