A computer science professor at the University of Florida, Juan Gilbert, claims that he has built an unhackable voting machine, according to Interesting Engineering.
(Photo : PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images)
A voter casts a ballot on an electronic voting machine for the midterm election during early voting ahead of Election Day inside a vote center at the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles, California on November 7, 2022.
These electric voting systems have gotten mixed reactions from US citizens, some think they are reliable and are grateful for them because they make the lives of the disabled a lot easier. On the other hand, some want to boycott them because they can be hacked.
How the Voting System Works
The voting machine that Gilbert designed has been in the works for almost 20 years. It consists of a transparent box, which also serves as a touchscreen interface.
Inside the transparent box is where the printer is located, which is connected to the device's software Prime III. Then, it points the voter's selection on a paper that is fed into a scanner to be tallied. The transparent case ensures that if a USB device is connected to a hack, the system will be detected by voters right away.
To ensure that the software is not corrupted, it is stored on a Blu-Ray disc in a read-only format. As an extra layer of protection, the voting machine will reboot every single time a vote is cast.
The transparent touchscreen guarantees that voters are staring right at the printer immediately once they cast their vote.
Earlier this year, Gilbert requested to have several experts give them access to his machine to be tested by the best minds. Prime III uses open-source software, which would make it easier to hack into. However, Gilbert has already bared it all when it comes to the code.
Unfortunately, not one expert tested the system this year. Then, there is also a matter of the system that should be certified which will require him to spend a lot of money.
Also Read: Hackers Easily Breach Voting Machines To Be Used In US 2020 Election
Will It Ever See Election Day?
The main problem is that it will be a lot of hard work and money to convince the government to use the system because they are very particular about the way things are done. Gilbert also believes that if he builds the prototype, people will rush to get the invention, but it will still be a business for him.
In the coming years, as technology keeps advancing, we may need to reform our current voting system since it can be easily hacked. With people developing such a machine, it might speed up the creation of more trustworthy voting machines. The United States should seriously consider Gilbert's voting system.
Gilbert's voting system is designed to make voting a more effective and reliable process. The transparent screen is a great tool because voters can check to see if their votes are being recorded as they cast their ballot. It looks like the "hacking" problem is finally being addressed.
Related Article: Are Voting Machines Safe From Cyberattacks? Here's How They Work
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Written by April Fowell
