Can every vote be counted? How does technology influence uncertainty in
voting and in vote compilation? What technical and operational policies
enable the responsible evolution of voting in the information age?
In order to answer these questions, you are cordially invited to
participate in the upcoming NSF/Harvard Symposium On Voting and Vote
Counting. The invitation-only June 1 symposium will address these
questions in terms of institutions, governance, and technology.
The NSF/Harvard Symposium On Voting and Vote Counting will serve
multiple, interrelated purposes. First, that of providing an
information exchange among key leaders in the election administration
and research communities. Second, setting out (for contemplation and
discussion) the major issues involving vote collection and tabulation.
Third, eliciting insights that can be disseminated to others and used
to understand and improve election systems, both in the U.S. and
internationally.
America’s lengthy vote-counting controversy demonstrated that voters
want to know that their ballots will be cast and counted as they
intended, and that there must be an indisputable way to perform a
recount from these ballots. Technology, rather than providing a simple
panacea for these problems, has introduced a host of new election woes.
Technology alone cannot address the problems, as voting technology is
embedded in a larger organizational context.
The NSF/Harvard Symposium On Voting and Vote Counting will form the
basis of a workshop report to be provided to all participants, a set of
guideline for the government officials and volunteers who support the
act of voting, and a report of open research questions for the academic
community. We welcome your participation in this seminal event.
To attend, simple reply to this email. You will receive an agenda and
a registration form, as well as information on local lodging and
transportation. In the next weeks we will send printed information in
addition to this electronic invitation.
Sincerely,
L. Jean Camp, Ph.D. & Rebecca Mercuri, Ph.D.
Kennedy School of Government
79 John F. Kennedy Street
Cambridge, MA
(v) 617-496-6331 (f)6-5960
{Jean_Camp, Rebecca_Mercuri} @ksg.harvard.edu
