Linux vs. windows for voting systems?

[resonator80]

Computerized voting systems (aka DREs or Direct Recording Electronic)
must be based on an operating system, for example, Windows or Linux.

Linux has the advantage of being open so that all the source code can
be open. Windows source code will not be opened to anyone.

Some people have argued that the basic Windows operating system can
remain secret as long as the voting application program (i.e. C,
Python, etc) is open.

Here are some questions about such an arrangement.

1. Could someone tamper with the Windows OS or put in some additional
code that would not be found in an inspection of the application
program that could alter the results?

2. Could viruses and other malware affect the OS and, ultimately, an
election without its effects being detected by examining the
application program?

Any other comments are welcome.

Thanks,
Bill Edelstein
Baltimore, MD

 

[Shenan Stanley]

Computerized voting systems (aka DREs or Direct Recording
Electronic) must be based on an operating system, for example,
Windows or Linux.

Linux has the advantage of being open so that all the source code
can be open. Windows source code will not be opened to anyone.

Some people have argued that the basic Windows operating system can
remain secret as long as the voting application program (i.e. C,
Python, etc) is open.

Here are some questions about such an arrangement.

1. Could someone tamper with the Windows OS or put in some
additional code that would not be found in an inspection of the
application program that could alter the results?

2. Could viruses and other malware affect the OS and, ultimately, an
election without its effects being detected by examining the
application program?

Any other comments are welcome.

Thanks,
Bill Edelstein
Baltimore, MD

Posting it twice?

Homework assignment?

1) Possibly - any OS/software could be affected this way.
2) Possibly - again any OS/software could be affected this way.

You'd have to be much more detailed in order to be able to give a definitive
answer. After all - who is examining the application/operating system? How
is it secured physically and with software? Is it on a network or not? How
is the data collected stored? Is it ever transferred anywhere? etc and so
on.

 

[news]

Computerized voting systems (aka DREs or Direct Recording Electronic)
must be based on an operating system, for example, Windows or Linux.

Linux has the advantage of being open so that all the source code can
be open. Windows source code will not be opened to anyone.

Some people have argued that the basic Windows operating system can
remain secret as long as the voting application program (i.e. C,
Python, etc) is open.

Here are some questions about such an arrangement.

1. Could someone tamper with the Windows OS or put in some additional
code that would not be found in an inspection of the application
program that could alter the results?

2. Could viruses and other malware affect the OS and, ultimately, an
election without its effects being detected by examining the
application program?

Any other comments are welcome.

Thanks,
Bill Edelstein
Baltimore, MD

if you look at the issue of electronic voting systems in this country
and any other country - it is a major concern that these systems
(regardless of OS) can NOT be trusted.

it's too easy to pay off a programmer or dirty CEO to rig the voting
application to a predetermined outcome.

you can implement these if you like, but a paper ballot should still be
required! You should NOT trust your government - power corrupts,
absolute power corrupts absolutely! Look at this current US regime in
power - they are a bunch of fascist pigs and they are proud of it!

http://www.physicsforums.com/archive/index.php/t-28495.html

http://www.oldamericancentury.org/14pts.htm



Please get some good history books and read what the founding fathers of
this country stated. Most of them stated the same thing I just
mentioned - you should NOT trust people with power.


Oskar

 

[HeyBub]

if you look at the issue of electronic voting systems in this country
and any other country - it is a major concern that these systems
(regardless of OS) can NOT be trusted.

it's too easy to pay off a programmer or dirty CEO to rig the voting
application to a predetermined outcome.

you can implement these if you like, but a paper ballot should still
be required! You should NOT trust your government - power corrupts,
absolute power corrupts absolutely! Look at this current US regime in
power - they are a bunch of fascist pigs and they are proud of it!

But, in spite of the current power elites being Fascist pigs, it was almost
exclusively the other party that is traditionally caught/accused of voting
"irregularities."

It the votes for the current administration were artificially inflated, I
think God did it.

In many jurisdictions, paper ballots - the kind with all the offices on a
single sheet - are physically impossible. In my county (Houston) we have
eight justice precincts, eight constables, 12-odd state legislative and 9
state senate districts. We have five congressional districts, 5 county
courts, 20 district courts, (plus sundry other courts like domestic
relations, juvenile, probate, etc.) and about 20 cities and towns each with
multiple mayors, councilmen, etc. We have water control districts, special
tax districts, at least eight school districts, and more.

The permutations are almost limitless.

What we COULD do is have some kind of voting device that punched holes in a
piece of cardboard...

Hmm. Wow! I wonder if that's been patented?

Poking holes in paper is beyond the abilities of most Democrats, so we'll
stand a much better chance of establishing the dynasty. After that, nothing
will stop the monarchy.

 

[Susan Bradley]

Exactly what does this have to do with SBS?

 

[news]

Exactly what does this have to do with SBS?

his questions about which OS is better for a voting application. The
answer is neither! It's all about who has access to the source code!

 

[Susan Bradley, CPA aka Ebitz - SBS Rocks [MVP]]

And he posted to the SBS newsgroup... so again, what does this have to
do with SBS?

I can see his question.. but unless he's willing to post an ipconfig
/all it has no relevance in this newsgroup.

 

[Russ Grover \(SBITS.Biz\)]

SBS2003 is not a good choice for a voting system... IMO

--

Russell Grover
SBITS.Biz
Microsoft Certified Small Business Specialist.
MCP, MCPS, MCNPS, (MCP-SBS)
support @ SBITS.Biz
Remote SBS2003 Support
http://www.SBITS.Biz

 

[Joe]

his questions about which OS is better for a voting application. The
answer is neither! It's all about who has access to the source code!

And you need a compiler you can trust. And the source code to that
compiler. And to the compiler that compiled that one....