What will happen at Nov Elections if Voting Machines Shut Down?

[Blackhatjack]

Are there any procedures in place at all to handle voting and counting of votes if voting macines without verified paper receipts shut down, or lose votes previously cast? And if a voting machine shuts down, do we dare rely upon the maker of that voting machine to "tell us" what the vote totals were in a "recount"????

This could be the election that wasn't.

Just ignoring the districts affected voids the concept of representative government. For example, in districts with high numbers of registered Dems or Repubs, if the voting machines go out, ignoring those districts will skew the outcome across the board.

If you voted and the vote is cleared from the memory, like occurred in Beaufort NC, there is no way you would be allowed to cast your vote again.

Would a new election be in order? What if it is for a national race in 2008 where there is a strict time deadline, and if the SOS cannot certify a winner it goes to that state's legislature to pick the winner? ie. FLORIDA

WHat do you think the resulting effects would be?

[SheilaT]

1. In lots of recent elections

there have been nonworking machines, and most polling places have few if any paper ballots to use. What happens is that voters wind up turned away and unable to vote.

And don't let a strict deadline to certify results fool you. Results will get certified, and assuredly the way the local power structure wants them certified.

You can assume that once again, as in 2000, 2002, and 2004, there will be a shortage of machines in largely Democratic areas, the machines in those areas will be more prone to breaking down. Votes will mysteriously switch to the wrong column. Exit polls will skew widely from the announced results.

If you live somewhere that permits advance voting by paper ballot, vote that way.

[electropop]

2. It might be a good thing if machines visibly "break down" everywhere.

Finally, people might take notice of the disaster, which has been going on (and worsening) almost invisibly for years.

[Atman]

3. KKKarl would splooge all over his Sans-A-Belts.

I think it would be BushCo's wet dream if the whole system failed. Then, we couldn't name a new Congress. It will take months to correct it and set up new elections. Gosh, maybe even years...like, two of 'em. I'm telling you, this isn't an implausible scenerio. Be afraid. Be very afraid.

[skylarmae]

4. I would be dancing in the streets - so happy - if it takes a break down

to finally remedy the problems, then so be it....Bless the patriotic hackers!