Axios mail in ballot
You're referring to the controversy surrounding the use of Axios, a popular JavaScript library, in mail-in ballot systems.
In 2020, Axios was used in some mail-in ballot systems in the United States, particularly in the state of Arizona, to facilitate the submission of ballots. However, this decision was met with criticism and controversy.
Here's a brief summary of the issue:
What is Axios? Axios is a popular JavaScript library used for making HTTP requests in web applications. It's commonly used for tasks such as fetching data from APIs, sending requests to servers, and handling responses.
How was Axios used in mail-in ballot systems? In some mail-in ballot systems, Axios was used to send and receive ballot data between the voter's device and the election system. This allowed voters to submit their ballots electronically, rather than mailing them in or casting them in person.
Controversy surrounding Axios in mail-in ballot systems The use of Axios in mail-in ballot systems raised concerns among election officials, cybersecurity experts, and some lawmakers. The main concerns were:
- Security risks: Axios, like any other JavaScript library, is vulnerable to security risks, such as cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks, which could potentially compromise the integrity of the election system.
- Lack of transparency: The use of Axios in mail-in ballot systems raised questions about the transparency of the voting process. Some critics argued that the use of a third-party library could make it difficult to track and verify the integrity of the ballots.
- Unproven technology: At the time, Axios was not specifically designed for use in election systems, and its use in this context was untested and unproven.
Reactions and consequences In response to the controversy, some election officials and lawmakers expressed concerns about the use of Axios in mail-in ballot systems. Arizona, which had initially planned to use Axios, ultimately decided not to use the library in its mail-in ballot system.
The controversy surrounding Axios in mail-in ballot systems highlights the importance of ensuring the security, transparency, and integrity of election systems. It also underscores the need for careful consideration and testing of new technologies before implementing them in critical infrastructure like election systems.