Today, more than 90 percent of the 80 million Americans voters will either cast their vote on a computer or have it tabulated electronically. While electronic voting is more efficient than traditional paper tallying, it jeopardizes fair election results. These machines can be easily manipulated by party officials and do not ensure that votes are tabulated in accordance with a voter’s intent.

Direct recording electronic (DRE) machines were first used during the 1996 presidential election and are now common in U.S. elections.

The primary disadvantage of DREs is that they that cannot recount votes because there is no physical piece of paper involved in the process. However, some states are beginning to make progress. More than 27 states, including California, require DRE machines to release a voter-verified paper ticket, which allows a voter to ensure that his or her vote is cast as recorded. Although having voter verification is a step in reforming the electronic voting progress, this is a band aid-size solution for a problem in need of a bandage.

Even with this method of voter verification, electronic voting machines greatly jeopardize fair elections. These machines are computers run on software, meaning that can be easily manipulated by corrupt party officials.

In addition, according to a study at Johns Hopkins University, voters can easily replicate and alter the “smart card” or DRE computer chip so they can cast multiple votes for the same candidate.

Furthermore, these machines malfunction constantly. In 2003, 100 votes were mysteriously “lost” for a candidate. In Boone, Iowa, DRE machines calculated 140,000 votes when there were only 50,000 registered voters in that area. Some DREs have shortened the names of candidates or omitted candidates’ last names altogether, greatly confusing voters.

As if DREs were not dangerous enough, Alaska, Arizona and Washington have begun to experiment with online voting.

The fact that our government is taking very little action against this is extremely disturbing. The drama that followed the 2000 Florida election is just going to repeat itself if electronic voting continues. While technology can be helpful in some situations, it does not belong in this one.