An open-secret voting system

Electronic voting machines allow software configuration of the ballots, adapt to a voter's first language, and offer a touch-screen interface's ease of use. These machines also make it easy to change a selection before pressing a final accept button. But as a means for counting votes, computer-based devices raise suspicions as to what exactly is going on inside the black box. It's not hard to imagine all kinds of software irregularities, intended or otherwise, that might cause machine tallies to be skewed. Thus, mistrust of such machines runs rampant. The Internet's strengths include easy access and broad public acceptance, but like the touch-screen voting machine, Internet software raises questions about security and integrity.