04.29.09
In Memoriam John Gideon 1947-2009
In a gentle way you can shake the world.
- Mahatma Gandhi
The election integrity community was shocked and saddened to learn of the untimely passing of John Gideon, a gentle yet passionately committed giant who devoted himself to the mission which is posted at the top of the VotersUnite.org website: “to encourage citizen ownership of transparent, participatory democracy.”
Mahatma Gandhi believed that we must be the change we want to see in the world. This was well demonstrated when he helped India gain its independence. Gandhi was a revolutionary man, but he accomplished India’s emergence as a nation without starting a revolution. In fact, he advocated no violence. One of the most powerful countries in the world yielded to the commitment of one man and the dream of millions.
In his own way John Gideon took up the Gandhi’s prescription for changing the world without starting a revolution. He decided to be the change he wanted to see. John’s cause was election integrity and he followed Theodore Roosevelt’s prescription for how to go about it: “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” Read the rest of this entry »
04.27.09
Ireland abandons electronic voting
According to a recent report in the Irish Times, the Irish Republic has decided to dump its 7,500 paperless electronic voting machines and retain paper ballots. There had been a proposal to add a Voter Verified Audit Trail (VVAT) to the paperless NEDAP machines but Irish Minister of the Environment John Gormley decided against that path, citing costs. http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2009/0423/breaking37.htm
“It is clear from consideration of the Report of the Commission on Electronic Voting that significant additional costs would arise to advance electronic voting in Ireland. This decision has been taken to avoid such costs, especially at a time of more challenging economic conditions.”
But Gormley stated that he felt that the decision was also justified by other considerations:
“The public appeared to be broadly satisfied with the present paper-based system and that this had to be recognised.
“The assurance of public confidence in the democratic system is of paramount importance and it is vital to bring clarity to the present situation.” Read the rest of this entry »
New Option for Visually Impaired Voters
Oregon has been leading the way in providing access to disabled voters and has just announced a new enhancement that will address the needs of visually impaired voters — large format ballots (LFB). Many voters with vision problems simply need larger type sizes on the printed page rather than electronic voting devices called DRE (Direct Recording Electronic) machines.
One of the chief arguments for the continued use of DRE’s in elections across the US is the perception that DRE’s are needed to provide access for disabled voters. Oregon is proving that this is not the only way to assist those who have vision impairments. Read the rest of this entry »
