[NFBCS] Resolution 19 on electronic ballot delivery: am I over-reacting?

[Curtis Chong]

Hello:

I believe that the resolution misses the mark in terms of what it alleges to be the bias. It claims that the media is against electronic ballot delivery and has published many stories raising concerns about this and it does (as you correctly point out) insult security professionals who, to be fair, are only trying to alert people to what could be security problems—mostly when ballots are transmitted in as opposed to being delivered to voters electronically.

The next step to voting accessibility for the blind has got to be getting rid of the need to print the ballot. However, as one AP story correctly pointed out, security professionals have been raising concerns about the security risks of transmitting the ballot back into the counting system. As I see it, these concerns are something that need to be dealt with if we, the blind, are to have any hope of obtaining a system through which we can not only receive and mark our ballots electronically but also send in the marked ballot after that.

Cordially,

Curtis Chong


-----Original Message-----
From: NFBCS <nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Justin Ekis via NFBCS
Sent: Friday, July 17, 2020 3:08 PM
To: NFBCS at nfbnet.org
Cc: Justin Ekis <justin at ekis.us>
Subject: [NFBCS] Resolution 19 on electronic ballot delivery: am I over-reacting?

Hey there folks, 

First, to introduce or perhaps reintroduce myself. I’m a student majoring in Cyber Defense at southwest tennessee community college. I’d love to get to know any blind folks working in the information security field. 

I was just reviewing the resolutions for this year, and I’m very concerned by some wording of resolution 2020-19. I wish I had seen this tuesday evening or yesterday, so I could consider this some more before sending in my notice that I want to speak tomorrow. There is a phrase which is repeated in two whereas clauses, that I find quite inappropriate. 

WHEREAS, the majority of media coverage of the increased use of electronic ballot delivery systems as a result of elections being changed from predominantly in-person to predominantly vote-by-mail as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic has misinformed the public by referring to it as online voting, by focusing almost solely on the unsubstantiated claims of so-called security experts, by failing to include the perspective of the disability community, and by failing to state that an accessible way to vote-by-mail is required by federal law; and

WHEREAS, the media does not hesitate to question the motives and credibility of the National Federation of the Blind or other disability advocates but assumes that the so-called security experts have no biases or advocacy goals of their own:. 

I have a serious problem with what I see as denigration of information security professionals with the phrase "so-called security experts." I thoroughly agree with the spirit of this resolution, and all of the rest of the language. However, the security professionals are not the enimy, and should not be disparaged by this organization. I think such blanket statements can only be harmful. Their ownly advocacy aim is the pretection of our elections. It would be far better to reach out to the industry to collaborate on ways that both the accessibility and security needs can  both be addressed. If I had a voice in the industry, I would be communicating that to them as well. 

I’m very open to feedback from more experienced members on this issue. I’m up against the deadline and have to send in my request to speak immediately, but I am open to withdrawing it if I can be convinced otherwise. 

Best regards, 

Justin Ekis. 
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