The same argument has been made against other open source software. Yet there is a lot of open source software used to power very large businesses. The Linux operating system is fully open-source, Apache web server (the one that powers about 60% of the internet) is open-source, etc. The cryptography algorithms used by intelligence agencies are usually the same used in open-source crypto programs. The algorithms are so secure in part because they are public knowledge and thus can be vetted by anyone.

Opening the source should actually make things more secure, as you will have many, many more people looking at the code.

Of course, I cringe at the thought of 90 year old poll workers who can’t set the time on their VCRs managing electronic voting machines.

As far as I know, the proprietary code from the vendors is held in each state in escrow. Seems like opening the code to the public would invite more folks intent on sabotaging the process.

But I guess there’s no perfect solution because there will always be those who are hellbent on scamming the system.

The voting process should be as transparent as absolutely possible to ensure that all parties involved are getting fair treatment. As a software developer, I’m all for voting machines code being open to the public. There shouldn’t be any legitimate trade secrets involved with counting the amount of times people press areas on a touchscreen.

And as for them being as unreliable as reports have indicated today, that surely needs to be remedied. Paying for machines that don’t work is a joke.