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If people are so concerned then how come there hasn't been an order to look at the programming of the machines? I don't think it would make a difference with or without a paper trail. A look at the programming of the machines would tell the tale. Any one with an ounce of computer knowledge would know this. Those that don't know seem to demand paper.
Baldimo, as a software engineer I have to answer this.
Those of us with an ounce (or more) of computer knowledge strongly oppose software-only voting because of how easy it is to screw up -- either intenionally or not. With a large network of machines that all have to work independantly in a secure and reliable way, it is a very difficult problem.
A paper trail is the best way (and maybe the only) to make sure that there are no systemic errors or fraud and to fix them when they occur.
Electronic voting has been widely criticized by the Software Engineering profession-- the very people who would be paid to implement and maintain were it to take off.
