Doug,

I think the ATM's are a novel approach to solving the voting problems, but
I propose we use a more pervasive set of technologies.  Have the local
election boards that currently exist issue each "registered voter" a PIN
number on an enclosed postcard before each election.  Then, these cards are
sent via U.S. mail to the registered voter's home of record.

Next, each voter could then use these cards in combination with their
social security number as passwords to enter a voter website for their
state/county/whatever subdivision and vote online.  Also, have a sister
system that would use an 800 number that can prompt you to vote for each
office on the ticket and whatever propositions may be up for vote.  These
technologies would permit almost everyone in the country easy access at
anytime during the voting window.  Also, as long as you got your PIN number
soon enough, it wouldn't matter if you're out of town on election day.  You
could still vote.  However, as Dave remarked below, we should still allow
paper absentee voting in the event anyone (Armed Forces personnel come to
mind) may not be in a location that provides telephone service or web
access.

With the savings in voting machine costs, polling place rentals and polling
personnel it could probably pay for itself in one general election.
Besides, I wouldn't have to be hassled by the long lines and last minute
pitches for votes by the candidates' reps outside the polling place.  Now
is the time for us in the US to show the rest of the world that we learn
from our mistakes!!

John Hornberger

P.S.  The above statements are MY personal opinions and DO NOT represent
the views
         of my employers!!



As long as the ATM card does not develop into an ID card (as would have the
Healthcare Card under the Hillary nationalized healthcare plan), I'm all
for
it!

The following would keep me happy and avoid me turning into a paranoid
conspiracy theorist:
1) The card is issued locally.
2) Data stored about the card issuee may not be released to any
governmental
agency, even with a court order.
3) The use of ATM voting is optional - traditional alternatives must exist.
4) The card can not be "merged" with cards that are required for any other
function (i.e. driver's license, SS card.

-dtd

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Doug Becker [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: Friday, December 01, 2000 1:24 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: OT: ATM Voting
>
>
> I wanted to find out what you all thought about using ATM
> Voting for the next general election?
>
> Since I work for a County, from my perspective it would be
> quite cost effective for the County and profitable to whoever
> did the programming.
>
> I am in the process of contacting the National ATM Business
> Development Manager for Bank of America--he's out of the
> office until next week. The good folks at Bank of America are
> taking this seriously, at least for the moment.
>
> You can see more of my proposal at:
>
> http://www.mind-set.com/
>
> [Is Wirt the only one who will understand Schrodinger's Election?]
>
> By the way, if you don't want to use http://www.mind-set.com/
> you can always use:
>
> http://www.assertiveincompetence.com/     or
> http://www.assertiveincompetence.net/       or
> http://www.assertiveincompetence.org/
>