I worked in politics for a while, and I can tell you the basic problem is mostly logistical and trust related.
Let's take your example, which would be a much improved user experience by the way, and look at the trust/logistical breakpoints. Now wait, not doing this to beat down your idea. I think it's a GREAT idea, but here's all the nightmare detail that would be required before we could get it going. Let's assume people can use ATMs to vote, and that they can enter a candidate's name via an on screen touch type interface if they want to do a write in: 1. Who certifies the security of the ATMs? Currently this is done by hundreds of independent little firms. That wouldn't fly for elections, so we'd need a special new group to do it. 2. Which ATMs qualify? There are hundreds of thousands of little free-standing ATMS that are easily exploitable by anyone who has some knowledge of mag-readers and basic electronic engineering. Surely those would be out. So does that mean only ATMs at brick/mortar institutions? 3. Are the technicians that service the ATMS (again, some by banks, some by independent companies) trustworthy? How do we know they won't cause mischief. 4. Like in some states, pure electronic voting would probably not be enough, so you'd also have to count a generated paper-ballot, which in your example could be a receipt from the ATM. You'd need 2, one receipt to leave there as a paper-copy in case a hand-tally was needed, one for you to keep as your official receipt. Logistical problem: how do you collect those paper copies? Do you have a desk set up next to the ATMs with another machine that takes those receipts? Or a person? Is the person trustworthy? Do they meet election commission requirements? How does the paper get to an official polling place? 5. How do you coordinate people with multiple accounts in different banks? You'd need a new electronic / software infrastructure that makes sure they can only vote in one place, once. 6. What happens if I actually want to withdraw money that day? Do I have to wait in line for all the people using the ATMs to vote? Gads, there are tons more. BUT, to assume "magical thinking" (which is to say, if we imagine how it -should- be) the model would actually be pretty simple: 1. Create a central data repository of voter IDs (either by SSN or some voter ID number). 2. Create a special PIN that is sent out to voters prior to the election, each fairly unique, matched to their voter ID, and has a use-once attribute. 3. Let people use -any- networked interface (why stop at ATMs, how about just my computer?) by entering their address, and their PIN, and perhaps one additional ID (like credit card info, serving as a third party check on identity). 4. Register that the vote -occurred- against the voter ID database (not the nature of the vote, just that it happened) and the location of the vote (or IP address). 5. Generate an electronic receipt for local store or printing and/or ask if the voter would like a paper copy sent to them. Done. It wouldn't be that hard, but it requires a reworking of the system, and there are a lot of precursor steps that aren't listed here. That's really the problem. There's a huge amount of bureaucratic infrastructure built into the current system (along with parties interested in maintaining their plum jobs) which would have to be changed or gotten rid of in order to implement a new one. That's really the trip up point. Consider for example the IRS, which has virtually -no- duty that could not simply be automated with a very simple set of scripts (except for the actual job of harassing people and/or investigating problems). The problem really isn't lack of vision or will, it's having the required endurance and political ware-withal to change the system and alienate the people invested in the current model. Plus, you still need congress (with all of its individual constituency concerns) to approve a plan, and boy o boy, won't there be a lot of riders and add-on amendments to any bill that fundamentally changes the nature of voting (the lifeblood of the very people who would have to agree-to and implement the change). Hey, I guess it -is- like redesigning the UI for a major entrenched application. =) -Damon Susan wrote: > Had a thought... this actually circles back to my original intended > subject line to the White House. > > And was inspired by hearing thoughts from a fellow voter after this > election. She asked, "Why is it we can use ATMs to easily and > reliably manage our finances, yet there's nothing easier they can > provide to submit a vote, and to know it's been counted?" > > Great question. Jared, you said making voting more error-free for > citizens is a difficult problem, can you expand upon why? Could it be > the cost of providing ATM-like touchscreen equipment? > > So here's a thought. Now that we, the citizens of the US, are the > primary shareholders in many major banks... why can't we get them to > swap out their firmware/ software on election day, install a voting > program, staff the ATMs with volunteers... etc! Think about it, the > security cameras are already set up, they are already designed to be > accessible, they would just need a couple of curtains... wouldn't it > be great to insert your "authenticatable" voting card into the slot, > complete your voting transaction, insert a deposit envelope to write > in a candidate if you like :) , get your receipt and be on your merry > way? > > Seriously...? > > > . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . > Posted from the new ixda.org > http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=37630 > > > ________________________________________________________________ > Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! > To post to this list ....... disc...@ixda.org > Unsubscribe ................ http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe > List Guidelines ............ http://www.ixda.org/guidelines > List Help .................. http://www.ixda.org/help > ________________________________________________________________ Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! 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