The County Line
- Volume 51, Number 6 - 2007
Not everything is meant for the Internet.
It’s almost too much technology for someone who grew up in the 1960s. About the time one can adjust to the newest gadget or fancy hand-held thingy, the rules change and another comic-book idea turns into reality.
It seems almost dreamlike to sit in one football stadium and watch another college game on the other side of the country through an Internet connection on a wireless telephone. Or, even worse, some might have called it cheating to return e-mail messages while awaiting the arrival of that trophy buck somewhere deep in the woods in rural Alabama. But, it happens, anyway.
Seems like only yesterday they came up with this video recording machine that would record television shows. Only problem was, you needed about five people to carry the massive device from your car to the den — and another two or three to help with the set up. Today, you can tell the television what show you want to record and the contraption is smart enough to search for the show, record it, and then play it back for you at some pre-established time. Without the commercials!
We already shop on the Internet; buy movie tickets on the Internet; make airplane and hotel reservations on the Internet; and even go to the library on the Internet. Some folks even spend time looking for their mate on the Internet, but that’s another story.
If we can do all this without leaving the comfort of our own keyboards, can we be that far away from the demise of one of the few “participation” sports that remain in today’s Cyber World?
At the rate we’re going, surely it won’t be very long before we give up on the ancient practice of driving to the community center or local elementary school to cast our “ballot” on Election Day. We’ll just sit at home; or log on to the proper web site from our office chairs, or hook up our laptop at one of those WiFi places and cast our vote for the candidate of our choice.
No need for those voting machines or all those old-timers (who are looking younger every day) who sit behind a table and mark through your name with that out-dated device called a “pen.” Nope, we’re moving past all that to elections online!
Certainly that’s not an original thought. People have been working on this idea for several years. In 2004, for example, the very first international workshop on e-voting was held in Europe. Folks from all over the world flew in and swapped ideas about voting online. Finland will conduct its municipal elections via the Internet in October. Other countries have already tried it on a limited basis.
Several states on our side of the pond have even conducted studies on this topic — Alabama is about to embark on one, by the way. Some folks even believe this “convenience” is just around the corner here in Sweet Home Alabama.
Even though it is pretty sporty to be able to watch football on your telephone, the smart money should be on the realization that several significant hurdles must be navigated before there is a “Vote Here” button on Yahoo®, eBay® or Facebook©.
For example, there are obviously concerns about the validity of the ballot if it is cast over the Internet. Folks steal your credit card information. What’s to keep them from stealing your “PIN” number and voting for the candidate that you find objectionable? And, who’s to stay that the guy sitting next to you at the Internet Café is not peeking over your shoulder to see for whom you are voting via your laptop computer?
There are also those who believe that Internet voting (or “e-voting” as it is actually known) will change the spirit of what you’ve come to know as “Election Day.” Certainly we all know there is a distinct difference between the results of “polls” and actually what happens on Election Day. The act of going to a voting location, signing your name, and then casting your ballot actually does have an impact on human behavior.
Sort of like the difference between being AT a college football game verses watching it on your phone.
And, of course, don’t forget the obvious concerns about access to the Internet and how voting could turn an election in favor of those groups that have better access to this medium.
Most of the folks who advocate for Alabama to embark on this kind of cyber voting focus their attention on making it easier for overseas military personnel to vote. In fact, about this time last year, two bills were introduced in the Alabama Legislature to make e-voting available to military and other Alabama citizens who might be overseas on Election Day.
Neither bill passed, but both were introduced again this year. And, as one might expect, neither is expected to become law during this year’s session, either. But, all the talk did result in Gov. Bob Riley establishing a study group on this subject that includes ACCA President Jerold Dean and representatives from all of the impacted local elected officials and many others. The committee is to evaluate all the concerns outlined above – and many others – evaluate the available and predicted technology, and determine the possible costs. It is assumed that the issue will return to Montgomery next February when the 2009 session begins.
Perhaps before we all become too old to punch the buttons, Alabamians will be able to enjoy the college football game of their choice while voting on their wireless telephone, bidding on that used baseball glove, and making airplane reservations...all at the same time.
Or, perhaps the members of the Legislature will decide that we’ve already had too much technology for one lifetime, and we should dig in the back of the closet and bring out that old video recorder. That is, if we can pick it up without straining our backs.
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