On 3/5/2010 5:01 PM, Valerie Bubb Fenwick wrote:
> Hi Bill -
>
> Anonymous ballot, yes, but isn't there a record of who voted?
>

The old poll application, designed by Stephan Hahn, that has been used 
for every election is still the engine behind the new poll app.  We just 
have a new front end to replace the ssh portion and now use Auth for 
user data.

Yes, there is a record.  Each ballot is a hash of a person's username 
and secret key for each election.  This is done so only an admin, like 
myself, can see the records and only then it would be a manual process 
to see specifics so I can't inadvertently see the name on a ballot while 
I tabulate votes.

> Certainly that is required to keep someone from voting 10 times.
> (in the old system, I believe you could vote multiple times, but
> only your last ballot counted).
>


I have at least three separate checks to make sure someone doesn't vote 
more than once.  No, you couldn't vote multiple times in the old 
system.  It works the same way now.  You can change your ballot as much 
as you want before you submit it but as soon as it is submitted it is 
for good.

My reputation is on the line in providing a fair and accurate election.  
So certainly I have gone to great pains to make sure things like 
allowing people to vote 10 times can not happen.


> As communicated last May, the OGB had talked to the team managing
> the election and wanted to have the ability to know who had
> or had not voted (at least by community level).  This was
> sent out to a few aliases:
> http://mail.opensolaris.org/pipermail/ogb-discuss/2009-May/006070.html
>
> As such, I am surprised this functionality was not enabled.
>
> The intention is to not bother people that have already voted
> and ask them to vote again, not to report to anyone's manager
> about their voting habits or the like (and please note, nobody
> on the OGB is asking to see the *content* of any individual
> ballots, nor "scores-on-the-doors". we will be happy to see
> the results when everyone else does)
>

I made a well thought out decision to not provide any kind of list of 
who has or has not voted.  It can lead down a slippery slope to be abused.


> Now, let's hope that since the new system is *much* easier
> to use that it will help with getting the vote out.
>
> Thank you,
>
> Valerie

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