If you can get legal access to your records, then that means that those with more dubious methodology can also get access. Know the saying "Don't put anything on the internet that you don't want the public to see"? The IRS is already on record of using people's political affiliation to attack people, why would you want to have another way that they can use pressure to affect your vote?
This is what you focus on? The fact that I showed that a government agency was being used as a tool?
How about instead you focus on the idea that the two major parties could access your voting records as well?
Voting should be 100% anonymous, which means that after I vote, I shouldn't be able to access it anywhere to see anything more than that I DID vote and it was counted.
Actually, that is not correct. We could have voting machines that issued a reciept with the vote and a number to check against. That way your vote remans anonymous but at the same time could be verfied. Ballots could easily be shuffled before being handed out to ensure your name is not tied to your vote. If you think your being reorded just tell them to cut the deck before you get your ballot.
Voting should not be anonymmous in the sense that you can't access someone else's record. You should be able to access whether or not they voted in the election, and officials in charge should be able to see who you voted for. That's how you make sure every vote is accounted for. THEN, if those numbers don't match, you find out why.
I'll ask you a question to show you how silly this sounds to me.
Do you think such a system should be implemented in Iraq or Egypt?
The idea that the government could see who you voted for ignores the idea of any sort of retribution that could occur. Anonymous voting is what keeps thugs from intimidating people as would happen in early US history. Knowing who people vote for is a good way to scare people into not voting for a candidate.
We aren't that corrupt. I wouldn't suggest voting records at all for places like russia. I wouldn't suggest NOT voting for the kim family for north korea since they would execute anyone who voted against them.
Didn't I just read last election about a group of black panthers intimidating voters?
So you're going to let people intimidate you that aren't even a part of the government? If they lay a single finger on you, you can have them arrested.
You're not understanding my point. I was showing examples in real life of intimidation to coerce people into voting a certain way. How much worse would it be if your voting record was exposed?
Just look at what happened to the guy at Mozilla who was exposed for giving a paltry amount to an anti-gay marriage group?
And you really think that people having their voting records accessible somehow would be a good thing?
The idea that they would be safe from hackers ignores how much desirability having the public's voting records would be.
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NateThomas1979 ago
If you can get legal access to your records, then that means that those with more dubious methodology can also get access. Know the saying "Don't put anything on the internet that you don't want the public to see"? The IRS is already on record of using people's political affiliation to attack people, why would you want to have another way that they can use pressure to affect your vote?
Zodi ago
Are you afraid of being audited?
NateThomas1979 ago
This is what you focus on? The fact that I showed that a government agency was being used as a tool?
How about instead you focus on the idea that the two major parties could access your voting records as well?
Voting should be 100% anonymous, which means that after I vote, I shouldn't be able to access it anywhere to see anything more than that I DID vote and it was counted.
Racer_the_observer ago
Actually, that is not correct. We could have voting machines that issued a reciept with the vote and a number to check against. That way your vote remans anonymous but at the same time could be verfied. Ballots could easily be shuffled before being handed out to ensure your name is not tied to your vote. If you think your being reorded just tell them to cut the deck before you get your ballot.
Zodi ago
Voting should not be anonymmous in the sense that you can't access someone else's record. You should be able to access whether or not they voted in the election, and officials in charge should be able to see who you voted for. That's how you make sure every vote is accounted for. THEN, if those numbers don't match, you find out why.
NateThomas1979 ago
I'll ask you a question to show you how silly this sounds to me.
Do you think such a system should be implemented in Iraq or Egypt?
The idea that the government could see who you voted for ignores the idea of any sort of retribution that could occur. Anonymous voting is what keeps thugs from intimidating people as would happen in early US history. Knowing who people vote for is a good way to scare people into not voting for a candidate.
Zodi ago
We aren't that corrupt. I wouldn't suggest voting records at all for places like russia. I wouldn't suggest NOT voting for the kim family for north korea since they would execute anyone who voted against them.
NateThomas1979 ago
Maybe I'm cynical, but I'm not sure I agree with you. Our corruption is much more subtle, but I still think it vital to keeping elections open.
Didn't I just read last election about a group of black panthers intimidating voters?
Zodi ago
So you're going to let people intimidate you that aren't even a part of the government? If they lay a single finger on you, you can have them arrested.
NateThomas1979 ago
You're not understanding my point. I was showing examples in real life of intimidation to coerce people into voting a certain way. How much worse would it be if your voting record was exposed?
Just look at what happened to the guy at Mozilla who was exposed for giving a paltry amount to an anti-gay marriage group?
And you really think that people having their voting records accessible somehow would be a good thing?
The idea that they would be safe from hackers ignores how much desirability having the public's voting records would be.