[EL] ELB News and Commentary 10/30/13
Rick Hasen
rhasen at law.uci.edu
Tue Oct 29 20:06:15 PDT 2013
Don't Have Faith in Poll Workers, Or Anyone Else for That Matter, To
Distinguish Odd from Even Numbers <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=56348>
Posted on October 29, 2013 8:00 pm
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=56348>by Rick Hasen
<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
Back in 2012, I had a piece running in Slate
<http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/jurisprudence/2012/10/ohio_voter_laws_the_battle_over_disenfranchisement_you_haven_t_heard_about_.html>
on the Hunter case (which I talked about further in /The Voting Wars
<http://www.amazon.com/Voting-Wars-Florida-Election-Meltdown/dp/0300182031/ref=sr_1_cc_2?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1329286945&sr=1-2-catcorr>/)
<http://www.amazon.com/Voting-Wars-Florida-Election-Meltdown/dp/0300182031/ref=sr_1_cc_2?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1329286945&sr=1-2-catcorr>,
in which voters were disenfranchised because of poll worker error.
Among the errors---a poll worker who could not tell that number 798 was
an even number and sent the voter to the odd-numbered precinct.
The piece inspired UW Madison psychology professor Gary Lupyan to
conduct some experiments testing people's ability to distinguish odd and
even numbers, in the service of making a larger point about the sorts of
things that are easy versus difficult to compute by biological
computational systems as distinct from digital computers.
The results are pretty depressing, including the fact that a "sizable
minority" of people believe the number 400 is larger than the number
798! The article is Lupyan, G. (2013). The difficulties of executing
simple algorithms: Why brains make mistakes computers don't.
<http://sapir.psych.wisc.edu/papers/lupyan_brainsAlgorithms_proof.pdf>
/Cognition/, /129/(3), 615--636. doi:10.1016/j.cognition.2013.08.015.
Here is the abstract:
It is shown that educated adults routinely make errors in placing
stimuli into familiar, well defined categories such as TRIANGLE and
ODD NUMBER. Scalene triangles are often rejected as instances of
triangles and 798 is categorized by some as an odd number. These
patterns are observed both in timed and untimed tasks, hold for
people who can fully express the necessary and sufficient conditions
for category membership, and for individuals with varying levels of
education. A sizeable minority of people believe that 400 is more
even than 798 and that an equilateral triangle is the most
''trianglest'' of triangles. Such beliefs predict how people
instantiate other categories with necessary and sufficient
conditions, e.g., GRANDMOTHER. I argue that the distributed and
graded nature of mental representations means that human algorithms,
unlike conventional computer algorithms, only approximate rule-based
classification and never fully abstract from the specifics of the
input. This input-sensitivity is critical to obtaining the kind of
cognitive flexibility at which humans
excel, but comes at the cost of generally poor abilities to perform
context-free computations. If human algorithms cannot be trusted to
produce unfuzzy representations of odd numbers, triangles, and
grandmothers, the idea that they can be trusted to do the heavy
lifting of moment-to-moment cognition that is inherent in the
metaphor of mind as digital computer still common in cognitive
science, needs to be seriously reconsidered.
Share
<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D56348&title=Don%E2%80%99t%20Have%20Faith%20in%20Poll%20Workers%2C%20Or%20Anyone%20Else%20for%20That%20Matter%2C%20To%20Distinguish%20Odd%20from%20Even%20Numbers&description=>
Posted in Uncategorized <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=1>
"Judge Questions FEC Disclosure Rule Challenged by Rep. Van Hollen
as Too Lax" <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=56346>
Posted on October 29, 2013 7:46 pm
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=56346>by Rick Hasen
<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
Bloomberg BNA
<http://news.bna.com/mpdm/MPDMWB/split_display.adp?fedfid=37689119&vname=mpebulallissues&jd=a0e2x7x7c9&split=0>:
A federal judge repeatedly questioned a Federal Election Commission
disclosure rule during a two-hour court hearing, pressing an FEC
attorney to explain why the agency's rule provides enough
information about who is funding political advertising (Van Hollen
v. FEC, D.D.C., No. 11-766, hearing 10/29/13).
Judge Amy Berman Jackson of the U.S. District Court for the District
of Columbia suggested during the Oct. 29 hearing that she might
remand the disclosure rule to the FEC for a better explanation of
why it is adequate or even vacate the rule entirely.
Share
<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D56346&title=%E2%80%9CJudge%20Questions%20FEC%20Disclosure%20Rule%20Challenged%20by%20Rep.%20Van%20Hollen%20as%20Too%20Lax%E2%80%9D&description=>
Posted in campaign finance <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10>, federal
election commission <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=24>
"The political middle is dying. But it's not redistricting's fault."
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=56344>
Posted on October 29, 2013 7:39 pm
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=56344>by Rick Hasen
<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
The Fix
<http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2013/10/29/the-political-middle-is-dying-but-its-not-redistrictings-fault/>with
some great illustrations from Alan Abramowitz.
Share
<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D56344&title=%E2%80%9CThe%20political%20middle%20is%20dying.%20But%20it%E2%80%99s%20not%20redistricting%E2%80%99s%20fault.%E2%80%9D&description=>
Posted in political parties <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=25>,
political polarization <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=68>,
redistricting <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=6>
"Arizona election referendum qualifies for 2014 ballot"
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=56342>
Posted on October 29, 2013 7:34 pm
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=56342>by Rick Hasen
<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
The /Arizona Republic/ report.
<http://www.azcentral.com/news/politics/articles/20131029arizona-election-referendum-qualifies-ballot.html?nclick_check=1>
Share
<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D56342&title=%E2%80%9CArizona%20election%20referendum%20qualifies%20for%202014%20ballot%E2%80%9D&description=>
Posted in direct democracy <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=62>
"When Judges Mouth Off Outside the Courtroom"
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=56340>
Posted on October 29, 2013 7:32 pm
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=56340>by Rick Hasen
<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
Michael McGough
<http://www.latimes.com/opinion/opinion-la/la-ol-judges-voter-id-20131028,0,4116175.story#axzz2j9PW8zff>
on Posner et al.
Share
<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D56340&title=%E2%80%9CWhen%20Judges%20Mouth%20Off%20Outside%20the%20Courtroom%E2%80%9D&description=>
Posted in Uncategorized <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=1>
"Texas AG Will Have To Sign Affidavit To Vote"
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=56338>
Posted on October 29, 2013 7:31 pm
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=56338>by Rick Hasen
<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
TPM reports.
<http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/texas-ag-will-have-to-sign-affidavit-to-vote>
Share
<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D56338&title=%E2%80%9CTexas%20AG%20Will%20Have%20To%20Sign%20Affidavit%20To%20Vote%E2%80%9D&description=>
Posted in election administration <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=18>,
The Voting Wars <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=60>, voter id
<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=9>
Sounds Like Chair of FCC Will Back off Political Disclosure to
Satisfy Sen. Cruz and Avoid Filibuster
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=56336>
Posted on October 29, 2013 7:30 pm
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=56336>by Rick Hasen
<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
Important point buried in this fine piece
<http://blogs.rollcall.com/hawkings/a-filibuster-holiday-christmas-comes-early-for-obama-in-the-senat/>
from David Hawkings:
An hour later, Sen. Ted Cruz called off his effort to block Tom
Wheeler from becoming chairman of the Federal Communications
Commission, and Wheeler was confirmed late Tuesday. The Texas
Republican wasn't opposed because of Wheeler's background as an
influential lobbyist for telecommunications businesses the FCC
regulates, but because the nominee wouldn't initially commit to
restraining the FCC's authority to require disclosures about which
independent groups are paying for political advertising on TV and radio.
After a full and frank discussion behind closed doors, Cruz said he
was satisfied that such an effort was "not a priority" for Wheeler.
Share
<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D56336&title=Sounds%20Like%20Chair%20of%20FCC%20Will%20Back%20off%20Political%20Disclosure%20to%20Satisfy%20Sen.%20Cruz%20and%20Avoid%20Filibuster&description=>
Posted in campaign finance <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10>
"No Small Stuff (cont.): Error Leads Ohio County to Tell Some Voters
'Don't Vote'" <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=56334>
Posted on October 29, 2013 9:20 am
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=56334>by Rick Hasen
<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
A ChapinBlog
<http://blog.lib.umn.edu/cspg/electionacademy/2013/10/no_small_stuff_cont_error_lead.php>.
Share
<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D56334&title=%E2%80%9CNo%20Small%20Stuff%20%28cont.%29%3A%20Error%20Leads%20Ohio%20County%20to%20Tell%20Some%20Voters%20%E2%80%98Don%E2%80%99t%20Vote%E2%80%99%E2%80%9D&description=>
Posted in election administration <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=18>
"The New Nullification Movement; Some states are reviving
disenfranchisement schemes that date back to the antebellum South."
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=56332>
Posted on October 29, 2013 9:16 am
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=56332>by Rick Hasen
<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
Ari Berman writes
<http://www.thenation.com/article/176808/new-nullification-movement#>
for /The Nation/.
Share
<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D56332&title=%E2%80%9CThe%20New%20Nullification%20Movement%3B%20%20Some%20states%20are%20reviving%20disenfranchisement%20schemes%20that%20date%20back%20to%20the%20antebellum%20South.%E2%80%9D&description=>
Posted in election administration <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=18>,
The Voting Wars <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=60>, Voting Rights Act
<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=15>
--
Rick Hasen
Chancellor's Professor of Law and Political Science
UC Irvine School of Law
401 E. Peltason Dr., Suite 1000
Irvine, CA 92697-8000
949.824.3072 - office
949.824.0495 - fax
rhasen at law.uci.edu
http://www.law.uci.edu/faculty/full-time/hasen/
http://electionlawblog.org
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://webshare.law.ucla.edu/Listservs/law-election/attachments/20131029/2b5e1368/attachment.html>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: share_save_171_16.png
Type: image/png
Size: 1504 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://webshare.law.ucla.edu/Listservs/law-election/attachments/20131029/2b5e1368/attachment.png>
View list directory