Re: Secret votes HOWTO

[lantz moore <lmoore@tump.com>]

peter karlsson <peter@softwolves.pp.se> writes:

two questions:

> Standard procedure to do secret votes in other communities where secret
> electronic votes[1] have been wished has been for each voter to supply
> their own secret password (any alphanumeric string), which was then
> published along with the vote. Those wishing to be non-anonymous
> usually supplied their name and address as password.

doesn't there still have to be a server supplied bit of randomness to
ensure uniqueness?

> The vote counting software throws away all information except the vote
> and the password once the origin of the vote has been checked.

would adding someone elses name and e-mail be allowed?  it seems that you
could smear someones reputation by making them appear to vote for someone
else.  since the password string is actually "opaque," using someone elses
name and password wouldn't invalidate your vote; it'd just be poor ethics.
so, maybe you should check the password for an e-mail address and, if
found, make sure it matches the voter.

-l