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Somebody signed off on electronic voting; someone signed off on all the procedures and safeguards years ago. Etc. A hacking incident of this magnitude would in

by korzun 9y ago

Somebody signed off on electronic voting; someone signed off on all the procedures and safeguards years ago. Etc. A hacking incident of this magnitude would indicate a complete national security failure on every single level. You can't trust that level of incompetence.

kem 9y ago
But this isn't about the NSA, it's about state-level secretaries of state offices.
AnimalMuppet 9y ago
You think it was the NSA who signed off on electronic voting? I think it was the state election boards, and maybe the Federal Election Commission. Anyway, the NSA is not the party that messed up to allow flawed electronic voting. They're the party that can (and often has) detected Russian attempts to mess with stuff. So, once again, how does cutting the NSA help?
- Teever 9y ago
  Why can the NSA influence the decision making process at NIST but they can't influence the design and implementation of a safe and verifiable voting system if it's going to be electronic? Like this really is one of those "What would you say ya do, here?" moments because it sure as hell doesn't look like the NSA does anything preventative that is effective.
  - anigbrowl 9y ago
    Government isn't a corporation that can be managed autocratically. Voting systems, norms, and technologies are highly politicized and contentious, and there's the federal government, numerous quasi-autonomous agencies, 50 state governments, and 20000 counties, not to mention 2 political parties and numerous regional factions. It seems like a single technical problem to you, but socially it's incredibly complex.
- korzun 9y ago
  That's irrelevant. Those decisions are approved and closely monitored by federal agencies responsible for national security. The state may dictate the way federal laws are translated or adopted on their level; everything else is under federal juricstiction. The electronic voting machines were not covered under any 'law'. The FEC is just another arm for the FBI. They share the same block; if not the same building and security clerances. Neither operate on state level.
  - AnimalMuppet 9y ago
    > Those decisions are approved and closely monitored by federal agencies responsible for national security. Do you have any evidence for that claim? As far as I can see, they have had no influence on such decisions. > The FEC is just another arm for the FBI. Do you have any evidence for that claim, beyond just "they share the same block"?

by korzun 9y ago

kem 9y ago

But this isn't about the NSA, it's about state-level secretaries of state offices.

AnimalMuppet 9y ago

You think it was the NSA who signed off on electronic voting? I think it was the state election boards, and maybe the Federal Election Commission. Anyway, the NSA is not the party that messed up to allow flawed electronic voting. They're the party that can (and often has) detected Russian attempts to mess with stuff. So, once again, how does cutting the NSA help?

Teever 9y ago
Why can the NSA influence the decision making process at NIST but they can't influence the design and implementation of a safe and verifiable voting system if it's going to be electronic? Like this really is one of those "What would you say ya do, here?" moments because it sure as hell doesn't look like the NSA does anything preventative that is effective.
- anigbrowl 9y ago
  Government isn't a corporation that can be managed autocratically. Voting systems, norms, and technologies are highly politicized and contentious, and there's the federal government, numerous quasi-autonomous agencies, 50 state governments, and 20000 counties, not to mention 2 political parties and numerous regional factions. It seems like a single technical problem to you, but socially it's incredibly complex.
korzun 9y ago
That's irrelevant. Those decisions are approved and closely monitored by federal agencies responsible for national security. The state may dictate the way federal laws are translated or adopted on their level; everything else is under federal juricstiction. The electronic voting machines were not covered under any 'law'. The FEC is just another arm for the FBI. They share the same block; if not the same building and security clerances. Neither operate on state level.
- AnimalMuppet 9y ago
  > Those decisions are approved and closely monitored by federal agencies responsible for national security. Do you have any evidence for that claim? As far as I can see, they have had no influence on such decisions. > The FEC is just another arm for the FBI. Do you have any evidence for that claim, beyond just "they share the same block"?