Earlier in October I reported on how Dutch campaigners had found gaping holes in Nedap voting machines. Nedap machines are the predominant systems used in Dutch elections but also used as machines from SDU.
Today the campaign group “We do not trust voting computers” heard in a letter from the Minister for Government Reform and Kingdom Relations [PDF in Dutch] that 1,200 SDU machines cannot be used in upcoming elections. The primary reason given was that the SDU machines were vulnerable due to the electromagnetic signals they emit. The letter also states that Nedap machines can be trusted, although actions will be taken to reduce the radio signals they emit.
It looks like there will be a debate on the matter in the Dutch parliament tomorrow. The campaign group may also sue the government over the Nedap machines. In the meantime 35 municipalities will definitely be using pencil and paper, ensuring security and privacy for their voters.
UPDATE: The International Herald Tribune has an AP piece on the news
UPDATE 2: The Dutch Intelligence and Security Service confirmed the campaign group's findings. The result was that all SDU machines and one type of Nedap machine were withdrawn for the November elections whilst the remaining 8,000 machines were adjusted. An independent commission is being formed to study e-voting in December.
(Once again thank you to Anne-Marie Oostveen for keeping me posted)
Jason Kitcat 