Voting by Smart Phone: There's a App for this?

[CoolBreeze]

Estonians Vote by Smartphones in Coming Elections

The national government amended an information technology project, to include investment for electronic signatures and mobile voting.

The initiative is part of a 6-million-euro investment plan for 2010 to 2011 and is supported by the European Regional Development Fund.

Since 2007, a mobile identification application has been used in Estonia for all the same services as passports – except for voting. Until now, an ID card reader was necessary for that, but next year citizens can vote in national elections on their computer or a cell phone with Internet access, using an electronic signature, said the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communication. The electronic signatures will be assigned by the Police and Border Guard Board through an automated online application process.

http://news.err.ee/f3dd5939-dbed-462c-8627-d56272317872

[AmpedNow]

How long now before someone in the state legislature declares smartphones "a basic human right", and proposes sending every resident a free iPhone?

[genlock]

Hacker infiltration ends D.C. online voting trial

Last week, the D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics opened a new Internet-based voting system for a weeklong test period, inviting computer experts from all corners to prod its vulnerabilities in the spirit of "give it your best shot." Well, the hackers gave it their best shot -- and midday Friday, the trial period was suspended, with the board citing "usability issues brought to our attention."

Here's one of those issues: After casting a vote, according to test observers, the Web site played "Hail to the Victors" -- the University of Michigan fight song.

"The integrity of the system had been violated," said Paul Stenbjorn, the board's chief technology officer.

[CoolBreeze]

That's simply because the programs we design here in America are like our cars.... 2 steps behind at all times.