Pros and Cons of Electronic Voting Machines

Electronic voting machines have serious questions related to tampering with election results

Democracy, elections, and voting at Democracy Chronicles

New ProCon.org Video Explores Pros and Cons 

ProCon.org announces its new video about the pros and cons of electronic voting machines. After the “hanging chad” paper ballot debacle in the 2000 Bush-Gore elections, direct recording electronic (DRE) machines, often called electronic voting machines, became increasingly popular. DREs were used in 39% of all US precincts in the 2012 presidential election.

The latest ProCon.org video focuses on facts, studies, and pro and con arguments about whether or not electronic voting machines improve the voting process or create more uncertainty and risk.

Proponents argue that electronic voting machines are a reliable, modern technology, make voter intent clear, reduce lost votes, enable voting in multiple languages, and facilitate voting for blind voters. Opponents argue that electronic voting machines are vulnerable to hackers, can be opened with a standard minibar key, are prone to malfunction, and often lack a paper audit trail thus making recounts impossible.

This third episode in ProCon.org’s Critical Thinking Video Series was sponsored by the generous support of the Herb Block Foundation, who’s “Encouraging Citizen Involvement” grants help to “ensure a responsible, responsive democratic government through citizen involvement.”