| Recurring |
one_organization, multiple_organization |
(a) The software failure incident related to aging and failing voting machines has happened again within the same organization, specifically within the US voting system. The incident involves issues such as degrading touchscreens, worn-out modems, failing motherboards, and memory cards in voting machines that are at least a decade old [51223].
(b) The software failure incident related to aging and failing voting machines has also happened at multiple organizations, as many states across the US are facing similar problems with their voting machines. States such as Florida, Kentucky, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Texas, Virginia, and Washington are using machines that are at least 15 years old and are struggling to keep up with technological advancements [51223]. |
| Phase (Design/Operation) |
design, operation |
(a) The software failure incident related to the design phase is evident in the article. The voting machines in use are reported to be technologically antiquated, with many running on an embedded version of Windows XP, an operating system that Microsoft no longer supports [51223]. Additionally, the initial voting standards and testing processes for the machines were highly flawed, leading to insecure software code and design issues [51223].
(b) The software failure incident related to the operation phase is highlighted by instances of crashes, screen freezes, and malfunctioning machines that fail to record votes or record votes improperly. There have been reports of calibration problems with electronic touchscreen voting machines "flipping" votes, recording a vote for a different candidate than the one selected by the voter onscreen [51223]. Additionally, there have been cases where memory cards used with optical-scan machines experienced functionality issues as the machines got older, leading to a high failure rate and the need for machine replacements [51223]. |
| Boundary (Internal/External) |
within_system, outside_system |
(a) within_system: The software failure incident related to the aging voting machines is primarily within the system. The failure is attributed to factors such as technologically antiquated machines, wear and tear leading to degrading touchscreens, failing motherboards and memory cards, outdated operating systems like Windows XP, difficulty in finding parts for servicing, crashes, screen freezes, calibration problems, and malfunctioning machines that fail to record votes properly [51223].
(b) outside_system: While the primary cause of the software failure incident is within the system, there are also contributing factors originating from outside the system. These include the lack of funding for replacing the aging voting machines, the inability of states to afford new equipment, and the impact of wealth disparities where wealthier districts can replace machines while poorer districts are stuck with failing ones [51223]. |
| Nature (Human/Non-human) |
non-human_actions, human_actions |
(a) The software failure incident occurring due to non-human actions:
The software failure incident in the articles is primarily attributed to aging voting machines that are technologically antiquated and have reached or exceeded their expected lifespans. Issues such as degrading touchscreens, worn-out modems, failing motherboards, memory cards, and outdated operating systems like Windows XP are causing problems with the voting machines [51223].
(b) The software failure incident occurring due to human actions:
Human actions have also contributed to the software failure incident. For example, the lack of proper vetting of voting machines installed after the Help America Vote Act in 2002, the flawed initial voting standards and testing processes, and the decision to purchase machines before new voting system standards were in place have all played a role in introducing new problems with insecure software code and design [51223]. Additionally, the reluctance of some election officials to publicly complain about the machines due to fear of undermining voter and candidate confidence in the election results has also been a factor [51223]. |
| Dimension (Hardware/Software) |
hardware, software |
(a) The articles mention hardware-related failures in the context of aging voting machines. The hardware issues include degrading touchscreens, worn-out modems for transmitting election results, failing motherboards, and memory cards [51223]. Some specific examples include motherboards going down, memory cards having functionality issues, and reliance on outdated analog modems [51223].
(b) The articles also discuss software-related failures, particularly concerning the operating systems running on the voting machines. Many of the machines are running an embedded version of Windows XP, an operating system that Microsoft no longer supports or is about to stop supporting [51223]. This lack of support means that Microsoft won't produce patches for any new security holes found in the software, leaving the systems vulnerable to potential software-related issues. Additionally, some voting machines run on Windows 2000, further exacerbating the software obsolescence problem [51223]. |
| Objective (Malicious/Non-malicious) |
non-malicious |
(a) The articles do not mention any malicious software failure incidents related to intentional harm caused by humans. [51223]
(b) The software failure incidents discussed in the articles are non-malicious in nature. The failures are primarily attributed to aging voting machines, technological obsolescence, wear and tear, lack of support for outdated operating systems like Windows XP, difficulty in finding parts for servicing, and hardware malfunctions such as failing motherboards and memory cards. These issues have led to crashes, screen freezes, calibration problems, and reliability issues, impacting the integrity of the voting process. The failures are not intentional but rather a result of neglect, lack of proper maintenance, and inadequate funding for replacement. [51223] |
| Intent (Poor/Accidental Decisions) |
poor_decisions, accidental_decisions |
The software failure incident related to the aging voting machines in the US can be attributed to both poor decisions and accidental decisions:
(a) poor_decisions: The incident reflects poor decisions made in the past regarding the procurement and maintenance of the voting machines. The Help America Vote Act allocated funds for new equipment in 2002, but the machines purchased were not properly vetted, leading to issues with insecure software code and design [51223]. Additionally, some states are using systems that were never EAC-certified due to being purchased before the establishment of proper standards [51223].
(b) accidental_decisions: The incident also involves accidental decisions or unintended consequences, such as the lack of foresight in anticipating the rapid technological advancements and the longevity of the voting machines. The machines were designed and engineered in the 1990s, with many running on outdated operating systems like Windows XP, which Microsoft no longer supports [51223]. Furthermore, the lack of available parts due to vendors going out of business has forced states to resort to unconventional methods like purchasing decommissioned equipment from eBay [51223]. |
| Capability (Incompetence/Accidental) |
development_incompetence, accidental |
(a) The software failure incident related to development incompetence is evident in the article as it discusses how the voting machines used in the US are technologically antiquated, with many running on outdated operating systems like Windows XP and Windows 2000. The machines were designed and engineered in the 1990s, far behind modern technology standards. Additionally, the article highlights that the initial voting standards and testing processes for these machines were highly flawed, leading to insecure software code and design issues. The lack of proper vetting and testing before implementing these machines showcases a failure in professional competence by the authorities responsible for their development [51223].
(b) The software failure incident related to accidental factors is demonstrated in the article through instances of aging voting machines experiencing crashes, screen freezes, and malfunctioning memory cards. These issues were not intentional but occurred due to the natural wear and tear of the machines over time. For example, the article mentions how some machines had motherboards go down on Election Day, leading to the machines stopping working. Similarly, New Mexico faced functionality issues with memory cards as the machines got older, resulting in a high failure rate that required one-third of the machines to be replaced in every election. These accidental failures due to aging and degradation of the machines highlight the challenges faced with maintaining outdated technology [51223]. |
| Duration |
permanent, temporary |
The software failure incident related to the aging voting machines in the US can be considered both permanent and temporary:
(a) Permanent: The incident can be seen as permanent due to the long-term effects of using outdated machines that are prone to crashes, screen freezes, and malfunctioning memory cards [51223].
(b) Temporary: On the other hand, the incident can also be viewed as temporary as some election officials have resorted to temporary solutions such as scavenging eBay for parts, hiring consultants to build customized hardware, and implementing preventive maintenance measures to extend the life of the machines [51223]. |
| Behaviour |
crash, omission, value |
(a) crash: The articles mention instances where voting machines experienced crashes, such as motherboards failing on Election Day, leading to the voting machine stopping working [51223].
(b) omission: There are reports of memory cards used with optical-scan machines having functionality issues as they got older, resulting in a high failure rate and the need to replace one-third of machines in every election [51223].
(c) timing: The articles do not specifically mention failures related to timing, where the system performs its intended functions but at the wrong time.
(d) value: There are instances of calibration problems with electronic touchscreen voting machines, where votes were recorded for a different candidate than the one the voter selected onscreen, indicating a failure in performing the intended function correctly [51223].
(e) byzantine: The articles do not specifically mention failures related to byzantine behavior, where the system behaves erroneously with inconsistent responses and interactions.
(f) other: The articles do not mention any other specific behaviors of software failure incidents beyond the ones described in options (a) to (e). |