Author Topic: dangling chads or video poker machines? (Read 251 times)

capt. apathy · « **on:** October 28, 2004, 03:34:48 PM »

after the Florida crap last time around there has been a lot of talk about replacing the crappy punch card system in some states with the newer video-poker style touch screens.

it's a lot like the election itself. a choose between these 2 situation, with while one may be better than the other, neither option is good.

it's like being able to vote on the choice of me hitting you with a board or a bat.

do you want a system where the results of what are valid votes and what aren't are speculative in some grey areas (are they a vote only when punched clean or also if it's torn but not removed, what if you can see the dent where the paper bent but didn't tear?)? or do you want a system that could be corrupted and leave no hard copy to check for tampering?

so my question is why are these the only choices given?

here's a copy of part of an Oregon ballot-

to me it seems much better than either system for accountability and interpretation. since you don't have to lay out the candidates to fit the slots in a punch card, its layout can be clearer.

so what other types of voting are out there? surely these aren't the only 3 choices.

StarOfAfrica2 · « **Reply #1 on:** October 28, 2004, 04:06:06 PM »

Hawaii gives you the option of either paper voting or electronic. No touch screen crap where you have to worry about greasy fingerprints messing up the vote either. Nice big easy to read buttons and a dial to advance through the screens. It was originally designed for easier voting for handicapped people in wheelchairs, but I think it's more straightforward than the paper system. They print out a piece of paper with a number on it for your receipt.

Maniac · « **Reply #2 on:** October 28, 2004, 04:11:45 PM »

Quote

"LIFE IS NOT A JOURNEY TO THE GRAVE WITH THE INTENTION OF ARRIVING SAFELY IN A PRETTY AND WELL PRESERVED BODY, BUT RATHER TO SKID IN SIDE-WAYS,THOROUGHLY USED UP, TOTALLY WORN OUT, AND LOUDLY PROCLAIMING: WOW....WHAT A RIDE !!!"

I want to discuss this... no doubt

boxboy28 · « **Reply #3 on:** October 28, 2004, 05:15:45 PM »

Here in North Carolina they have electronic ballots where you use a touch pen on the video screen! I saw 20 old (over 60) people there using it with out a problem. All ballots come out on a printed piece a paper reciept.(like said above)

Was great! I hate them damn scan-tron sheets!(reminds me too much of tests) + them old shaky folks would have one hell of a time keeping there pencil in the box(well oval)

SOB · « **Reply #4 on:** October 28, 2004, 05:34:30 PM »

Marion county still does the scan tron type, but instead of filling in the circle, you complete the center of an arrow.

StarOfAfrica2 · « **Reply #5 on:** October 28, 2004, 06:43:39 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Maniac
I want to discuss this... no doubt

Live it. Love it.

Its usually the way I fly too. Landing gear? Bah.

Sorry, wasnt trying to hijack the thread. As you were.

Blooz · « **Reply #6 on:** October 28, 2004, 08:33:27 PM »

We get the old style "pull the little lever down" type machines.

They are, no doubt, being set so that any levers pulled will record votes for Democrats.

I like the punch card type myself.

Gyro/T69 · « **Reply #7 on:** October 28, 2004, 09:09:04 PM »

Hey Blooz, I live in Rochester

We get the old style "pull the little lever down" type machines

They do seem to get the job done.

NUTTZ · « **Reply #8 on:** October 28, 2004, 11:02:02 PM »

In Philly we get a dart board, and 1 dart, Funny how the Bush Circle is MUCH bigger than the Kerry circle.

NUTTZ

capt. apathy · « **Reply #9 on:** October 28, 2004, 11:09:50 PM »

the best part of ours is they show up in the mail a few weeks before. you can mail it in right away, drop it off at the last minute on election day, or anywhere in between.

I like the idea of the different campaigns not knowing exactly what day I'm going to send it in. I think they would be less likely to wait until the last minute to make some wild claims against their opponent.

WilldCrd · « **Reply #10 on:** October 28, 2004, 11:24:44 PM »

as for national elections im gonna pick the very last selection "none of the above"

Gunslinger · « **Reply #11 on:** October 29, 2004, 12:13:41 AM »

I've allways voted absentee myself but I have to say this.

WHAT KIND OF fluff'n PEOPLE ARE WE IF WE CANT EVEN AGREE OR COME UP WITH AN EQUITABLE WAY TO VOTE?

Seriously.....either the card is punched or its not....if you don't think you have the strength or the intellegence to do so there is allways somone there (voter assistants) to help you.

Electronic systems w/ no paper trail probably running off of some microsoft OS somwere in the chain.....has anyone ever had a stable computer that never failed?

CMON...and all this registering contraversy?????

why can't we...in the 21st century develop a system that has an electronic back up and a print out for paper trail that get's talleyed up instantly and not be hacked by some 13yo kid who wrote a VB script in his study hall??????

We put a friggen man on the moon for christ sake!!!!!! But we can't figure out the best way to vote so the election is valid and mostly free from corruption?

I so can't wait till this election is over!

BTW I think a computer system like I described above should be perfect....except nothing touchscreen. Those suck after repeated use