A comment on XML

Arthur Keller wrote:

> By being human readable, XML makes it easier to verify the correct
> processing of the ballot. That's a good thing over a non-human
> readable format. Any format can be tampered with. That's why we need
> some sort of chain-of-custody on the ballot definition files (and
> other artifacts of the voting process). One way to help ensure that
> are digital signatures, which retain the human readability while
> enhancing authenticity.

I think Arthur is correct here.

Remember that the application that creates the datafile can also
generate a hash on it. The hash gets printed out on the end-of-day
processing paperwork and to the CD-R audit log. If the data file gets
messed with later, it'll be trackable...and if we're properly tracking
"which human does what" we'll know WHO raped it.

Jim
_______________________________________________
OVC discuss mailing lists
Send requests to subscribe or unsubscribe to arthur@openvotingconsortium.org
==================================================================
= The content of this message, with the exception of any external
= quotations under fair use, are released to the Public Domain
==================================================================
Received on Tue May 31 23:17:02 2005