The Security Mentor

California is demanding that voting machine vendors submit to a detailed technical review. They're bringing in some famous security people and insisting that the vendors not hide the workings behind claims of trade secrets.

If your area is considering electronic voting machines, this is a good example for them.

You could also ask exactly what kind of machine they'd be getting. There are several sorts with different security risks.

Printing a guaranteed-valid ballot based on your touch-screen choices is almost safe. In tests, not enough people check their paper ballots, but if you do then it's a good system that can make elections more reliable.

Machines that count the ballots need more supervision. There has to be a law that the paper has to be preserved and that paper wins if there's a difference on a recount.

Machines that store the election results are an engraved invitation to fraudsters. These are the ones called DRE, for Direct Recording Electronic, getting them right requires lots of money and oversight, and neither one has been happening.

Remember, too, that security begins before the vendors bid on the contract. Who do you have supervising your elections? Pay attention when you vote for that person. Is s/he honest, or a party hack?