A Nonpolitical Solution To A Political Problem

I'm reminded that political polling station systems are kinda like telephone systems. They didn't involve computing solutions at one time... and now they do. And when more complexity is introduced into an activity, more possibility for everything bad is also introduced.

I have a preliminary suggestion here for smoothing some of the issues being brought up by all sides regarding the recent US elections. EVEN ASSUMING NO IMPROPRIETY with any participating individual or group, the following problems have arisen or have threatened to arise with current electronic election systems:

server capacity and load issues
web incompatibilty issues like untested applets
web exposure issues like DOS or the opportunity for such
location staffing problems (some admins not allowed to fix problems)
wireless issues
supply problems
access code failures
weather issues

... and the hits keep right on coming. I contend that many of these problems could be minimized by imposing a CLOSED SYSTEM REQUIREMENT at the state level. No public internet or wireless. Modem communication over data phone lines. Not necessarily going back to 100 percent paper ballots but using current equipment in a less complex manner. I think this option would address many items both of outside interference and internal architectural problems. It would use older, more reliable and less overburdened routes of transmission and offer a smaller attack surface to miscreants.

Sure, this suggestion isn't extensively researched by me yet. Sure, it doesn't address the issue of the behavior of some county official somewhere. Sure, it isn't something that some state has 100% already done, such that I can point to it as an example. But this should get the party started among readers of this blog as to a discussion of where to go next.

Assuming the powers that be ask the IT people what to do. I offer the suggestion due to its simplicity: it involves not hiring a bunch of new people or buying a lot of new equipment. It would retrench by reverting to earlier solutions and curtailing the use of failed ones. It would possibly move us forward not so much due to what would be done, but what would NOT be done.

Windows 11 Account Requirement

This post may require constant updating as we approach certain deadlines. But if you're getting those warnings that Windows 8 won't get security updates soon, you may be thinking about a new PC, or updating a current (recent) one to 11. But Microsoft would really like you to establish an account with them in doing this. You might not want to do that, or might not have that option for lots of reasons.

Here's one of the many articles covering ways to mitigate that.

I'll add or delete links as various new articles come out, or as older ones become outdated.

Another issue to watch for with Win11 is that it requires (apparently arbitrarily) one of a fairly small selection of processors, all of which are only a few years old or less. This means a probable need for a new computer as well as a new OS.

Yes, you might need a new computer anyway. But if you don't, run the free tool from Microsoft to check your hardware as to eligibility for Windows 11.