“Let’s move on to the first item on the agenda. The electronic vote contract. Laura’s expertise will be greatly missed. We are in the final stages of vendor selection for this project. I don’t need to tell any of you how important and highly visible this project will be. It’s also on a very tight schedule. We cannot fall behind. Please think thoroughly before making any recommendations.”
He cleared his throat quietly and breathed deeply before continuing.
“We are moving to finalize the selection for two separate vendors for this project. One is for the hardware manufacturing; we have four vendors shortlisted there, all offshore. The other one is for the voting software; there are five shortlisted vendors for that part of the project, with four being offshore.” Robert paused a little, allowing his team to catch up with taking notes. “We will divide and conquer Laura’s workload. Even if we start recruiting now, we can’t bring in a new Director of Vendor Assessment in time to help us select these vendors, so this team will have to compensate. Get organized, book your travels, ask questions, do what you have to do to help this company select the right vendors for this project. We can’t make a mistake on this one, guys.”
They all agreed, silently. No pressure.
...10
...Monday, December 28, 9:01PM EST (UTC-5:00 hours)
...News of the Hour Special Edition Report
...Nationally Syndicated
Stephanie’s welcoming smile filled the screen.
“Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. We open tonight’s edition with news and interviews in response to the announcement regarding the voting system overhaul. While the majority of reactions are favorable, proving that America is ready for a change, there is also a wave of unrest and concern regarding the confidentiality of the vote. Guaranteed by the Constitution and carefully protected since its introduction in 1884, voting secrecy is no longer believed to be safeguarded in the proposed e-voting process.” Stephanie paused for half a second, widening her smile. “Yes, there’s a street name for the overhauled system: it’s e-vote. The citizens are concerned about the new system’s function to scan voter registration cards before capturing the vote. Feedback stating strong concern is pouring out from all directions, from worried citizens to advocacy groups and Constitutional watchdog organizations. We have asked our guest from two weeks ago, the architect and tireless promoter of this overhaul, Senator Sidney Mulligan, to respond to these concerns.”
The screen displayed a recorded interview, filmed in front of the US Capitol, showing the Senator and Stephanie battling the strong and cold wind of a typical DC winter morning.
“Senator, are you aware that citizens are concerned for the privacy of their vote?”
“I am becoming more aware of the dimensions of this concern. Let me reassure you and everyone else: there is no loss of privilege here. The vote will remain secret. What the barcode scanners do is retrieve the appropriate ballot information based on the voter’s state and county of residence and display it on the voting console’s screen. The voting software does not associate voter identification data with the actual vote. We made very sure of that. This is a core value of our voting system. We will preserve vote secrecy at all cost, and that will transcend any overhaul we will execute. Voting could not truly be free and democratic without guaranteed secrecy.”
“Thank you, Senator.” Stephanie concluded the recorded interview.
The screen switched to Stephanie in studio.
“Let’s watch some reactions to the voting system overhaul, captured in the streets of Washington, DC.”
The screen changed to show recorded interviews.
“This is not good, I’m tellin’ ya,” said a cab driver, interviewed briefly at a city corner stoplight.
“What’s gonna happen with that information? Big Brother is getting bigger, huh?” A young man with disheveled look and high cheekbones, giving a crooked smile.
“I don’t care. I don’t vote anyway. It’s a waste of time. No matter who wins it’s just as bad.” A middle-aged woman with a look of permanent irritation on her face.
“You make me laugh. Concerned? Are you kidding me? I might have been concerned twenty years ago when there was still some privacy left. We started as one nation under God. Now we’re one nation under surveillance. I bet the NSA knows what color underwear I’m wearing today. There is no secrecy left.” An older man, unshaven and hunchbacked, shivering in the cold wind.
“This is a serious matter that should not be taken lightly. I am all in favor of progress and technology but not at the cost of our