Posted March 6, 200817 yr Since it's become evident in the past several elections that HOW we vote is almost as important as WHO we vote for, I thought it's time we start a thread devoted to the ways our voting is done and recorded. $15 million in machines down the drain? Thursday, March 6, 2008 3:39 AM By Robert Vitale THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH After just two years and nine elections, Franklin County officials are thinking about scrapping more than $15 million worth of electronic voting machines by the fall. They say it's all about building voter trust -- and pleasing Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner, who fears electronic voting is prone to tampering and wants all Ohioans to vote on paper ballots. http://dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/03/06/BOEdeputy.ART_ART_03-06-08_A1_3R9I7HU.html?sid=101
March 6, 200817 yr While I understand (partly) Brunner's concern over potential fraud, I have to think her reaction is a bit overboard. The last 2 times I've voted have been with the electronic machines and everything in my precinct (admittedly one that doesn't have a humungous number of voters) went smoothly. The electronic machines are easy to use, and frankly almost idiot proof. I found the paper ballots to be a nuisance, and having to fill in the oval on the rickety folding booths just annoying. The electronic machines had a paper ticket that printed out so you could see how your vote was recorded, and gave you an option to make corrections should you need to. I think Brunner's efforts are better aimed at taking whatever steps she feels are necessary to make the electronic machines work, rather than taking a step backward, which is what I think she's doing right now.
March 7, 200817 yr <sarcasm> I know when I vote in Hamilton county, the electronic vote counters have it right because they wave a very nice American flag at me as my paper ballet disappears. </sarcasm>
March 7, 200817 yr I don't see what's so hard about the old chad style ballots. Could we use all the touch screen monitors so that people could get a video briefing on how to use them (i.e. make sure to check the number on the chad with the number next to the candidate, make sure it is kept clear, etc.) Perhaps have a ballot cleanliness checklist posted in the voting booth (like we had on standardized tests, e.g. make sure the circle is completely filled in)?
