So what is an acceptable form of voting machine

[LynneSin]

I'm starting to think that any voting machine that relies on solely computer technology is suspect at best. I'm almost thinking that punch ballots might be the most acceptable form out there because at least we still have the punch ballots, we would just need to educate the voter to make sure all punches are thoroughly pushed through before depositing punch cards.

What do you folks think

[GrpCaptMandrake]

1. Pencil and paper

Most so-called "civilzed" nations manage to have fair elections with nothing more than that and dedicated public servants.

It's not about voting. It's about profit. That's where the machines come from.

[longship]

7. Damn, you stole my thunder.

Pencil and Paper *is* the high tech way to vote.

[sabbat hunter]

2. optical scan

fill in the dot. make the dots far enough apart so they cant be doubled up.

educate peopel that if they make a mistake to ask for a fresh ballot. the old one is then shredded immediately.

[Fredda Weinberg]

3. optical scan, but ballot printers can prevent under/over votes

It also provides multiple language support and multimedia for the visually impaired.

[stellanoir]

5. Optical scanners stink

because although they generate paper, the tabulators are highly hackable and the ballots are never reviewed if the margin of victory is over 5 %. Rig it so the Repuke wins by over 5% and presto, discredit the exit polls and the actual votes don't matter at all.

[sabbat hunter]

10. yes

but with optical scan you can do a hand recount.

[LynneSin]

13. The two major flaws we have learned about Optical Scan

#1 - If the holes are not punched all the way through then the ballot could be spoiled. The solution would be signs reminding people to check their punchcards thoroughly before depositing your ballot.

#2 - Ballots can be made confusing - Here we need to make sure that we have a uniform ballot in large enough print for anyone to read.


In rural Perry County, PA we had a punchcard ballot that was like 'Reading a Book" each page would go to the next line on the punchcards for ballot and names were only on one side with instruction reminders on the otherside.

Best voting system ever!

[Awsi Dooger]

16. You're describing punch cards, not optical scan

There are no punches on optical scan. It's like a standardized test, filling in bubbles or completing an arrow.

There can still be errors if you don't fill in the bubble completely or make additional marks on the ballot, etc., which is why it's imperative to have error correcting optical scanners. They will spit the ballot back at you with warning you over voted or under voted. Some lesser optical scan machines do not provide error correction, and in that case the residual rate is not much different than punch cards. With error correction, it's generally half or less.

[Awsi Dooger]

8. Right, optical scan with error correction

Meaning over votes are not allowed and you're also prompted in the case of an under vote, to make sure it's intentional.

Thank god the hideous punch cards are all but phased out. The percentage I saw for 2006 is 41% of voters will use optical scan, 39% on electronic machines, 10% on levers, 6% on mixed methods, 3% on punch cards, and less than half of one percent on paper.

[Stinky The Clown]

4. Here are detailed plans for a fully reliable voting system:

[sinkingfeeling]

14. I'd vote for this one as long as they're hand counted.

[Stinky The Clown]

17. I've rethought my answer .....

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2741003

I'm not opposed to a plain old hand counted paper ballot system .... but ......

[snowbear]

6. Maybe this....

:shrug:

[seafan]

9. Pen and paper ballot, hand-counted at the precinct, and telephoned in

to the Secretary of State's office.

The paper ballots may be provided in any language needed, including braille.



...My answer to the "how do we rescue our corrupted elections?" tsunami. And it has never wavered.

[MaineDem]

11. That's the only way I've ever voted

It takes longer to tally but there are checks and double checks and they can always count again.

[leftofthedial]

12. paper and pen

[Freddie Stubbs]

15. I like the old-fashioned lever machines

But like any system, they are susesptatble to fraud.