Consider the complex array of threats our election systems face -- here a leading expert itemizes the many challenges, and how we might address them. The battle is for our minds, even before our votes. John Sebes helps us keep our heads from exploding as we prepare for the coming election, and elections to follow.

John Sebes Itemizes Dangers to Our Elections - podcast 3

The first step on the road to voting is Registration. The process varies -- wildly -- from state to state. You request registration, and the journey begins. Herein John Sebes, co-founded of the Open Source Election Technology Institute, helps us peer through the surprising complexity of voter registration in 51 disparate state systems. Where does your registration go? Who handles it? How can you be sure you got registered? CHECK YOUR REGISTRATION BEFORE THE NEXT ELECTION - be certain you're in the system. Because almost a quarter of all voter registrations go through loss or change between Federal elections. Don't get lost. You ARE democracy. Be a Citizen.

The Voter's Journey with John Sebes

The Voter's Journey begins with registration - which turns out, in 49 states, to begin with a Request. Check your registration; it isn't automatic. Then comes requesting a ballot. And the adventure continues, with 51 different systems for dealing with the request. REQUEST YOUR MAIL-IN BALLOT EARLY. Here, John Sebes of the OSET Institute explains the complexity of which most of us are unaware. Citizenship IS awareness.

Voter's Journey - Request a Ballot

After registering to vote and requesting a ballot comes the exciting part: Getting your ballot. This should be a simple phase. It isn't. There are 51 distinct systems for verifying that you are you, and that is your signature on the outside of the mail-in ballot. This recording with John Sebes of the Open Source Election Technology Institute lays out the truly daunting and quite hidden complexities that precede and surround what you do when you mark your ballot and drop it off, either in the mail or in a dedicated receptacle. Democracy ain't easy, or simple. And yet, everything depends on it. The more you know, the better you'll be equipped to perform your Citizen's duty.

Voter's Journey - We Get a Ballot

The voter has marked her ballot. Not it goes somewhere -- there are 51 different flavors of destination in America; every state is different. John Sebes of the OCET Institute takes us through the varied and sometimes complex steps that follow the voter's marking of a ballot. That information begins its own journey -- and down the road comes a count. A count that matters.

Voter's Journey - Your Ballot Goes In

As we head into the endgame of our long, long, long national nighmare (longer than US participation in World War II...now that's a trip, eh?) - a glance ahead at what makes sense for activists.

Ministry of Truth- Tachlis July 29 2020 pt. 1

On Nov 4 a transition will begin. No, really. This time, let's not be mellow and "reasonable." Let's make the Blitzkreig look like the mellow walk it was. There are about two dozen bills that need to be written so they can be presented to the 117th Congress on Jan 21, 2021. And passed that day. No 8-month finger fuck a la Obamacare. Uh uh. We come. We see. We pass. And the big stuff is fixed -- the Prez loses the Button; the guardrails are spelled out, so even Tucker Carlson can grok what the rules are in all future presidencies; we fund pre-K and broadband, we pass HR 1 and bring civilization to our elections. And much else. Listen, and get busy.

Ministry Laundry List - July 29 2020

The varieties of cyber-hacking of an election are many -- prominent varieties described here -- but John Sebes of the OSET Institute does not fan our paranoia. The "attack surface' that is most tempting is the pollbooks, at county level. State databases are well secured. And the voting machines are pretty solid as well. A dedicated Russian cyber intruder would be risking a lot to nail one machine and flip 100 votes. That's about as far as most intruders could get. There are things to be done to make our systems truly impenetrable and resilient. We have a decade more work to get to them. Let's clean out the Stygian stables first.

The Voter's Journey

John Sebes on Varieties of Election Hacking

Nothing is simple in 'Murica's 51 bowls of electoral spaghetti. Ditto for in-person balloting, an activity that can be hazardous to your health in 2020. But - there are cases where in-person voting cannot be avoided: people with physical limitations need assistance and military personnel at far flung posts have no other choice. And there are states that will, in their infinite wisdom, insist on killing some voters in the great viral lottery in the sky. John Sebes lays out the details here. And puts some of our biggest fears to rest.

The Voter's Journey - In-Person Voting

This is what everyone needs to do NOW to vote securely and safely in the upcoming election. John Sebes of OSET Institute lays out the 5 steps all voters should follow to request, submit and track their mail-in ballot. He describes nonexistent "dangers" our votes won't face and he lays out the few things we need to watch out for. Every state has different rules. CHECK YOUR REGISTRATION. REQUEST YOUR BALLOT. FILL IT OUT and SEND IT IN. SOONER RATHER THAN LATER. Democracy: Some assembly required.

MartyP