Anyone know more about this BT "uk identity verification" scheme?

[Ian Miller]

At 19:35 +0000 25/3/03, Clive D. W. Feather wrote:
>Okay, here is how the system was once explained to me.
>
[snip..]
>
>If the eventual majority of the winning candidate is more than the
>number of yellow papers issued, that's an end of the matter as far as
>counting is concerned.

So if, for example, the majority is 110 with 100 yellow slips, it is
assumed that they have caught all of the personators so the result is okay.
Given that any significant level of personation is likely to be organised,
and they are likely to target members of the electorate that they have good
reason to believe won't vote[1], only a small proportion of the fraudulent
ballot papers are likely to be found this way.  Hence the actual level of
fraud is likely to be at least an order of magnitude greater.

If they were serious about the problem they would:-
1 - Have serial numbers on the ballot papers to ensure that only
    the issued ballot papers are in the boxs.
2 - Record all persons who have voted, both who they have voted as and
    what they look like.  "Please face the video camera and state your
    fullname and the first line of your address."
3 - Have no record of any kind as to which ballot paper was issued to
    which elector.

In the case, where they would have issued a yellow slip, examine the video
tapes to find out what the fraudulent voter looks like and start a man hunt.
If the number of fraudulent ballots is more than 5% of the majority,
declare the election null and void.

We would have a secret ballot and very very little personation.

Ian


[1]: Or they are reasonably sure haven't voted.  I personnally do not like
the practice of having party workers at polling stations taking the numbers
of everyone voting.  Whereas I don't believe the people compiling these
lists intend them to be used for the purpose, there is no guarantee that
anyone organising personation would not be able to obtain such a list.  I
always refuse to give them my number.  In my opinion, attempting to
generate such a list should be illegal.



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