Luther Weeks

WNPR Where We Live: Inside Cyber Security

By Luther Weeks on January 14, 2015

Yesterday, Where We Live, with John Dankowski, was a discussion of Cyber Security for consumers and business.

At about 17:49 into the show, I called in and reminded John Dankoski of the Secretary of the State’s Symposium on Online voting that he moderated just over three years ago. In response to my comment, Professor Bryan Ford of Yale, gave a very thorough summary of the potential risks of Internet voting.

Posted in CT Law, Internet Security Issues, Internet Voting | Leave a response

Election Reformers as Entertainers?

By Luther Weeks on January 9, 2015

Last week Paul Krugman had an interesting Economics editorial that by analogy can apply to some election reformers as well. In general, I agree with Mr. Krugman when it comes to Economics. Beyond that he has a skill making readable opinion pieces that make single points well, even if they are based on very detailed economic theory or analysis. This article is a little different in subject, yet makes an important, useful point that applies widely, including to election reformers

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Not everything you want, is a solution to every problem

By Luther Weeks on January 2, 2015

In Wednesday’s print edition of the Courant, one in a series of editorials setting an agenda for the State, Agenda Toward A More Open Government. There is much to like and agree with in the editorial: Stronger investigative subpoena for state prosecutors; closing the cash spigot for campaign finance; and strengthening the watchdog agencies.

While we are skeptical of the benefits of open primaries, their potential, and ultimately the value of “more moderate nominees”, we are particularly in disagreement with one section, Do-Over for Early Voting.

Its been said that when you only have a hammer, you see that as a cure to every problem.

Posted in Legislature 2014, Mail/Absentee Voting, Other Editorials | Leave a response

Ambitious agenda should be reasoned and well-planned

By Luther Weeks on December 28, 2014

In today’s print edition of the Courant, one in a series of editorials setting an agenda for the State, Agenda 2015: Ambitious Goals For The State, one portion focuses on elections,

We diverge from the Courant in our opinion. We continue to point out that the most comprehensive system of election administration reform would be to regionalize elections, obtaining some of the same benefits obtained by regionalizing probate.

Also, Professionalization does not include ignoring science. There is a reason we do not connect our scanners to the internet to report results.

Posted in CT Law, Electronic Vulnerability, Legislature 2015, Other Editorials | Leave a response

General Assembly ready to protect everything Internet. Except voting?

By Luther Weeks on December 22, 2014

Meanwhile Congress, in-spite of gridlock, takes the time to appeal old law calling for Internet voting experiments. Isn’t it time for the General Assembly to follow suit?

Posted in Internet Security Issues, Internet Voting, Legislature 2015 | Leave a response

Election Day Registration: Sadly, we told you so.

By Luther Weeks on December 15, 2014

Like the rest of the U.S., Connecticut had low turn out in the November 2014 mid-terms. Much better than the national average. It is always hard to judge the cause of turnout differences in a single election.

But one thing is clear, Election Day Registration (EDR) has failed to meet the expectations of its proponents – unfortunately results were more in line with our predictions.

Posted in CT, CT Law | Leave a response

Close vote highlights concerns with mail-in elections

By Luther Weeks on December 9, 2014

There is a very close vote on a GMO issue in Oregon, creating a statewide recount and lots of controversy. Brad Friedman has an excellent summary of the controversies and also election integrity concerns: <read>

Oregon GMO Ballot Measure ‘Recount’ Highlights Concern About Excluded Vote-by-Mail Ballots

With razor-thin 812 vote margin, proponents charge 4,600 ballots remain illegally uncounted due to ‘problems’ with signatures

Questions about state procedures underscore shortcomings of Vote-by-Mail balloting…

Posted in Mail/Absentee Voting, National | Leave a response

Will it take a Pearl Harbor or 9/11 for Internet security (and voting integrity)?

By Luther Weeks on December 3, 2014

To err is human, to react without thinking is to compound the err

The goal should be to solve a problem of huge risk, without requiring a catastrophe, without attacking others, spending what is necessary and moving on.

Let us also not forget the twin risks of doing nothing and doing too much of the wrong thing, apply as Connecticut tackles our voting system which may have had a wake up call this November, but nothing like Pearl Harbor or 9/11.

Posted in Internet Security Issues, Legislature 2015, National | Leave a response

Connecticut not alone in election adminstration challenges

By Luther Weeks on November 27, 2014

Since the election on November 4th we have had all sorts of complaints about Connecticut election administration. Claims that we are the slowest, with the most clueless election officials. And all sorts of cures proposed including more mail-in votes, electronic calculation of results, and reorganization of election administration.

We agree with that their are many problems. We agree with the general outlines of some of the cures. Yet, we caution against knee-jerk reaction, and change without planning and analysis.

We suggest looking at the best practices from other states. Yet, we can also learn from the mistakes and foibles of other states. Often those employing some of those very cures proposed for Connecticut.

Posted in CT, CT Law, Electronic Vulnerability, Legislature 2014, Mail/Absentee Voting, National, Skulduggery and Errors | Leave a response

Editorial: Diagnosis before cure. Planning before plunging ahead.

By Luther Weeks on November 22, 2014

We agree in part with the other critics, that we need radical change in Connecticut election administration. Yet, we need a carefully considered approach and a deliberate implementation of change. Our recommended approach is to do for elections what we have done for probate: Regionalize, Prioritize, and Economize. It won’t be easy, simple, or cheap in the short run, yet simply moving local administration to municipal clerks as many suggest would be a band-aid, with many of the same limitations and risks of the current system.

Posted in CT Law, Legislature 2015, Our Editorials | Leave a response