Save Voting!

originally published March 28, 2007

Proposal for a method of making the electronic voting machine system currently used in the United States of America tamper-proof:

1. Use identical machines throughout the nation. Number each machine.

2. Have each machine assign an anonymous consecutive number to each voter who uses it on Election Day.

3. Have the machines print two receipts: one for the bipartisan board of elections, the other for the voter to take home.

4. At the top of each receipt will be printed the voting machine’s number, in the middle will be a printed record of the votes cast, and at the bottom will be printed the voter’s assigned number.

5. Post all the votes on the Internet, identified only by voting machine number and the anonymous numbers assigned to the voters, in this form: At the center top of the Internet display will be the voting machine number. Clicking on the “back” icon or “forward” icon will allow anyone to check the votes from other machines or ensure that all the machines are accounted for.

In a column to the far left, from top to bottom, will be a list of the consecutive numbers assigned the voters using the machine that day. To ensure that no appreciable amount of extra votes could be surreptitiously added, the number of voters displayed for each precinct could be compared with the number of voters registered in the books at the polling place. As an alternative, random numbers could be assigned which, nonetheless, would appear “consecutivized” on the Internet, so that you could easily find yours. Again, the total number of voters could be compared with registration records, and you could also see if yours had been deleted simply by looking it up. The advantage of doing it this way, over consecutively assigned numbers, is that it would keep nosy poll workers from looking up your votes, knowing that you were the last one into the polling station. The disadvantage, of course, is that it would be harder “at a glance” to determine if the gaps appearing on the Internet display were from numbers not assigned, or numbers deleted.

To the right of these numbers, on the Internet display, will be the votes cast, starting with president, then vice-president, etc. These will be under headings at the top of the screen, forming columns. Tallies of all the votes cast will be in a row at the bottom of the screen, under the columns for each vote category. This will make it possible for anyone to check their vote, as well as tallies, and ensure that every vote was counted by scrolling down the column of consecutive numbers to make sure that none are missing. If anyone’s vote did NOT appear on the Internet, they could take their receipt to the board of elections and complain!

Gordon Lee Stelter

Athens

Red Cross Month

originally published March 28, 2007

America is a special place, where someone you may not know will give you their blood, save you from drowning, or provide you with shelter. In 1943, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt recognized the American Red Cross as a true reflection of that humanitarian, volunteer spirit and proclaimed March as Red Cross Month. This is a tradition that has been honored by every president since. The East Georgia Chapter of the American Red Cross has dedicated this month to recognizing some of the countless people who make the lifesaving work of the Red Cross possible in Athens-Clarke County.

Although hurricanes and tsunamis make the headlines, the day-to-day work of the Red Cross is centered on communities like ours and done by volunteers. This past year, 800 neighbors volunteered through the Red Cross. They provided assistance at 188 single family fires, donated 11,600 units of blood, taught over 9,082 residents First Aid and CPR, taught 2,000 people Lifeguarding and Water Safety Fundamentals, and assisted over 300 military personnel in the field.

As Chairman of the East Georgia Chapter, I believe we can take great pride in what we’ve done together. Much has changed since that first Red Cross Month in 1943. But one thing has not. Athens-Clarke County is still a place where neighbors help neighbors, and your support of our Red Cross is a true reflection of that spirit. Together, we are saving lives!

Tammy Tate Gilland

Chair, East Georgia Chapter of the American Red Cross

I Beg to Differ

originally published March 28, 2007

Come on! Let us give Infernal Affairs a fair chance and a different perspective. [Lost Picture Show, Mar. 7] A “C” rating does no justice for such a brilliant movie. Infernal Affairs deserves much more credit than this awful rating. The Departed was a decent remake (which is rare these days), but it should not compete with Infernal Affairs . You can’t have a remake without the inspiration of the original. The Departed would not exist were it not for Infernal Affairs . The Departed is like a cover song. Asking which film is as good as the original is like asking which version of “All Along The Watchtower” is best… The plot, style, tensions between characters, faster pacing, creative scenarios, and interesting character development in Infernal Affairs has a more profound effect than The Departed . In fact, after watching The Departed twice, I was tired of it… it’s long… it wastes time spelling out every detail to the audience. Infernal Affairs at least keeps you on your toes. When a guy falls off a rooftop, well, you really feel it.

To sum this rant up, I encourage any movie fans who have not seen Infernal Affairs to go and watch it with the subtitles ON and the English dub OFF! You will not be sorry… in fact, you may just like it better than The Departed . It really shouldn’t matter which one you see first, but if you can, watch the original first. If you have any appreciation for tasteful movies, culture and good old crime movies, you will enjoy Infernal Affairs. My Rating: A.

Curt Winger

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