As a mathematician who earned tenure at a respected Pennsylvania institution of higher learning and who has discussed with many thoughtful, intelligent, world-class scientists and computer scientists the merits and demerits of electronic voting, I am insulted and appalled by Michael Shamos' ad hominem attacks on opponents of electronic voting. Of course Shamos defends electronic voting -- he works for the PA Department of State!
It is simply a lie to say, as Shamos does, that "no scientific evidence is being presented" to Congress on this issue. And it is at best hypocritical for Shamos to chide other academics for moving "beyond their impartial roles as academics" when he has positioned himself as an attack dog on behalf of electronic voting.
I have tried to engage Dr. Shamos in reasoned, scientific discussion of the issues on which we disagree, and he always stops the conversation when the crux of the matter is reached. That is the tactic of a politician, not of a world-class scientist.
So why does Dr. Shamos get so much press? I'll bet it's because there are almost no other Ph.D holders who agree with him about electronic voting. Maybe soon the press will realize that the dangers of electronic voting are like the dangers of global warming -- acknowledged beyond a shadow of a doubt by the scientific establishment.
