I’ve said this before, I’ll say it again: paper ballots (preferably hand marked, given current technology), plus mandatory Risk Limiting Audits (RLAs), plus significantly increased funding for local election offices are the most important security improvements to advocate for. 1/
A minor wrinkle in this are paper ballot systems that require the use of “Ballot Marking Devices”. Current ballot marking devices have known vulnerabilities that could allow them to be tampered with in a way that could misprint ballots. 2/
BMDs depend on voters verifying the printout, which most probably don’t. BMD-based systems increase risk, and I recommend against them. But this is a relatively small issue compared with paper, audits and infrastructure protection, which we need whether or nor BMDs are used. 3/
I think it is a mistake to focus too heavily on BMDs if your jurisdiction currently doesn’t do RLAs (and most don’t). RLAs and general election infrastructure protection are, in my view, getting far less attention (from activists and lawmakers) than they should. 4/
Anyway, apparently this upsets some activists, but it is my best advice on priorities for improving our elections right now. 5/5
Another dimension to thhis is that BMDs are a necessary assistive technology for some voters, and calls to categorically ban them risk leaving such voters disenfranchised (and conflict with legal requirements).
In any case, “what should we most productively advocate for to meaningfully improve the integrity of upcoming elections” is not the same question as “what should we do to design the best possible voting system”.
