Re: Hand Recounts of votes recorded on DREs
Dick, thanks for your message. Since part of the user interface is
actually touching the screen, your automated test harness needs to
include that component. And note that the testing of software or
systems only detects the presence of bugs, not their absence. It
can't test for trapdoors, for example. It couldn't test for the
presence of what is described in the claimed at URLs:
http://globalresearch.ca/articles/MEN412A.html
http://www.onlinejournal.com/Special_Reports/120604Madsen/120604madsen.html
and http://www.solutionassoc.com/TruthFire/blog/
While I reserve judgment on whether these allegations have any basis
in truth, I do think it important that our computerized election
systems are based on standards that make it feasible to refute the
substance of these allegations.
Best regards,
Arthur
At 12:35 PM -0500 12/7/04, Dick Johnson wrote:
>Arthur,
>
>A testing of the DREs used in an election should allow you to
>evaluate the system within statistical limits. Simulating the
>election should give you the information you want; you can compare
>known inputs to observed outputs. Since this is post election, it
>does not satisfy the same requirements as would AVVPAT. An
>automated test system should fill the bill very well, however, of
>estimating the performance of a given voting system.
>
>This is my personal and professional opinion, and it does not
>necessarily reflect the opinions of my employer.
>
>Cheers!
>
>-- Dick
>
>Richard C. Johnson, Ph.D.
>Applications Architect
>Oracle Corporation
>631-689-3736
>
>
>
>Arthur Keller wrote:
>
>>At 2:24 AM -0600 12/7/04, Vern Williams wrote:
>>
>>>It would be interesting if you would compare the accuracy of the
>>>DRE voting systems with Mark Sense and see which is more accurate.
>>
>>
>>I understand how you go back and check the accuracy of the Mark Sense
>>systems by hand comparing the paper record with the electronic
>>record. The thing many people are concerned about is how you
>>determine the accuracy of a DRE voting system, particularly in a real
>>election. What do you use, exit polls? The benefit of a
>>combination of paper and electronic records (such as in DREs with
>>AVVPATs or precinct-based optical scanned paper ballots) is that you
>>can do effective audit and recount checks.
>>
>>Best regards,
>>Arthur
>>
>>--
>>-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>Arthur M. Keller, Visiting Associate Professor, Computer Science Dept.
>>University of California, Baskin School of Engineering, Room 153B,
>>1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95066-1077
>>tel +1(831)459-1485, fax +1(831)459-4829, www.soe.ucsc.edu/~ark
--
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arthur M. Keller, Visiting Associate Professor, Computer Science Dept.
University of California, Baskin School of Engineering, Room 153B,
1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95066-1077
tel +1(831)459-1485, fax +1(831)459-4829, www.soe.ucsc.edu/~ark