New Jersey residents displaced by Sandy will be allowed to vote via e-mail
Residents must first submit a ballot application by e-mail or fax to their county clerk
Attempts to make it easier for those who have been forced to leave their communities and for those workers away from home who are busy with disaster-relief efforts
Displaced storm victims qualify as “oversea voters”
Critics argue that Internet-based voting systems pose security risks
Argue internet-based voting systems are more vulnerable to hacking and other security risks
Opens the door to new forms of election mischief
This news story provides yet another example of the implications to technology. There are security implications to this new e-mail voting system due to the fact that e-mail is “not at all authenticated, reliable, or confidential.” Although recent technology can offer simple methods for solving such problems like this, technology-oriented solutions may not always lead to the right answer. The fact of the matter is that voting through e-mail cannot sustain authenticity, and it increases the opportunity for error in the election process.
This really puts our technology-dependent society to the test. It also questions technology’s value and the role that it plays during presidential elections.
