Could you explain how Optical Scan Voting works

[Zuni]

I am not sure what that is. But it looks like they stole FL that way.

[lectrobyte]

1. You mark the paper, the machine reads it...

My state uses this, you draw a line between two boxes to signify your choice.

This method seems to me it would be much less open to monkey business since the paper forms could be re-processed, as opposed to a touch-screen with no paper trail. Lots of ways to manipulate a database inside a computer.

[spooky3]

2. it could be audited, but you can manipulate the results if you think

no one will audit them.

These forms are like multiple choice exams where you filled out your answers on computer sheets. Honest mistakes can occur, but a person could also manipulate the data dishonestly once they are scanned in.

[dweller]

4. my understanding

is that the manipulation was with the central processor where the results are phoned in (by modem).

correct me if i'm wrong.

dp

[spooky3]

8. and that this could also be done with optical scans--correct?

[dweller]

9. with results

regardless of the type of voting.

still someone may want to verify that.

dp

[TexasBushwhacker]

3. It's like those scantron tests you took in high school

or college. You mark the candidate you're voting for with a pencil and they run it through the scanner. The problem is if people may stray marks, erase or don't make a good clear mark. Also, the scanners get less accurate as they get older. They will kick out more and more ballots. The thing is, those ballots are still valid votes and should be hand counted. Just like the problem with the hanging chads and such, the fact that there is a flaw in the system and the machine kicks out some ballots as unreadable doesn't mean that they should be pitched in the trash. It means that they should be gathered up and counted by hand - PERIOD. Since precincts have to pay for their own equipment, guess which precints are likely to have older scanners that kick out more ballots as unreadable. You got it, precincts in poor parts of the state, where the Democrat usually wins.

[Cleita]

5. We have little bubbles that you are supposed to fill in.

Then the ballot is scanned through a computer. I have worked with this system on and off through my life. The first primitive computer programs used cards that we filled the bubbles with graphite laden pencils. I was always warned on the job to make sure the mark was heavy and dark. I have always wondered if the average voter marked the bubbles dark enough, but there seems to be no worry about it. I think the important thing is that you have a paper ballot that can be hand counted with eyes scanning the marks.

[Rowdyboy]

6. We use it here in Mississippi and it works beautifully....

Easy, no mechanical f**kups likely, easy to recount (good paper trail). Only problem? Its old technology. Americans always want something newer, better, fancier, more mechanical. So now we have touch screen computers with no paper trail, easy to hack, liable to fail but, hey, ITS THE NEWEST TECHNOLOGY POSSIBLE!!!

Give me a FREAKING paper ballot, let me make my mark, and have it available to recount if necessary.

Why can't we all do this?

[harmonyguy]

7. While Optical Scan uses a paper ballot , and that's a good thing,...

there are a number of ways the results can be intentionally or unintentionally influenced, even without messing with the central tabulator.

Improper ballot design - as in the California recall. (Optical scan butterfly ballots - 135 candidates on one page)

Not providing the proper writing stick to make the mark.
Some machines require #2 pencil. Some require dark pen or pencil, as long as it's not green or red, others have a tough time with other colors.

Not printing the ballot using the required printing method. For the same reason that OS ballots require specific writing sticks, they also require specific inks. Photo-copied or laser-printed ballots can cause mis-reads in some of the scanners, particularly with those absentee ballots that get folded, before mailing.

Improper recounts. The ONLY way to recount OS ballots is by hand. Many counties re-scan the ballots rather than do a hand recount. A mis-read caused by the wrong writing stick will still be a mis-read if scanned, while human eyes CAN detect the voter's real intent.
HG