Voting Machine Update (broadcast Friday, February 1st, 2008)

Recently installed voting machines, Barnesville, Maryland, 1944. Photo by Lewis Walker. Library of Congress image.

The election season is in full swing, with the 'Super Tuesday' primary just days away. Communities around the country have adopted different types of electronic voting machines in the hopes of avoiding another 'hanging chad' situation like the one that marred the 2000 presidential race. However, some communities are reconsidering their approach.

Maryland recently announced that it would be moving away from entirely electronic systems to ones in which paper ballots are read by electronic scanners. Florida and California have also turned away from all-electronic 'touch screen' designs. In this segment, we'll check in with computer security expert Avi Rubin about how states are using electronic voting systems. Teachers, find more information about using Science Friday as a classroom resource in the Kids' Connection.