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Voting Machines

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Do electronic voting machines improve the voting process?
Voting Machines ProCon.org presents facts, laws, studies, and pro and con statements on questions related to the use of electronic voting machines in US elections. For the best overview of this website, start with the four boxes below: 1-Minute Overview, expert responses to our core question "Do electronic voting machines improve the voting process?," Top 10 Pros and Cons, and fun facts in Did You Know?


1-Minute OverviewCore QuestionTop 10 Pros & ConsDid You Know?

For more information browse the left column resources, read pros and cons in the issues below, or visit our notices section for our most recent content.


Pros and Cons by Issue
Core Question
  Do electronic voting machines improve the voting process?

General
  Electronic Voting Machines Compared to Other Voting Systems
  Help America Vote Act of 2002

Manufacturers
  Private Influence on Public Affairs
  Political Ties

Software
  Hacking, Fraud, and Security
  Open Source vs. Proprietary Code
  Ballot Definition

Hardware
  Physical Tampering
  Machine Reliability

Tabulation
  Security of Vote Totals
  Reporting Results
  Accuracy in Recording Voter Intention

Verification
  Audits and Recounts
  Voter Verified Paper Audit Trails
  Voter Anonymity

Testing
  Types of Testing
  Standards
  Testing the Proper Equipment

Cost
  Initial and Long-Term Costs Electronic Voting Machines
  Cost Comparison of Electronic Voting Machines vs. Optical Scan Machines

Accessibility
  Voter Usability
  Disabled Voters and Language Minorities
  Poll Worker Training and Preparedness

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Archived Notices (archived after 30 days)

[Editor's Note: Throughout this website, the term 'electronic voting machines' refers to direct recording electronic (DRE) voting machines and not optical-scan machines. Although optical-scan machines use an electronic reader to tabulate the vote totals, voters mark their selections on a paper ballot and are not directly recording their votes into the machine.]

Last updated on 11/6/2009 7:11 PM PST