Should eligible voters be able to register to vote online?

No

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by Can Tran

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Though it would be convenient to let people eligible to vote to register online, it is not necessarily the best way and it would be harmful in the long run. The problems associated with this concept are similar with those posed with the electronic voting booths. One such problem was that there would be no trail behind in case something goes wrong.

While the Diebold voting machines are not hooked up to the internet, someone could mess around with the software and the hardware. One could change the source code in the software that is used for such voting machines. Yes, all programs have a source code. A programmer could get paid to mess around with the source code of these voting machines. This is why there is controversy behind such voting machines.

Though, the use of such voting machines are convenient, they have too many problems associated with them.

With the mail-in registration, there is at least a paper trail that is left behind. If you do not get your voter registration card in the mail in the approximate time it should get there, you can always file a complaint with the local elections office. Then, they can find out what happened.

You do not have that luxury if you were registering online. Of course the method would be faster and more efficient; but, there are too many grave risks. Ever since 2003, there have been many worm viruses that have roamed around cyberspace hacking into computer systems and doing much damage.

In 2004, there was the Sasser worm that caused PCs to constantly reboot over and over again. This had caused a glitch at the end of April 2004. Many flights during that weekend were canceled. I spent my 22nd birthday trying to rid the worm from my computer. If a virus could cause that much damage, it can cause damage to the databases that such voter registration websites use.

Imagine what would happen if a virus had breached such data bases that have the information of people that register to vote. The personal information of each person that registered would have been compromised.

There is the possibility that such websites where you can register could be hacked. This brings us back to the major risk associated with electronic voting machines. While people could change the source code of the software and turn the votes to one candidate's favor, people could hack into such website and delete the information of registrants that choose a party affiliation.

Someone could hack into such websites and mess around with the records of those that registered to vote. The programmer could erase the information that registered as either a Republican or Democrat.

That alone is highly detrimental as it will harm the outcome of elections. In short, it would hurt the integrity of future elections. For example, you are a Democrat living in a state where it is having its Democratic primary. You're excited about the candidate and you want to vote for that person. Then there is the possibility that the primary is only open to registered Democrats.

You don't get your voter registration card, that is going to cause problems. You have to have a voter registration card present when you vote in most cases. With a mail-in ballot, you can be assured that you can get your card. Through electronic voting, there is a chance that your information did not go through.

Without your registration card, you can't vote.

When you get your voter registration card there is also a designated location for you to go in order to vote. A person could hack into the website before the new registration cards are issued. In turn, that person can change the locations on the cards. One could designate voters either party-affiliated or non-affiliated to one specific location.

That scenario would create a lot of chaos and turmoil. You would have an influx of registered voters that cannot vote because they are not at their proper locations. It is going to take hours or possibly days to sort out the mess.

By then, a candidate could simply give up as a result.

While a registering through the mail or by other physical means takes a long time, it is the better way. At least there is a paper trail behind.

There is no such thing as a safe system. Today, there are people hacking into government systems. Those people have not been caught, yet. If they are skilled enough to hack into high-security government systems, then they should be skilled enough to hack into such websites that allow for voters to register online.

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