Deseret News: Those who want paper ballots are 'fuddy duddies,' 'Luddites'

An unusually bilious screed in the Deseret News — did someone let Joe Cannon write this editorial?

Right now, some people are worried there are gremlins in the current voting machines — that electronic voting is unreliable and open to tampering. They spout anecdotal evidence of irregularities here and there to fuel their fear and want paper ballot backups to fend off any conspirators. It's the same kind of itchy-witchy thinking that leads people to hide bags of money under their mattresses.

And dare we say that almost all of those those skittish souls are likely older than 40? The younger generation sees the outcry for the tangible comfort of paper ballots as a hallmark of the fuddy-duddy. The notion sounds, to young ears, like people demanding election results be chiseled into granite for security. [...]

Utahns do not have the time, money or obligation to create a "security blanket" of paper ballots for Luddites to wrap around themselves in the night.

Did you get the message? If you think electronic voting isn't secure, you're a superstitious throwback to the 16th century who's afraid of technology.

You can respond to this "argument" at letters@desnews.com.