Speaker 1: So we're diving deep into voting machines today.
Speaker 2: Yeah, fascinating topic, right.
Speaker 1: It really is. It feels like there's so much confusion
and mistrust around them, especially after the twenty twenty election.
Speaker 2: Oh yeah, absolutely, a lot of talk, a lot of
theories floating around exactly.
Speaker 1: So we're cutting through the noise today, relying on reporting
from the Associated Press to give everyone the facts about
voting machine accuracy and security. Sounds good to start us off.
Can we just like get on the same page. What
exactly are we talk about when we say voting machines?
Speaker 2: Yeah, good point. It's easy to picture that one little booth,
but there's a whole network of tech behind it. Yeah,
voter registration systems, election management systems, the works.
Speaker 1: Wow.
Speaker 2: And all of that is software computers, you know, which,
as we know, are always perfect.
Speaker 1: Right. It's like we see the tip of the iceberg
with that voting booth. But underneath, Yeah, there's this massive
system we don't think about. So break it down for us.
What are the key parts and how do they all
work together?
Speaker 2: Okay, so imagine it like this. You've got these giant
databases for voter registration, making sure only eligible voters cast ballots, right.
Then there's election management systems handling everything from creating ballots
to tracking them, and of course the reporting system that
spits out those unofficial results on election nights.
Speaker 1: Oh yeah, those can be nail biders totally.
Speaker 2: And let's not forget those electronic pullbooks they use to
check us in when we vote. Right, So much tech involved, Yeah,
it's pretty amazing.
Speaker 1: But all this reliance on computers, it does make you
wonder about the risks. What are some of the things
experts are most worried about.
Speaker 2: Well, anytime you have technology, you're going to have vulnerabilities.
That's just the reality. Yeah, so election officials work really
hard to minimize those risks, you know, isolating key systems
from the Internet, using those secure storage devices to move
data around, being really careful about who has access to
what makes sense.
Speaker 1: But what about Internet connectivity in general? Our voting machines
actually connected to the web. That seems to be a
big concern for people.
Speaker 2: Ah, the good news is most are not directly connected. Okay,
but there are exceptions, Like any rule, some smaller areas
might use private networks to transmit those unofficial results quickly
after polls closed.
Speaker 1: So it's a trade off then speed versus security.
Speaker 2: Exactly, And that's where you get some debate. Some computer
security experts argue that any Internet connection, even a private one,
is a potential weak point. They really push for a
strict air gap between voting systems and the Internet.
Speaker 1: What exactly does air gap mean? Sounds intense?
Speaker 2: Uh huh it does. Picture two islands, one with all
that sensitive voting data, the other is public Internet access,
no bridge between them, no way for information to flow directly.
Speaker 1: Got it?
Speaker 2: That isolation is key for protecting the system from outside threats.
Speaker 1: Like putting the Crown jewels in a vault with no
Wi Fi exactly. Speaking of threats, those twenty sixteen reports
of Russia scanning voter registration systems were pretty.
Speaker 2: Alarming, definitely raise a lot of red flag.
Speaker 1: Have things improved security wise since then?
Speaker 2: Absolutely? After twenty sixteen, election systems got designated as critical
infrastructure by the government. Oh wow, that means agencies like
SISA can step in offer free cybersecurity reviews and vulnerability
testing to election offices across the country.
Speaker 1: Okay, that's a huge step.
Speaker 2: It is they're really working hard to protect our voting systems.
Speaker 1: Good to know, But I'm guessing even with these improvements,
there are still concerns. What are some of the things
that keep cybersecurity experts up at night?
Speaker 2: One big one is electronic ballot marking machines, You know
those ones where you make your choices on a screen
and it prints a paper ballot. Some experts argue that
because those machines rely on software, they're inherently more open
to tampering than traditional hand marked paper ballots.
Speaker 1: I see that. It's like that classic trade off we
see everywhere. Technology offers convenience and efficiency, but also sometimes
brings new complexities and vulnerabilities. For sure, makes you appreciate
the simple reliability of a hand marked paper ballot.
Speaker 2: Absolutely, there's something to be said for that.
Speaker 1: So let's shift gears a bit and talk about accuracy.
How can we be sure our votes are being counted
correctly no matter what kind of machine is used.
Speaker 2: That's the million dollar question, right it is?
Speaker 1: What safeguards are in place.
Speaker 2: It's a multi layered approach. First, you have physical security, okay,
locked rooms, limited access, tamper evidence seals on the machines themselves.
Speaker 1: Uh huh.
Speaker 2: Then before each election, there's rigorous testing running sample ballots
through the system to make sure everything's counting correctly.
Speaker 1: It's like a dress rehearsal for election day.
Speaker 2: Exactly, making sure everyone knows their parts and the stage
is set.
Speaker 1: Uh huh, I like that.
Speaker 2: And then after the election there are post election reviews
to double check for any weirdness or inconsistencies. Okay, and
here's the crucial part. Almost all ballots in the US
a wopping ninety eight percent have paper record. Really wow, Yeah,
that paper trail is like a tangible backup. If there's
an error or a cyber attack, you can always go
back to the source, like having a receipt for your
vote precisely. Even in our digital world, paper still plays
a vital role in ensuring election integrity.
Speaker 1: It's reassuring to know it is.
Speaker 2: It helps with those simple human errors too, you know,
accidental miscounts or data entry mistakes. Yeah, you can always
go back and double check thanks to that paper trail.
Speaker 1: Speaking of double checking, we can't ignore the twenty twenty election,
all those claims of fraud and rigged voting machines. Yeah,
but ultimately no evidence was ever.
Speaker 2: Found, right, That's right, despite all the scrutiny recounts, audits, investigations,
no evidence of widespread fraud or manipulation.
Speaker 1: It's important to emphasize that absolutely, especially with all the
misinformation that was floating around.
Speaker 2: Yeah, it really speaks to the effectiveness of these security
measures and that paper record as a check and balance.
Speaker 1: Okay, so we've covered a lot of ground, the hidden
tech behind our votes, the layers of security in place.
Speaker 2: Yeah, it's quite a system.
Speaker 1: Before we dive into the twenty twenty election fallout and
the future of voting tech, I want to hear from you,
the listener, what stands out to you, What questions are
bubbling up. Take a moment to reflect, and we'll be
right back with part two of our Voting machine deep dive.
Speaker 2: Welcome back to our deep dive into voting machines.
Speaker 1: Yeah, picking up right where we left off.
Speaker 2: So we talked about the tech, the security measures, all
those checks and balances, but we can't ignore the elephant
in the room.
Speaker 1: Yeah, the twenty twenty election exactly.
Speaker 2: Even though no evidence of widespread fraud was found, the
amount of misinformation about voting machines really did a number
on public trust.
Speaker 1: It was like a free for all of conspiracy theories online, everyone.
Speaker 2: Had a different one, and social media just amplified everything.
Speaker 1: Oh yeah, remember all those claims about Dominion voting systems.
Speaker 2: Dominion one of the biggest voting machine companies. They became
the poster child for all these wild theories.
Speaker 1: Switched votes, foreign control, you name it.
Speaker 2: It was a perfect storm of misinformation, and unfortunately, it
had a real impact on people's faith in the system.
Speaker 1: It's a good reminder to be really careful about where
we're getting our information.
Speaker 2: From, especially in such a polarized environment.
Speaker 1: Even though those claims were debunked repeatedly, they still stuck around.
Speaker 2: Misinformation is tricky like that. It can take root even
without evidence, especially when influential figures are spreading it. And
the fact that Fox News had to settle that defamation
lawsuit with Dominion for seven hundred and eighty seven million dollars. Wow,
really highlights the damage that was done.
Speaker 1: Seven hundred and eighty seven million, that's wild.
Speaker 2: It really underscores the responsibility that media outlets have, especially
when reporting on something as sensitive as elections.
Speaker 1: Absolutely, words have power, and in the digital age that
power is magnified, no doubt.
Speaker 2: But let's shift gears for a second, you mentioned earlier
the importance of paper records as a safeguard against errors
or cyber attacks. Right, Why are those paper records so
crucial even in this digital age.
Speaker 1: Well, it's all about having that tangible backup, that physical
proof of your vote. Right. If something goes wrong with
the old Contron account, you can always go back to
those paper ballots. It's like the foundation of a house.
Speaker 2: Uh huh.
Speaker 1: You need that solid base to ensure stability.
Speaker 2: It's a great analogy. Those paper records act as that
bedrock of trust, making sure the electronic count matches the
votes cast exactly, there's a recount or an audit. Those
paper ballots become the ultimate authority. Low tech, but incredibly effective.
Speaker 1: It's reassuring.
Speaker 2: And it's not just about high tech threats either. Sure,
paper records are also helpful for catching those simple human
errors you know, miscounts, data entry mistakes. They happen, but
that paper trail allows officials to double check and make
sure things are accurate.
Speaker 1: Okay, So we have all these security measures, physical safeguards, testing,
post election reviews, and those crucial paper records, right, But
who's ultimately responsible for making sure everything runs smoothly? Is
it a national effort or more localized.
Speaker 2: That's a great question, and it gets to the heart
of how elections work in the US. Okay, we have
a decentralized system, meaning each state and often each county
has a lot of autonomy and how they run their elections.
Speaker 1: So it's not like there's one giant voting machine headquarters
calling all the shot uh huh.
Speaker 2: Nope, not at all. There are federal guidelines, but a
lot of the responsibility falls on state and local election officials.
Speaker 1: So they're the ones choosing the voting systems, implementing security measures,
conducting those pre impost election checks. That make sense given
how diverse the country is. But wouldn't this standardized national
system be more efficient?
Speaker 2: It might seem that way on the surface, but there
are counter arguments. Some people worry a centralized system could
become a single point of failure, more vulnerable to widespread
attacks I see. Others prefer the local control and flexibility
that a decentralized system allows for.
Speaker 1: So it's that classic trade off efficiency in standardization versus
resilience and local control.
Speaker 2: Exactly. Complex systems rarely have simple solutions. True that what's
important is that we have these discussions, understand the different
perspectives and weigh the pros and cons of different approaches.
Speaker 1: Well said, and that's what we're trying to do here,
equip our listeners with the knowledge to engage in these
conversations thoughtfully and informed. Absolutely, Before we jump into the
future of voting tech, I want to turn it back
over to you, the listener. What's resonating with you the most,
What new insights have you gained, What questions are still
swirling around in your head? Back for the final part
of our Voting Machine deep dive. In quite a journey, right,
it really has. We've gone from those physical machines to
the software to the paper records.
Speaker 2: Yeah, a lot to unpack, it is.
Speaker 1: And as we wrap up, it's worth remembering that this
world of voting tech is constantly evolving.
Speaker 2: Right, Always new stuff coming out, new challenges to think about.
Speaker 1: It feels like we're always trying to hit a moving
target when it comes to balancing security, accessibility and efficiency.
Speaker 2: Definitely a moving target. Speaking of, one topic that always
seems to spark debate is internet voting. Ooh yeah, the
idea of casting our ballots online from anywhere sounds futuristic.
It does, but also kind of scary, right a little bit.
Speaker 1: I mean it would be convenient, but are we ready
for that?
Speaker 2: It definitely raises a lot of questions. Proponents argue it
could boost voter turnout okay, especially among younger voters and
those with disabilities who might have trouble getting to the polls.
Speaker 1: Makes sense.
Speaker 2: It could also streamline the process and maybe even save money.
Speaker 1: Yeah, I could see the appeal, especially in our increasingly
digital world. But what about security? Didn't we learn from
twenty sixteen that online systems can be pretty vulnerable?
Speaker 2: That's the big question. Security is the biggest hurdle for
Internet voting. Critics argue that exposing our elections to the
world of cyber threats is just too risky. Even the
most secure systems can be compromised.
Speaker 1: And the consequences would be huge.
Speaker 2: Exactly imagine the chaos and distrust if there were allegations
of hacking or vote manipulation in an online election.
Speaker 1: It would undermine faith in the whole system.
Speaker 2: And it's not just outside threats either. There are concerns
about voter coercion or intimidation. If ballots are being cast
from personal devices.
Speaker 1: Right, someone else could be watching or controlling those devices.
Speaker 2: Exactly, it's a disturbing thought it is.
Speaker 1: It highlights that we need to think about the human
element too, not just the take itself.
Speaker 2: Absolutely so, despite the potential benefits, Internet voting remains a
really controversial topic.
Speaker 1: Yeah, strong arguments on both sides, and.
Speaker 2: It's something will likely be debating for years to come.
Speaker 1: So where do we go from here? How do we
navigate this ever changing world of voting technology while still
ensuring the integrity and security of our elections.
Speaker 2: First and foremost, we need to stay informed, understanding the
different types of voting systems, the security measures, the ongoing debates.
Speaker 1: Right, knowledge is power Exactly.
Speaker 2: The more we know, the better equipped we are to
participate in these conversations and advocate for secure and accessible elections.
Speaker 1: And we need to demand transparency from our elected officials
and election administrators.
Speaker 2: Absolutely, we have a right to know how our votes
are being counted, what's being done to protect our elections,
and what plans are in place if something goes wrong.
Speaker 1: It's about holding those in power accountable.
Speaker 2: And making sure our voices are heard. Finally, I think
it's crucial to approach all of this with a critical
but open mind. Okay, technology is always changing. What might
seem impossible today could be a viable and secure option
in the future.
Speaker 1: That's a good point. Stay curious, keep asking questions, but.
Speaker 2: Always prioritize the security and integrity of our democracy.
Speaker 1: Well said. So, we've covered a lot in this deep dive,
from the complex technology behind the scenes, to the importance
of paper records, to the debates about the future of voting.
It's been quite the exploration it has and as we conclude,
I want to leave you with this thought, what role
do you believe citizens should play in ensuring fair, secure
and accessible elections. What questions will you be asking? What
actions will you be taking. The future of our democracy
depends on engaged and informed citizens like you, So thank
you for joining us on this deep dive into the
world of voting machines. We hope you've learned something new
and feel empowered to participate in shaping the future of
our elections.
Speaker 2: Stay curious, stay informed, and stay engaged.