Tell me again why we can't get paper out of those electronic machines

[BattyDem]

I ran some errands today and I got very angry. Here's why:

I went to the bank this morning. I needed some money from the ATM. I used a touch-screen to select the account I wanted to withdraw money from. Then, I entered the amount I wanted and my PIN number. I only had to press the "buttons" on the screen once and the machine knew what I wanted. There were no errors, so obviously, the machine was calibrated perfectly. When I was finished, I got a printed receipt, which verified the transaction.

This afternoon, I went to a photo kiosk because I had pictures on a CD and I wanted to make some prints. I used a touch-screen to select the type of media I was using, which pictures were to be printed and the number of prints I wanted. I also selected the size of the photos and I made a few minor edits to a couple of them (cropping, brightness, etc.). Since there were over 80 photos, I decided not to wait for them to be printed, so I used the touch-screen to enter my name and phone number, which would identify me when I picked up the photos later. I only had to press the "buttons" on the screen once and the machine knew what I wanted. There were no errors, so obviously, the machine was calibrated perfectly. When I was finished, I got a printed receipt, which verified the transaction.

This evening, we went to the local diner to get something to eat. After we ordered our food, I noticed that the waitress used a touch-screen to enter our order into a computer. We decided to have some dessert after finishing our main course and once again, the waitress used the touch-screen computer to add the dessert to our order. She seemed to have no problems, so obviously, the machine was calibrated perfectly. When we finished our meal, we got a printed receipt, which verified the transaction.

Now I ask you ... WHY IS IT SO FREAKIN' IMPOSSIBLE TO GET AN ACCURATELY CALIBRATED, TOUCH-SCREEN VOTING MACHINE THAT CAN PRINT A PAPER RECEIPT TO VERIFY OUR VOTE IF NEEDED?!?

:grr: :grr: :grr:

[Skink]

1. do you want paper with that?

[annabanana]

2. A receipt is not a ballot. .

and privately owned software is the system is a frightful invasion of the body politic..For all the info you ever wanted on this and other topics, I refer all and sundry to the Election Reform group here at DU. There be experts in those waters:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=203

[BattyDem]

4. True, but ...

Touch-screen computers are used everywhere, without error, on a daily basis and they have no problem producing a paper record that can be verified by the user and provide proof of the transaction.

The fact that these companies claim that it's far too difficult to make their machines produce a paper record that can be verified by the voter and used (if needed) for a recount is absurd. The fact that our government continues to let them get away with that lame excuse is obscene!

Thanks for the link. :hi:

[annabanana]

5. Yes it is absurd. But lest you think this makes it just fine that

our vote be captured in a box manufactured by a private company that has proprietary rights to that software.. Check out who owns the companies that make 80% of the machines currently in play.

This is from '04.. but it fully illustrates the problem today.
http://www.onlinejournal.com/evoting/042804Landes/042804landes.html

[BattyDem]

8. It's insane, isn't it?

Private companies with their own personal agendas are running our system. :-(

[jwirr]

3. You can - we have them here in Minnesota - you vote, the machine

prints it and you look at it, then put it into another box.

[BattyDem]

6. We were supposed to get that in NJ before this election.

Didn't happen. Postponed ... again! Apparently, it's too complicated, too expensive and the three years they had to get it done wasn't enough time. :eyes:

I'm glad Minnesota got it done. :hi:

[Skink]

7. Yeah then it get's put in a box.

So if we needed to say random Audit a few percent we can. Not like we as a country would recount all the votes like they do in Australia. Big Aussie guys with red beards count all the votes by hand. Actually they are usually big guys from Auckland but I digress.

[jwirr]

9. I have to admit that I do not necessarily trust this machine either - what

happens after I put it in the box!

[Skink]

10. It's a random spot check.

IT makes sure Fargo has something to count. Or NY just in case.

[Flying Dream Blues]

11. And tell me why that will ensure the votes aren't flipped inside the box? nt

[BattyDem]

13. Mandatory random audits

I'd prefer to get rid of those damn machines completely, but if that's not going to happen, we need to have some way to verify the results.

[bklyncowgirl]

12. Simple. Politicians of both parties LIKE the idea of hackable voting machines

You want honest elections don't expect the politicians to do a damn thing about it.

[mwei924]

14. Seriously, they give a receipt for withdrawing $10 from an ATM..

..but no, a paper trail to make sure you voted correctly is just too much.