Luther Weeks

UCONN: Failed memory cards caused by weak batteries, inadequate design

By Luther Weeks on August 11, 2010

This week at the 2010 Electronic Voting Technology Workshop on Trustworthy Elections in Washington, D.C., Dr. Alex Shvartsman and his team from the Uconn VoTeR Center delivered a significant paper. It covered research into the cause of the complete failure of the AccuVote-OS memory cards, at an unacceptable rate — We suggest the costs of mitigating the problems should be born by the manufacturer and/or distributor since the ultimate cause is the inadequate design of the memory cards for their intended purpose.

Posted in CT, CT Skulduggery and Errors, Post-Election Audits, Reports | Leave a response

Jerry Farrell signs “Commitment for Connecticut” program (Corrected)

By Luther Weeks on August 10, 2010

According to Stamford Plus, Secretary of the State Candidate Jerry Farrell has signed the Commitment for Connecticut from Citizens for Change. Checking both the Citizens for Change site and Farrell’s site, we have been unable to locate copies of the completed, signed commitment form.

Posted in Election2010 | Leave a response

Prof. Ron Rivest, MIT: Military/Overseas Internet Voting Risks and Rewards

By Luther Weeks on August 7, 2010

Yesterday, MIT Professor Ronald L. Rivest provided his analysis of Internet voting for military and overseas voters.The talk centered on the balance between risks and rewards of using Internet voting vs. paper ballots for military and overseas voting. You will find many of Ron’s slides entertaining, some a bit technical, yet all serious. The conclusions are straight-forward and convincing:

“The risks of “internet voting” more than negate any possible benefits from an increase in franchise.”

Posted in Internet Security Issues, National | Leave a response

Faith in Technology: Drilling, Driving, and Voting

By Luther Weeks on August 3, 2010

“Deep anxiety aroused by the deaths in the water and on the interstates is calmed by the ameliorating belief that technology will save us, and if not now, soon. After all, the promise of technology is in the better life to come.”

Posted in Electronic Vulnerability, National, Our Editorials | Leave a response

IRV: Is it legal in Connecticut? Can our scanners compute it?

By Luther Weeks on July 30, 2010

Recently we posted and commented on an article in The Day, covering the Instant Runoff Voting (IRV) proposal for New London. The article quoted Secretary of the State Bysiewicz on the constitutionality of the IRV and if our AccuVote-OS scanners could be used for an IRV election. The post prompted comments and the need for more complete answers. We queried the Secretary of the State’s Office and Jeff Silvestro, General Manager of LHS Associates. Mr. Silvestro responded:

Posted in CT, Instant Runoff Voting | Leave a response

Podcast: Democratic candidates debate voting on WATR

By Luther Weeks on July 29, 2010

We were about to write a post about how little voting and voting integrity discussion we have heard in the Secretary of the State campaigns so far. Yet, yesterday there was a joint appearance/debate between the Democratic Primary candidates Gerry Garcia and Denise Merrill which focused manly on voting issues, including voting integrity

Posted in Election2010 | Leave a response

IRV New London: Residents, Registrar, and Candidate concerns

By Luther Weeks on July 28, 2010

“Instant Runoff Voting is a well intended idea, but does not work as advertised in real life elections. For that reason, several jurisdictions have rejected IRV after one or two implementations.”

“There’s no point to it, Why go to something like this? Most people don’t understand it. Most people don’t want it.”

Posted in CT, Instant Runoff Voting | Leave a response

Report: Connecticut below average

By Luther Weeks on July 27, 2010

This is good news! A Caltech/MIT Report measuring address errors in voter registration files places Connecticut below average in the number of bad addresses.

Posted in CT | Leave a response

Court Allows UConn/Dr. Shvartsman Test Of Nassau County, NY Voting Machines

By Luther Weeks on July 26, 2010

Over the objections of the NY Board of Elections, The Supreme Court of the State of New York Nassau County, ordered the testing of voting machines by the University of Connecticut and Dr. Alex Shvartsman.

Posted in National | Leave a response

CA Prop 14: Unsafe at any but greed?