Reply #23: doing your own tabulation [View All]

[gracie76]

The problem is that the only tabulation we get to see is that generated by the equipment ....a paper tape, (two copies). We do NOT hand count what the voters have indicated on the ballots AT THE PRECINCT BEFORE TURNING EVERYTHING IN....in fact we are precluded/forbidden from doing that. I would PREFER...even if it took a little longer, that the precinct crew got to hand count the ballots BEFORE they were turned in to any central counting facility. All we get to see is what is printed on the paper tape....and unless you are a nosy old broad like me, you would never know whether it was a fair representation of the vote (in your opinion), OR whether the vote as finally recorded by the RoV is close, at least, to what you believe was recorded/input on election day.
Last time I worked an election, I went in to the office of the RoV the following day and asked to see the results for our precinct....it took a few minutes, but I got them...and nothing looked awry. However, Miss Paranoia of 2006 is always on the lookout for the "evil doers" . I repeat - back to paper ballots, marked with pen or pencil and COUNTED AT THE PRECINCT LEVEL BEFORE BEING TURNED IN TO BE EATEN UP BY ANY MACHINES ANYWHERE....so there !! con cariño, grace