I'd vote for that! But I insist upon selecting my candidate by touching them. Using my cell phone seems so impersonal! I need to know my candidate. Get a feel for them inside and out on a deep and penetrating level. No more of this impersonal politics for me!
I used an electronic machine today that printed a receipt that I could review before it went into some kind of chamber at the rear. I know it's sacrilegious of me—a professional technojingoist—to say, but I felt better knowing that there was a paper copy of my votes somewhere in case some great EM burst wiped all machines in the greater Seattle area.
Just back from casting my electronic ballot on a Diebold machine in Ohio and I am happy to report no glitches as far as I could see. The lines were not overly long, the provisional balloting seemed to be working ok (the lady in front of me cast one and the poll workers knew what to do, etc). My only concern is that there were city charter amendments listed in the newspapers that were not on the ballot, and when I asked the poll workers, they knew nothing about them, but said other people has asked as well, so I will be calling city hall or the board of elections later.
@OMG! Ponies!: I think it has to do with Obama being the candidate of change. All candidates for president have traditionally voted for themselves, and it's time for a change.
I don't think it's fair if Obama gets more electoral votes than McCain though. We should redistribute the votes so all candidates get an equal amount.
@Rabid Penguin: So you're saying we should get rid of the Electoral College?
On the one hand, I agree wholeheartedly. On the other hand, it will never happen. If candidates had to actually campaign and run ads in all 50 States, there would be no noise. And politicians love noise. It distracts the public from actual political reality.
@OMG! Ponies!: Actually, I wasn't saying that... It was just a joke about Obama want to spread the wealth... I'm actually for the Electoral College MWHAHAHA. Maybe it needs to be fine tuned a little, but it works the way it is. Really, people should be focusing on who they are going to vote for, for Congress, and that IS a popular vote.
Giz, picture taking of the voting machines is typically illegal, and most places ban using cell phones or other electronic devices within a certain percentage of the polling area
I voted. It was successful. I used the machine pictured above - no problems at all!
Easy to use: Check Easy to Read: Check Idiot Proof: for the most part Requirement: Must be able to READ!
There was one guy next to me that asked for help 5 times during his voting!! 5 times! The biggest problem that people have using these machines is their inability to READ DIRECTIONS! The thing tells you exactly what to do when.. Just take your time and read.
Best quote of the day: "I'm done, what do I do now? Do I just pull the card out?"
@OMG! Ponies!: Weren't the mechanical machines the cause of the whole "hanging chad" and "dimpled chad" debacle in Florida?
I'm a fan of the "fill in the circle" ballots. If you need a recount, zip 'em back through a reader. No mysterious computerized touchscreen, no aging ill-aligned mechanical punch-outs where the "chads" fall out on their own accord after beeing shuffled around and counted numerous times, and no possibility of partisan hacks (on either side) "miscounting".
@winshape: No. The Mechanical Voting Machine is the ginormous voting machine that has been around for over 100 years and presently is only still used in New York.
It is based on gears and levers and cannot be hacked. A ballot overlay is inserted by the workers (1 Dem and 1 GOP) at the polling place the day of the election, removed jointly at the end of polling, and then, after the ballot overlay is removed, the numbers on the counters are jointly recorded by hand.
There are multiple ballot layouts which may have the column order as ABCD or ACDB or ADBC, etc. The names are written in large sans-serif font and it is physically impossible to overvote.
The only flaw is that no one makes parts for the machines anymore.
You know when your vote has been recorded because you pull a massive lever from left to right. The gears emit a loud CRANK as the counters and levers reset.
There's a reason that New York has been fighting HAVA - our system is already sound.
@OMG! Ponies!: If the whole country had machines like in New York there wouldn't be any counting issues. They are totally mechanical, non electric, non electronic, steampunk. The big lever actually closes the curtain behind you, trapping you inside till you make your choice with a small lever by each name. Pulling the big lever to open the curtain also tallies your vote.
@nocar: I know. It would be great. I think that the monies being spent on the craptacular Diebold and other touchscreen disaster machines should instead be spent on subsidized companies to make the Mechanical Voting Machine.
It's a better use of money if what you actually care about is vote security.
@OMG! Ponies!: New York screws up tons of stuff, has high taxes (here on Long Island), and can fuck up just about anything once the govt gets involved with one exception: the voting machines. I think it is time to start a company that services, builds, and maintains the lever voting machine. Who wants to get in on this with me?!
12/12/08
12/12/08
Gotta love Ms. Estonia, though!
12/12/08
12/12/08
11/04/08
11/04/08
GO MCCAIN AND PALIN!!
11/04/08
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11/04/08
And I heard that Sen. McCain executed a Double Maverick followed by a Sad Grandpa. He nailed the dismount.
11/04/08
I don't think it's fair if Obama gets more electoral votes than McCain though. We should redistribute the votes so all candidates get an equal amount.
11/04/08
On the one hand, I agree wholeheartedly. On the other hand, it will never happen. If candidates had to actually campaign and run ads in all 50 States, there would be no noise. And politicians love noise. It distracts the public from actual political reality.
11/04/08
11/04/08
11/04/08
11/04/08
Easy to use: Check
Easy to Read: Check
Idiot Proof: for the most part
Requirement: Must be able to READ!
There was one guy next to me that asked for help 5 times during his voting!! 5 times! The biggest problem that people have using these machines is their inability to READ DIRECTIONS! The thing tells you exactly what to do when.. Just take your time and read.
Best quote of the day: "I'm done, what do I do now? Do I just pull the card out?"
11/04/08
11/04/08
At least I think it was a documentary.
11/04/08
Obama wins: Verdict= Not too shabby.
McCain wins: Verdict= WTF Machines got haxxored.
Bonus scenario:
Bob Barr wins: Verdict= 'standing with jaw agape, while rimshot515 does a victory jig'
11/04/08
Barr got at least one vote in Arkansas... I know that.
11/04/08
11/04/08
Save the Mechanical Voting Machine. It works and it's hack-proof.
11/04/08
I'm a fan of the "fill in the circle" ballots. If you need a recount, zip 'em back through a reader. No mysterious computerized touchscreen, no aging ill-aligned mechanical punch-outs where the "chads" fall out on their own accord after beeing shuffled around and counted numerous times, and no possibility of partisan hacks (on either side) "miscounting".
11/04/08
It is based on gears and levers and cannot be hacked. A ballot overlay is inserted by the workers (1 Dem and 1 GOP) at the polling place the day of the election, removed jointly at the end of polling, and then, after the ballot overlay is removed, the numbers on the counters are jointly recorded by hand.
There are multiple ballot layouts which may have the column order as ABCD or ACDB or ADBC, etc. The names are written in large sans-serif font and it is physically impossible to overvote.
The only flaw is that no one makes parts for the machines anymore.
You know when your vote has been recorded because you pull a massive lever from left to right. The gears emit a loud CRANK as the counters and levers reset.
There's a reason that New York has been fighting HAVA - our system is already sound.
11/04/08
11/04/08
11/04/08
"Obama...Obama...C'mon, one more Obama...McCain...DAMN IT!! Another year where my vote won't count for crap."
Why don't we just do a presidential scratch game?
11/04/08
It's a better use of money if what you actually care about is vote security.
11/04/08
11/04/08
11/04/08
11/04/08
11/04/08
11/04/08
Vice President, Al Gore - 9/22/1997
11/04/08
"I've been alive for four and a half centuries, and I cannot die."
- John McCain
11/04/08