If Brazil Can Do It…

Written on October 7, 2008  |  by RP Mickler  |  Leave a Comment Leave a Comment  |  Bookmark and Share

Just in case you weren’t aware: Brazil has had reliable electronic voting for over a decade. Electronic ballots were introduced in 1996 and by 2000, all elections were conducted using an electronic system. Voting is compulsory in Brazil and over 120 million people voted on Oct. 5 using a Linux-based distribution; if you’re interested in taking a simulation, one is available on the web. Wikipedia even has a nice article on them.
And they work rather simply. You apparently key in a number from your voting card, and you’re presented with a list of choices accompanied by pictures of the candidate. You hit the number of your candidate. You type in the number, see the picture, and you’re asked to confirm. You then get a stub that you voted.  Votes are recorded to flash cards which are serialized to each unit to prevent fraud. Once the data is electronically transmitted to the head office, the results are counted in under six hours. Apparently, the latest machines have fingerprint readers. And get this: the ballot boxes work off regular batteries and cost under $1,000 to produce.
Okay, so I’m looking at this and thinking: the greatest industrialized democracy on the planet – um, that’s US – still cannot guarantee its electronic voting process, and has paid zillions more than tiny Brazil, but Brazil – BRAZIL – who apparently whipped this puppy in the bud the first time. It’s extraordinary to me that voting districts across America still can’t seem to vouch for their voting machines or have a universal paper record, and that we can’t deploy a univeral process.
In my courses and in casual conversation, I’ve always mentioned that the problem is more of a political one than a technological one. The technology is obviously there (Linux, a couple of batteries, and a machine with a modem, screen, and 10-key – wow, duh) and we can certainly make the transactions as transparent as we want to (we seem to trust computers to vouch for corporate financial and banking systems, yet, we can’t trust computers to tally a vote?). It’s a political problem – an idea problem – that really limits us as a country. When Brazil – BRAZIL! – surpasses the United States by holding free, fair, accurate elections for 120+ million people by what essentially amounts to an ATM, what on _earth_ is holding us back?
I mean – aside from the political interests that don’t want to see greater accuracy and transparency in American elections?
R

M. Lekay says:

Commented posted on: October 8, 2008

This makes too much sense for the US. It likes complicated voting that lacks transparency.

Here is something I still don’t understand about the way voting is handled. Why must we all vote on the same day? Why can’t we just start voting today, all the way up to December? That way, everyone gets to vote… and maybe often. ;)

Russell Mickler, MCSE | CISSP says:

Commented posted on: October 8, 2008

In my opinion, all states should adopt the Oregon/Washington model (mail-in voting). I receive a ballot via the mail a full month ahead of elections; I fill it out, seal it, endorse it, and mail it in on my own time and schedule. Again, seems like a simple thing to do – the right thing to do – and it’s not a technology issue, yet there’s obviously a political interest in supressing voter turn-out and discouraging full participation….

R
http://www.micklerandassociates.com

Keith says:

Commented posted on: October 8, 2008

Those are good ideas for voting. As for mail in votes there is legislation right now in Michigan to allow requesting an absentee ballot with no reason. Until now we had to cite one of the following six reasons to qualify for an absentee ballot:
From michigan.gov
• age 60 years old or older
• unable to vote without assistance at the polls
• expecting to be out of town on election day
• in jail awaiting arraignment or trial (in jail?)
• unable to attend the polls due to religious reasons
• appointed to work as an election inspector in a precinct outside of your precinct of residence.
I suppose anyone could have used excuse number three or five but why have these conditions anyway? I just want to avoid the huge crowds after work. And why has it been mostly Republican opposition in Michigan to changing it?

I think they should declare Presidential elections as a national holiday for everyone except state and federal workers. After all they get a day off a week later for Veterans Day.

Brazil?

Anonymous says:

Commented posted on: October 9, 2008

I think electronic voting is such a great idea that the U.S. will eventually come around on. Maybe there would not have been so much confusion in Florida when Bush lost the popular vote and they needed a recount. Then again he still became president despite that.

I would like to know how much power does the electoral college hold? Say the popular vote is 70% Obama, 30 % McCain. Would they be able to still elect McCain with such a wide disparity?

-Rich

Anonymous says:

Commented posted on: October 10, 2008

Theses are all some very interesting comments. But this type of voting expressed in the article does not eliminate the fact that Brazil has a high CPI ranking of 80 with a score of 3.5. However, keep in mind Brazil does rank higher than countries such as Saudi Arabia, India or Russia. Even though I plan on voting this year in the U.S. presidential election, my vote also goes to any method that is free from human error.

http://www.transparency.org/news_room/in_focus/2008/cpi2008/cpi_2008_table