It is estimated that during the 2016
elections at least 43
states in the USA will use voting machines that are already obsolete. In a world where technology is used almost
daily, one must wonder why Americans must choose a President using devices
running software from the year 2000.
According to a
study published by the Brennan
Center most these machines are nearing the end of their useful life,
placing the elections at risk by being prone to failures that could generate
long lineups, or the loss of votes.
Lawrence
Norden, Deputy Director of the centre
and co-author of the study, wonders how one can think there are no risks in running elections with technology designed
in the 90’s. “No one expects a computer
to work optimally for over 10 years”.
The warnings in
the report come at a moment when voter turnout in the US has decreased, given
the long lines at the polls and the limited access certain sectors of society
have to the vote.
Before the 2016
primaries, Smartmatic – the leading elections company with experience in five
continents – published a
research paper that highlights the shortcomings of the American electoral
system.
The general
opinion of those consulted shows that the current voting system is inefficient
and discourages voters. On their part,
Hispanics showed their concern about language barriers, considering that
implementing new systems could increase turnout.
These studies
are just the tip of the iceberg of a subject that is gaining traction with
American citizens, who see that an obsolete voting system could affect the
vision their country projects worldwide about the strength of its
democracy. For them, this situation
could be reverted easily with the introduction of new and better
technology.
