I am a software engineer but only one person my idea would need more people to implement and get a prototype made.
Humans can't be trusted to do the right thing. Humans say moot or no standing. Humans print extra ballots. Humans block other humans from observing. Humans abuse SOFTWARE that was made by other humans to be exploited.
Machines do as they are programmed to do. Restrict functions and access at all possible points and pair with other forms of checks and validation then you have something that is almost unfraudable.
My idea "self checkout" and self auditing.
Make all ballots cast public. Let people see their ballot online and verify it is in its original state. Open source.
Places that are red states will need these machines to stay red.
Places that are traditionally red but inexplicably went blue need these machines.
This is how we continue to have rights when no else will stand up for us.
We know the voting machines are the problem, so what are we waiting for? Let's get rid of those and put in our own.
I don't think it will cost that much to make. Really need simple hardware, less functionality the better. I don't think it will take that long with a few people - look at what u/doggos did!
Some pedes are running for office, some of us have different skills that can be put to use.
WHY DON'T WE?
The machines I have in mind -
Vote on the machine, get a receipt with your vote and a unique ID for your ballot. These never connect to the internet. Totally closed with one receipt in the machine, one paper receipt kept under lock and key, the last receipt you take with you.
Still hashing out the way to get the voter to directly upload their vote without anyone else handling it at any point.
Once results are posted you use your ID to look up your vote to make sure it wasn't changed. . If it was, then there would be a way to remedy it based on your receipt, the other paper receipt and other situational information.
Use a number of different checks - # of people through the door vs # of votes cast at that location. Random phone count updates throughout the day so any abnormal spikes in data would become obvious. Simple things to add security outside of the machines.
Microsoft made a voting machine with a variety of audit trails and verifications. Basically their India devs made something based off their non-retarded voting standards in India.
But the 2 main issues are; no matter what a human you can't trust will be involved and election security is weak by design. We could easily improve elections in a hundred different ways, but having terrible election standards is the goal.
I know just enough about technology/code to know how the future is stupid and has far more vulnerabilities than old tech like paper. It's a miracle half this technology works at all. A physical paper trail that can't be hacked, deleted, or digitally adjusted or miscalculated by some minor code issue (which happens all the damn time).
I agree, most technology is terrifyingly insecure.
That's why a closed system machine vote + 2 separate paper trails, one of which decentralizes the power of whoever thinks they can rig the election by giving it to the voter directly.
It would be very simple code under the cover. VERY SIMPLE.
I'm not sure what you mean by ' election security'
And yes, live data uploaded in real time + party observers to report on machine numbers periodically throughout the day from the closed system seems pretty secure to me, no?
With other dumb technology added in.
Smart technology + dumb technology = win?
Yes. Wanting to let people have control over their votes at all times.
Making it difficult to fake a vote.
Stuff like that.