Elon Musk, the renowned technologist and entrepreneur, has expressed strong reservations about using computerized systems in vote tabulation, all but endorsing the Israeli method of decentralized, paper voting. In a recent campaign drive in Pennsylvania on Friday, where he has been stumping for Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, he said that the integrity of the upcoming Nov. 5 election was at stake, citing the vulnerability of computers to hacking poses. Musk and Trump have recently appeared together, and Musk has offered to serve in a new Trump administration as the head of a newly created Department of Government Efficiency.
"I say this as a technologist who likes technology, and I like computers, but we should not have computers do voting tabulation at all," Musk stated on X. His concerns stem from his extensive knowledge of computer systems and cybersecurity, highlighting the ease with which government software can be compromised.
Musk elaborated on the vulnerabilities of digital voting systems, stating, "It's far too easy to hack a computer. I know how to hack a computer. Government software is the easiest thing to hack. It's not the best software."
Video: Elon Musk speaking about the need for paper ballots / X/@elon_docs
In response to these concerns, Musk called for a return to traditional voting methods. He proposes that paper ballots should be the standard for all elections, ensuring a tangible and verifiable record of each vote. "In my opinion, we should have paper ballots only," Musk said at the event. The tech mogul's recommendation extends beyond just paper ballots. Musk also emphasizes the importance of proper identification and in-person voting to enhance the security and legitimacy of elections. "It should be in-person voting, with ID, end of story," he concluded in his X post.
Musk's advocacy for paper ballots aligns with systems already in place in some countries, such as Israel. The Israeli voting system, which relies on physical paper slips and manual counting, serves as an example of the traditional methods Musk proposes. When Israelis vote for their parliament, the Knesset, there are a number of steps they have to do before they cast their ballot: First, upon arriving at the polling station, their identity is verified and crosschecked with the official voter registration records to ensure they are indeed entitled to vote – through pre-printed tables that have names and corresponding IDs.
They have to present a valid government-issued ID. They are then given an envelope and go to a special booth where they have to choose a slip that represents their preferred party and then place it in that envelope. Upon exiting the booth, they have to place the sealed envelope with their slip into a dedicated box, which will only be counted once all polls are closed nationwide. Such a system of voting and tabulation ensures there is no digital aspect of any kind, therefore hacker proof. All the records are tabulated by the poll workers themselves, which include observers from all parties.
