Assignment 4

Scientific Merit Approval

NAME:

INSTITUTION:

COURSE:

Electronic voting machines though presented as the answer to voting integrity have largely made the problem worse. This does not mean that these machines ought to be disregarded, but they need to be planned to enhance their correctness and the trust of the voters in their dependability.

Change old voting machines

A lot research has been conducted regarding the miserable state of voting technology in Prince George County and the U.S in general. The voting technologies that are used are more than a decade old. As noted by most researchers, most counties are still using, the same equipment that was used more than ten years ago to run elections. Old-fashioned voting technologies pose grave security concerns and are predisposed to system crashes and “vote flipping,” an exceptional manifestation whereby a person’s vote for one aspirant appears on the electronic interface as a vote for a different contestant. Replacing old machines with modern equipment’s that meet the specific requirements of present day technology will enhance the integrity of voting in Prince Georges.

Carry out comprehensive postelection assessments, which can validate the outcomes

The use of paper ballots and voter certified paper records is only relevant for guaranteeing that the result of an election is right if election officers pledge to carry out comprehensive postelection assessments. As formerly noted, all voting technologies are at risk of hacking and even mis programming, which can result in reporting election results that are not the same as the tally of actual votes cast.

Many jurisdictions Prince Georges included do not do enough to conduct audits on an satisfactory number of ballots to guarantee election precision and detect operation of vote totals triggered by failing machines or hackers. According previous studies Prince Georges need to regularly and consistently check that the election outcomes are accurate, by scrutinizing enough of the paper ballots to see whether the computer outcomes are right.

2

The success of the research project will increase opportunities for more research on how the waning in the use of only electronic voting technology in recent years, along with campaigning for more refined approaches to audit the enactment of polling technologies. My field will be at the fore front of research process Prince Georges and will ensure the county gets a valid election process that will enhance voter confidence.

3

While modern technologies are opening new possibilities and introducing new concepts in the electoral procedure, particularly for voting setups, there may be unanticipated threats involved, such as a rise in vote selling or struggle in assessing election results (anderson & lotempio, 2002). Vigilant reflection also needs to be given to the perils of unsuitable or premature institution of technology, particularly if it has the possibility to compromise transparency, local ownership or sustainability of the electoral process. Cybersecurity in elections has and will continue to receive attention from the public, governments and media (Kazan, 2016).  Even though technological enhancements to the management of elections can be extensive, these advances made through valuation and study of former and present election technologies will be balanced with the probability for new weaknesses and difficulties. This will impact the way election administration is managed in Prince Georges County.

2.3

In an analysis of the 2012 election, Prince George’s recorded a voter turn out of 61%. This has been attributed to low voter confidence in the election process. A new approach needs to be established that will not rely on technology alone but a complete analysis of voting administration. The example is just but one in many precincts’ that require a new approach in election administration.

2.4

The outcome of the Florida election disagreement and the passage of the Help America Vote Act put election officials at a critical moment in determining how to substitute older voting technology. Countless counties consequently passed their own legislation to inspire the adoption of alternate voting technologies (Miller, 1994).

Natural Accident Theory and the Computer Security Perspective

Natural accident theory asserts that the central issue of complex systems is that they make accidents unescapable. Blunders in numerous parts of complex systems can lead to dramatic and unforeseen system failure (Perrow, 2000).

According to Perrow (2000) natural accident theory is revealed in the apprehensions of computer technology experts. On the surface, it appears astonishing that mistrust of new technologies is coming from the IT community instead of election boards. But computer security authorities contend that election boards are making a basic blunder in their appreciation of new technology : They overrate the dependability of technology, assume it will solve prevailing complications, and disregard the prospect for unexpected consequences and new weaknesses. The new technology produces an impression of security, occasioning in the usage of machines that are not secured by some measure of redundancy or capable to recover from disaster (Perrow, 2000).

2.5

As a staunch advocate of utilizing scientific approaches in elections, I propose that this research will help present the election management community to scientific approaches that can be utilized to help efficiently manage the capacity of voters on any election. Whereas the tools are founded on the application of research science, the inputs are easy to intellectualize and measure, and the methods are straightforward to use.

2.6

Research Questions

What are the current ways of managing ques in polling places?

How effective are the current system of resource distribution in polling places?

What scientific methods are currently in use and what are other scientific options?

How is technology used, monitored and managed in polling places?

What ways are utilized for quickening the voting process?

How is the poll audit carried out?

References

ANDERSON, C., & LoTEMPIO, A. (2002). Winning, Losing and Political Trust in America.

British Journal Of Political Science, 32(2), 335-351. doi: 10.1017/s0007123402000133

Kazan, H. (2016). Contemporary Issues in Cybersecurity. Journal Of Cybersecurity Research

(JCR), 1(1), 1. doi: 10.19030/jcr.v1i1.9745

Miller, H. (1994). Post-Progressive Public Administration: Lessons from Policy Networks.

Public Administration Review, 54(4), 378. doi: 10.2307/977386

Perrow, C. (2000). An Organizational Analysis of Organizational Theory. Contemporary

Sociology, 29(3), 469. doi: 10.2307/2653934