TERMINAL ANACHRONISM #6
This series focuses on the various vestigial artifacts of our technological society that remain in occasional use but are very much out of time.
(see also: public pay phones, higher education, goddamn wheelchairs, etc.)
TODAY’S CANDIDATE: Paper Ballot Booth Voting in the U.S.
VERDICT: Vulnerable Now; Really Should be Replaced
It Seems Obvious, Yeah?
How is it that here in 2012 we still have to physically go to a location to cast a ballot for almost any election? Exceptions are out there, such as Oregon’s Vote by Postal Mail System, but for the most part it’s a commute to a special location with inflexible hours, probably miss some work, and instead of a receipt for verification, you get the patronizing “I Voted” sticker.
Developing & Implementing Internet-Based Voting
Here’s the plan: first, pulling on some patriotic heartstrings, convince a bunch of America’s top tech companies to develop the system pro-bono. Apple, Google, Amazon, HP, IBM, Sun, Anthrobotic.com, Twitter, Facebook, etc.; companies engaged in actual market competition would have a huge motivation to keep each other honest and not be the loser who screwed everything up. Labor and product development is a tax write-off, and, as a consortium, these companies could distribute the product abroad for profit.
Spitballing…
We’d need a universal, cross-platform/cross-device app with competing multi-level security protocols, and, oh… let’s say 5-7 required ID Points: 1. SSN or Tax ID#, 2. DOB, 3. Individual QR Code, 4. Secret Q/A, 5. PIN, 6. Facial Recognition, 7. Fingerprint
BOOM!
But what do YOU Think?
Anthrobotic wants your vote!
Well, wants you to vote, is the thing.
Facebook Question – Anthrobotic Asks (voting closed – comment below):
:: In the 21st century, should voting in local, state, and federal elections ::
1. Remain Paper-Based (including reverting current flawed electronic systems)
2. Internet-Based (designed and implemented by a new government office)
3. Internet-Based (designed and implemented by a government contractor)
4. Internet-Based (designed and implemented by a consortium of tech companies)
5. Your suggestions?
Vote, ironically, at Anthrobotic’s Facebook Page (voting closed – comment below).
And, give Anthrobotic’s Facebook page a Like, if you, you know, like.
[ONLINE VOTING PIECE FROM LAST YEAR’S CYCLE – CNN]
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Costs the same. Amazon gets your business. Anthrobotic gets a digital high-five. Win³.
