standard-bearer. This was done with the intention of getting more people — particularly youngsters — to get out and vote. We think it a novel idea, and one that at least has to be toyed with in the U.S. No, we’re not saying that we should develop a mobile phone voting system for the 2008 election. That’s not exactly one on which you want to test a new voting system. However, we think that if introduced in the right manner and properly explained to the public (and properly secured), it could lead to a greater voter turnout. Clearly. The problem is security. How many celebrities have had their cell phones hacked in just the past year? The urge to hack will only grow if there are political implications. And it won’t just be celebrities; we’ll all be at risk, since we all carry the same vote. The method employed by the South Koreans is a good one: Instead of the user him or herself logging into a site and voting, they are called by the party and greeted by an automated menu. They vote from there. We suppose this does a little bit to curb hackers. The other problem: sore losers. Especially early on, losing candidates could raise a stink about the credibility of the results, causing a situation far worse than that of Florida in 2000. We’ll see how it goes, though. If successful, it could mean a new opportunity to get the vote out in America. [Korea Times]]]>
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