Obama: We have to fix that

Dear President Obama:

This written note follows up on the message I posted on the White House form recently.

While I am happy that you have been re-elected, I am very disappointed about our election system. You know the problems, as you said “we have to fix that.”

A recent New York Times opinion mentioned a fabulous challenge by Harvard Prof Keyssar – President Obama should call up a Federal Election Tribunal to investigate whether or not digital voting can securely enhance the democratic process in the USA! I totally agree. The last presidential commission on Internet voting was called by Bill Clinton in 1999. A lot has changed in this technology since then.

Our election system is in decline compared to the world leaders. In Canada over 40 cities have used it w/o security incidents. Elections Canada wants it for federal elections. Estonia uses it. Cantons in Switzerland, overseas voters for France and Mexico City, and the largest state in India, Gujarat, have used it. West Virginia and Arizona have, too.

The Luddites, like Barbara Simons, Ron Rivest, and David Jefferson get too much coverage in the sensationalist press. They have half the nation afraid for no real reason.

The professionals who have actually run Internet voting elections, such as West Virginia Secretary of State, Natalie Tennant have recommended it for the whole country. But she doesn’t get 1/10 the coverage of the nay-sayers. Our nation needs a real debate, to get all the pros and cons out in the open!

Please call up a new Presidential Commission on the Use of Internet Voting in the USA.

I am qualified, and would be honored, to be a part of it.

Respectfully,

William J. Kelleher, Ph.D.
Political Scientist
CEO, The Internet Voting Research and Education Fund
Twitter: wjkno1

Author: Internet Voting Now!