NEW YORK (AP) — Electronic voting machines count more than three-fourths of the votes cast in America. But are these devices reliable? Or safe from tampering? Concerns about the integrity of electronic voting are growing, as is this realisation: If the voting process isn’t secure, neither is America’s democracy.“Hacking Democracy” sheds light on the potential security flaws of electronic voting machines while warning that many of the problems from 2000 remain unfixed — and could affect next week’s mid-term elections.

The HBO documentary tells the story of writer-turned-voting-activist Bev Harris, who, four years ago, made some dire discoveries.

The film reports on how voting machines can be reprogrammed to add or subtract votes; how a computer security expert proved that a system used in the 2004 presidential election could be hacked; and how in a mock election in Florida witnessed by the county’s supervisor of elections, the vote totals were altered — undetectably.

Ultimately, Harris’ research demonstrated how — with the electronic voting machines of three companies collectively responsible for some 80 percent of America’s votes today — the stakes for democracy are high.

“When people see what’s really going on,” says Harris, “there’s no way we will allow this to continue.”

“Hacking Democracy” airs at 10 p.m. Bermuda time on Thursday.

Other shows this week to look out for (all times Bermuda):<$>

[box] He’s overweight, perpetually tieless and his suits are always wrinkled. He’s a boozer, a gambler, a lousy husband and a worse father. And he smokes. But in spite of himself, Dr. Eddie (Fitz) Fitzgerald is a charming hero and a gifted criminal psychologist at work in Manchester, England. Best of all, after a long absence from TV screens, Fitz is back, courtesy of Robbie Coltrane (originator of the role) in the TV film “Cracker: A New Terror”. In his new case, Fitz is brought in by the local police to help identify a serial killer — and he soon realises the perpetrator is one of the cops assigned to this very case, a man haunted by his experiences as a British soldier in Northern Ireland who feels the deaths of his comrades are now seen as insignificant since 9/11. “Cracker: A New Terror” premieres at 10 p.m. on Monday on BBC America.

[box] A young married couple beholds unexplainable and deadly events within the house next door. Col (Lara Flynn Boyle) and her husband, Walker (Colin Ferguson), find their comfortable suburban lifestyle upended when Kim (Mark-Paul Gosselaar), an architect of uncommon ambition and intensity, builds a stunning manse next to their quaint home. Then Col and Walker observe bad things happen to those who occupy the new dwelling. Clearly, this beautiful residence brings out the worst in those who enter it. Determined not to see any more lives devastated, Col and Walker attempt to destroy the home and its creator before they, too, fall victim to its evils. The new film “The House Next Door” airs 10 p.m. on Monday on Lifetime.

[box] Corporate spying spilled onto the front page last month when it was reported that Patricia Dunn, then chairwoman of Hewlett-Packard Co., hired independent electronic-security experts to spy on HP board members and several journalists. In a two-hour documentary, correspondent David Faber investigates the increasing ways that ordinary Americans are monitored and otherwise affected by the world of surveillance. “Big Brother, Big Business” examines how the rapid advance of technology allows companies to monitor the moves of any citizen, and obtain his or her most private personal information. It’s a disturbing look at how the growth of the information economy erodes the freedoms many people take for granted. It airs at 10 p.m. on Wednesday on CNBC.

[box] Spirits are low at the Westley School for the Performing Arts when its young music prodigies realise they no longer have a teacher. Then, much to their surprise, recording superstar Sunny Bridges, who attended the school as a kid, returns to Westley looking to recover something lost on his way to the top. He will be their teacher.

That’s the premise for “Class of 3000”, a new animated series created and produced by Andre “3000” Benjamin (of the rap duo OutKast) and Tom Lynch (“Romeo!”). The series will feature a new song every week from Benjamin, who is lending his voice to the lead character. It kicks off with a one-hour premiere at 9 p.m. on Friday on Cartoon Network.