Matt Blaze is a UPenn professor, and one of the most important security researchers working on electronic voting.
What I don't understand about NJ's plan is, why don't they just delay the NJ statewide elections? NJ isn't really in contention in the Presidential race; the only tricky election is Menendez's for Senate --- not because he could lose, but because the Senate needs the election wrapped up. Christie isn't up for election, nor (obviously) is Lautenberg.
So they could limit the potential damage/controversy here; let people provisionally vote for President (Romney won't challenge the results; NJ is going for Obama the way Utah is going for Romney), and wait a couple weeks for the rest of it.
Yes, for President. Which is my point. The Constitution does not compel New Jersey to hold statewide elections on any particular day.
In fact, if they go ahead with the email plan, they may have to vote on some random other day anyways, when the controversy over challenges forces a re-vote.
Ah, I see what you're saying. Well, as a practical matter, I'm pretty sure NJ would have to amend its state constitution to change election day for local office. I'd be very surprised if that's even legally possible to accomplish before Tuesday.
That certainly does not preclude early voting by mail. Mail-in ballots are entirely preferable to the inconvenient and understaffed polls in most every other state.
What I don't understand about NJ's plan is, why don't they just delay the NJ statewide elections? NJ isn't really in contention in the Presidential race; the only tricky election is Menendez's for Senate --- not because he could lose, but because the Senate needs the election wrapped up. Christie isn't up for election, nor (obviously) is Lautenberg.
So they could limit the potential damage/controversy here; let people provisionally vote for President (Romney won't challenge the results; NJ is going for Obama the way Utah is going for Romney), and wait a couple weeks for the rest of it.