tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25200961.post4985659931121272403..comments2024-03-26T07:19:50.901+00:00Comments on Dr Grumble: Dr Grumble votesDr Grumblehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04417731064007601504noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25200961.post-76384302370071924992010-05-07T20:22:09.484+01:002010-05-07T20:22:09.484+01:00Not sure the government can be trusted to make onl...Not sure the government can be trusted to make online voting work- also been using at Dundee for the student association elections for the past couple of years and it takes the excitement out of voting a couple of clicks doesn't really feel like your voting.<br /><br />Have counted a STV election at my previous university SA elections and it wasn't particularly complicated- it may take a little longer but that's allDundee Med Studentnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25200961.post-19010307465110447422010-05-07T18:10:46.556+01:002010-05-07T18:10:46.556+01:00There seems to be unanimity on this one. The first...There seems to be unanimity on this one. The first past the post system with a single cross is easy to count but if we were ever to adopt a paper-based single transferable vote I would think that would make counting problematic.<br /><br />Nobody who has seen the money wasted on computing for the NHS could really be enthusiastic about a computerised system but it will surely come one day.Dr Grumblehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04417731064007601504noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25200961.post-28669926686189467522010-05-07T16:24:36.604+01:002010-05-07T16:24:36.604+01:00Could this be a government computer system that co...Could this be a government computer system that could be made to work? Or is that hoping for too much?<br />yes it is.<br />John GibsonAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25200961.post-59574224392013900162010-05-07T13:43:34.748+01:002010-05-07T13:43:34.748+01:00I think the paper voting system has a lot to be sa...I think the paper voting system has a lot to be said for it, including that it is paradoxically less easy to finagle than a computerized one would have been - see townmouse's and Leigh Simpson's comment.<br /><br />The problem here was understaffing and poor planning, notably a failure either to predict that turnout would be high, or to have a contingency in place for when it proved to be so.<br /><br />The worry of a "modernized" system would be the prospect of it going wrong, combined with the likelihood that modernization would almost certainly go with resource and staff cutting (less stations, less people to step in in case IT-based systems broke down etc etc). <br /><br />The polling station foul-ups actually remind me oddly of the hospital bed occupancy/blocking/ number reduction problem. What do you think, Dr G?Dr Austhttp://draust.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25200961.post-67673953950227860572010-05-07T12:48:49.734+01:002010-05-07T12:48:49.734+01:00Regardless of the quality of government IT project...Regardless of the quality of government IT projects, electronic voting systems are fraught with danger. Fraud has been shown to be possible using the electronic voting machines used in the US, and an online system would have even more risk. The advantages of the current system are that it's incredibly simple, and that there's a paper trail left over at the end to check results.Leigh Simpsonhttp://blog.simpleigh.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25200961.post-87214963011754898092010-05-07T11:34:20.690+01:002010-05-07T11:34:20.690+01:00And if it went wrong we could end up without a gov...And if it went wrong we could end up without a government or a hanging chad scenario.Dr Grumblehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04417731064007601504noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25200961.post-29237077177814721332010-05-07T10:33:12.117+01:002010-05-07T10:33:12.117+01:00I really hope not. Most governemnt IT is dreadfull...I really hope not. Most governemnt IT is dreadfully unreliable to put it politely.WendyCarolehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10855552019336659332noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25200961.post-26820038389239411372010-05-07T10:25:29.685+01:002010-05-07T10:25:29.685+01:00I think we all know what happens to government IT ...I think we all know what happens to government IT projects ... apart from anything else, it would be open to the perception of fraud - even if not actual fraud. Pencil, paper, and school halls are pretty transparent. I speak as an ex-IT person, and I would hate to see it all go online. I would go further and add in the requirement to dip your finger in indelible ink - not so much to combat fraud, as to make it pretty obvious who really did vote...townmousehttp://cityexile.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.com