Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search
 

Coyotl

(15,262 posts)
Mon Dec 12, 2016, 09:14 AM Dec 2016

How Do We Know Our Elections Are Fair?

How Do We Know Our Elections Are Fair?
In any other country, the U.S. State Department would declare the presidential election results a hoax: Clinton won initial exit polls—usually dead accurate—in four swing states.
Alan Gilbert 12.10.16 9:01 PM ET

1. Paper ballots and audits should be routine

Jill Stein, the Green Party candidate for president, has done a public service in demanding that the votes be audited in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Michigan. Even where paper trails exist, most states do not audit elections. It is important to know that the vote each of us casts is counted fairly.

In Wisconsin, Donald Trump’s narrow margin over Hillary Clinton was 0.7 percent, in Pennsylvania 1.2 percent, and in Michigan 0.2 percent. In Michigan, for example, Trump won by 10,708 votes out of 4,799,284. Further, 80,000 submitted ballots with no mark for president, which, at minimum, should be checked by the human eye.

Computer experts like Professor J. Alex Halderman at Michigan urged Clinton to join Stein’s challenge. Computerized voting machines—“touch screens” or DREs (Direct Recording Electronics)—which leave no paper trail, are notoriously unsafe. Both Halderman and Professor Andrew Appel of Princeton have altered their programs quickly—Appel in seven minutes with a screwdriver—and inserted malware. Such machines are used widely in Pennsylvania.

Further, for 2016, Halderman underlines that Russian or other interference has already broken into the Democratic National Committee’s and Clinton campaign chief John Podesta’s emails, as well as into voter registration systems in Illinois and Arizona. Others point to a 7 percent statistical deviation toward Trump in Wisconsin counties that use DREs with no paper trail. .................






6 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
How Do We Know Our Elections Are Fair? (Original Post) Coyotl Dec 2016 OP
Actually, the US has built-in safeguards against too much democracy. DetlefK Dec 2016 #1
This message was self-deleted by its author TXCritter Dec 2016 #4
We don't. SamKnause Dec 2016 #2
Has our monetary system ever been questioned for accuracy? randr Dec 2016 #3
NOT! triron Dec 2016 #5
we don't. anyone who thinks we do is willfully ignorant. nt TheFrenchRazor Dec 2016 #6

DetlefK

(16,458 posts)
1. Actually, the US has built-in safeguards against too much democracy.
Mon Dec 12, 2016, 09:24 AM
Dec 2016

Electoral College, filibuster, redistricting...

Response to DetlefK (Reply #1)

SamKnause

(13,811 posts)
2. We don't.
Mon Dec 12, 2016, 09:24 AM
Dec 2016

Many in the United States government are corrupt.

They can not get elected if our elections are honest and fair.

Many corporations and lobbyists need these corrupt politicians.

Wall Street needs these corrupt politicians.

The justice system needs these corrupt politicians.

The police need these corrupt politicians.

The Pentagon needs these corrupt politicians.

It is hard to distinguish fact from fiction when they have been

caught in so many lies and culprits were never held accountable.

It is soul crushing to study the history of this country.

I have cried many times searching for and finding the truth.

randr

(12,480 posts)
3. Has our monetary system ever been questioned for accuracy?
Mon Dec 12, 2016, 09:28 AM
Dec 2016

Computer control of all sales, banking, and trades each and every day come up with ZERO mistakes.
We should certainly be able to count the few millions of votes every two years.
The fact that we can not is proof enough that the system is rigged.

Latest Discussions»Retired Forums»2016 Postmortem»How Do We Know Our Electi...