I agree completely with the sentiment that paper ballots are the best tool to preserve or restore public trust in elections. What are election boards now demanding of their voting machine vendors? Paper voting receipts.

As an instructor back in the mid 1990's I used punch cards as an example of an effective choice of technology. They did not require power, were impervious to electromagnetic interference, could be dropped in snow or rain puddles, exposed to freezing temperatures (a significant concern in large sections of the U.S. in November). They were cheap, the equipment was cheap, the training of volunteer poll workers was simple, and the ballots could be seen, recounted, and stored easily.

Should we continue to automate voting? Possibly, but to paraphrase that tired but wise line from Jurassic Park, just because we can do something, doesn't mean we should.