By Luther Weeks on April 4, 2013
This was a simple online poll that was easily compromised. Internet voting vendor software will be harder to compromise, but this shows that computer security is hard and claims must be proved. Before we entrust critical public functions such as voting to such software, the public deserves a solid demonstration that such claims are truly substantiated, and policy makers need to be schooled in a proper skepticism about computer security. That has not yet happened.
Posted in Internet Voting, National, Other Editorials
By Luther Weeks on March 24, 2013
Connecticut does need to improve the voting process for military voters — but Internet voting is not the answer.
Every day, headlines reveal just how vulnerable and insecure any online network really is, and how sophisticated, tenacious and skilled today’s attackers are. Just last week, we learned that the U.S. has already experienced our first-ever documented attack on an election system, when a grand jury report revealed that someone hacked into the Miami-Dade primary elections system in August 2012.
Posted in Internet Voting, Legislature2013, Other Editorials
By Luther Weeks on December 4, 2012
Last week Secretary of the State Denise Merrill weighed in at her press conference on, as the Courant headlines, how “Reforms Could Boost Voter Participation”. Also weighing in was Melissa J. Russell, President of ROVAC (Registrars Of Voters Association, Connecticut).
Posted in CT, CT Law, Legislature2013, Other Editorials
By Luther Weeks on September 22, 2012
Fortunately our Legislature has not wasted time on raising Connecticut’s adequate voter I.D. law to the level of voter suppression. Unfortunately, the Legislature has continued to ignore science, experience, and the Constitutional requirement for preserving the secret vote.
Posted in CT, Internet Voting, National, Other Editorials
By Luther Weeks on July 30, 2012
We agree with the Courant and add some details to the case against September and June.
Posted in CT, CT Law, Other Editorials
By Luther Weeks on June 12, 2012
Those of us in the non-privileged majority will not have access to voted ballots until after elections are certified — too late, citizen activists persuasively argue, for effective public oversight. Many of those activists, it should be noted, have followed election issues closely for years and know a thing or two about them, too.
Posted in National, Other Editorials
By Luther Weeks on October 21, 2011
We agree that Connecticut would likely be better off with regional, civil-service, professional election administration. Such a change requires much thought and planning, just like the consolidation of Probate Court. That is not what the Courant is proposing. The Editorial Board also demonstrates a great lack of creativity suggesting that each registrar in Hartford must be paid $80,000 and have a deputy. As we have suggested before, three registrars could each be part time, paid less, and/or do the job with fewer deputies.
Posted in CT, Other Editorials, Our Editorials
By Luther Weeks on May 17, 2011
We agree with Secretary Merrill in strongly supporting passage of the bill. Yet it is insufficient. More is required to recover from similar problems in the future such that all votes are counted initially, followed by time for a full statewide recanvass, when based on corrections to initial results, the tallies become close. We continue to recommend the stronger measures in the Coalition Bridgeport Recount Report.
Posted in CT Law, Legislature2011, Other Editorials
By Luther Weeks on April 30, 2011
Online voting is an appealing option to speed voting for military and overseas voters. Yet it is actually “Democracy Theater”, providing an expensive, risky illusion of supporting our troops. Technologists warn of the unsolved technical challenges, while experience shows that the risks are tangible and pervasive. There are safer, less expensive solutions available.
Posted in CT, Internet Voting, National, Other Editorials, Our Editorials
By Luther Weeks on April 17, 2011
We have learned more about voting integrity since the time of Senator Moynihan. It would be even worse than he imagined.
Posted in Legislature2011, National Popular Vote, Other Editorials
