Last updated on: 2/28/2008 | Author: ProCon.org

Aviel D. Rubin, PhD Biography

Title:
Technical Director of the Johns Hopkins University Information Security Institute
Position:
Con to the question "Do Electronic Voting Machines Improve the Voting Process?"
Reasoning:

“The [paperless electronic voting system] is far below even the most minimal security standards applicable in other contexts…We conclude that this voting system is unsuitable for use in a general election.”

“Analysis of an Electronic Voting System,” 2003
Theoretical Expertise Ranking:
    Experts
Individuals with JDs, or equivalent advanced degrees in fields relevant to electronic voting machine issues. Also top-level government officials (such as foreign leaders, US presidents, Founding Fathers, Supreme Court Justices, members of legislative bodies, cabinet members, military leaders, etc.) with positions relevant to electronic voting machine issues.
Involvement and Affiliations:
  • Technical Director, Johns Hopkins University Information Security Institute, 2003-present
  • Professor, Johns Hopkins University Department of Computer Science, 2003-present
  • Director – A Center for Correct, Usable, Reliable, Auditable, and Transparent Elections (ACCURATE); National Science Foundation
  • Pioneer Award, Electronic Frontiers Foundation, 2004
  • Member, Security Peer Review Group of the Federal Voting Assistance Program’s Secure Electronic Registration and Voting Experiment (SERVE) Project, 2003-2004
  • Director of the Board, USENIX Organization, 2000-2004
  • Freedom of Expression Award for Best Circumvention of Censorship, Index on Censorship, 2001
  • National Science Foundation Fellowship, 1992
  • Served on Editorial Board of 10 publications
Education:
  • PhD, Computer Science and Engineering, University of Michigan, 1994
  • MSE, Computer Science and Engineering, University of Michigan, 1991
  • BS, Computer Science, University of Michigan, 1989
Other:
  • Author of 7 books or chapters in books, 17 peer-reviewed journal publications, and 29 peer-reviewed conference publications.
Quoted in:
  1. If There Were a Power Failure, Would Using Electronic Voting Machines Be Possible?
  2. Do Electronic Voting Machines Store Votes Securely?
  3. What Is Ballot Definition?
  4. Is It Possible for One Person to Vote Multiple Times in the Same Election on an Electronic Voting Machine?
  5. Could Electronic Voting Machine Software Be Programmed to Alter the Outcome of an Election?
  6. Do Electronic Voting Machines Store Votes in a Manner That Preserves Voter Anonymity?
  7. Is There an Effective Method in Place to Assure the Accuracy of Ballot Definition Files?