An e-voting machine expected for use in the 2012 presidential election is experiencing anomalies, increasing scrutiny on the system’s reliability as elections loom. The Electronic Assistance Commission’s formal investigative report revealed the DS200 machine, used only in Ohio and Wisconsin, failed to record votes, logged in the wrong vote, and often froze up, jeopardizing voting accuracy. Testing protocol included powering off the machine between votes and inserting ballots at various angles. The government group, which certifies electronic voting, reportedly won’t decertify the machines because manufacturer, Electronic Systems & Software, said it fixed the issues.
Every jurisdiction using the older version of the machines will replace them with the updated model. In addition, the DS200 reads, records and counts paper ballots that have been cast by voters, so the paper ballots can still be used to test the reliability of the processing and allows for recounts and audits.
The news comes at a time when election officials are exploring digital and mobile solutions to extend voter participation. For example, the state of Oregon’s election workers, armed with iPads and portable printers, plan to travel to parks, nursing homes, community centers and anywhere else they find voters having trouble with traditional paper ballots in a five-county area. Oregon’s initiative will enable voters in five counties to call up the right ballot and tap the screen to pick a candidate in this month’s special primary election.
Full Article: E-Voting Problems Cast Shadow on Elections – Mobiledia.