“Anything that doesn’t leave a paper audit trail is not acceptable, in my opinion.”
Most of the banking system does not have a paper trail. They do have extensive audit trails though.
“Additionally, when systems like these are compromised, they are compromised in a big way and it’s difficult to detect.”
As a computer security professional its not all that hard to secure these kinds of systems and detection isn’t all that hard either. I’m not disputing that the existing systems need improvement. I am disputing that electronic voting is any less secure than paper ballots.
“member the recent ruckus over the breaking of the DVD copy protection scheme?”
Apples and oranges. Copying a DVD is much different than hacking into a computer system.
“It was broken by a bunch of neophyte hackers with too much time on their hands.”
It was broken by a bunch of professionals using simple hacking methods. Most hacking methods are simple as they exploit known deficiencies.
Bring the machines up to industry standards and apply proper physical controls and they will be plenty secure.
The machines aren’t remotely up to industry standards,
so patriotic Americans should not use them.