videothevote.org — Video the Vote went to Jackson County, WV, in response to numerous reports of machine vote flipping. The local county clerk showed us the machines in question, but the demonstration left us with serious questions, as the machine continued to malfunction even after it was calibrated.
Oct 27, 2008 View in Crawl 4
Closed AccountOct 27, 2008
I don't like the electronic touch-screen machines. It seems to me that there is too great an opportunity for fraud, and that the temptation to commit fraud is increased commensurate with the opportunity.People on both sides of the aisle should demand an auditable paper-trail that can be reconciled with voter registration rolls, which in turn should be verified by proof of citizenship before being issued.It's the only common sense choice for people who want integrity in the people's elections. Unfortunately, we have people for whom victory at all cost is a higher priority than electoral integrity.
Closed AccountOct 27, 2008
As someone who has worked with touchscreens in the past, they are picky and a horrible choice for electronic ballots. (not electronic ballots, but touch screens for public kiosks, etc.)Food, sweat, spit, blood, and drinks can throw the calibration off. Fingernails can damage the elements and cause them to malfunction.People are destructive, unclean animals with a tendency to panic. The individual is respectful and clean.In Texas, the electronic voting machines use a wheel and four buttons. It is very simple to use. People just don't understand the technology; they treat them like TVs and expect them to be as simple. But they're not. So if they intimidate you, use the paper ballot.This is a training and education issue; not some grand conspiracy... I suppose the old adage comes to play; Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. If the observer is sufficiently ignorant, this is what you get.These poll workers should be better trained, and maybe video's explaining the process should play to those waiting in line. The video could also explain how the machines could become uncalibrated through usage; and how to report or what to do if it happens to the voter.A little information to address this would go a long way IMHO. It's not like they don't spend an outrageous amount on this already.
mundy1776Oct 28, 2008
Blah... it shows you who you voted for... voter has to make sure it is right...
oldwiseoneOct 28, 2008
I say we do like the Iraqis' do it and dip your finger in a bottle of ink to show you have voted BUT FIRST, you have to show a picture ID to get handed a ballot.