The Omaha, Neb., company that developed the software is picking up most of the costs for what Slocum calls the 2000 Internet Voting Shadow Election. And you don't even have to be a registered voter. In January, Alaskans held the first online presidential straw poll. In California, the secretary of state has to certify any new voting system and is coordinating the shadow election with the counties to see whether the new models will work. Supporters say online voting would attract more voters by reaching out to the homebound, rural and young voters.
Opponents say hackers, viruses and potential vote fraud still pose serious threats.
Technically, the county voting experiments will be closely watched. San Mateo County's system will be run by Election Systems and Software, a firm that has been developing an Internet voting device for the last year. Down the road it will lead to important lessons about what network security has to be like,'' Slocum said. All sites will be secured through links to the county's network, thus ensuring the votes' security, Slocum said. Participants will be recruited beginning this week through the League of Women Voters and other community groups.