Are we entitled to a paper ballot when we vote?

[spinbaby]

We recently voted in the Pennsylvania primary using electronic voting for the first time. On the local TV stations they said that paper ballots would be available. My husband, voting in an unremarkable Republican primary in Washington County, says that he asked for a paper ballot and was told that the neighbouring county had them, but Washington County did not. Then he says he was asked if he still wanted to vote. He voted using the electronic machine.

Now, I'm reading an article in yesterday's Post Gazette (Pittsburgh paper) in which the Washington County Elections Director Larry Spahr said that the new system was relatively problem free and ONLY TWO PEOPLE REQUESTED THE BACK-UP PAPER BALLOTS PROVIDED AT THE POLLING PLACES. Obviously, something isn't meshing.

Are we within our rights to demand and get a paper ballot at the November election?

[msongs]

1. in California your are!!!

only if YOU ASK for one, they have to give you one. They will not tell you this or offer you this, but it is required by law that all
voting places have paper ballots for people who ask for one.

the whole thing is kept as hush hush as possible however.

Msongs
www.msongs.com
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[Liberty Belle]

6. I'm in CA. Link to this law, please?

I'd like to forward it to a few thousand activist friends. ;-)

[pola]

7. what about Texas ? eom

[Boredtodeath]

2. It depends on your state law - in Georgia NO

From: Kathy Rogers, Election Administrator
To: Election Officials
Date: October 14, 2004
Re: Election Day 2004

Finally, do not forget to train your poll workers on how to handle a voter who may claim that they do not wish to vote on the Touch Screen equipment and instead seek to vote by paper ballot. There is NO provision in the law at this time that allows a voter to select the type of voting equipment he or she wishes to use for voting. The state of Georgia is pre-cleared by DOJ to use Touch Screen balloting in all polling places and any paper ballot, other than a provisional ballot which is cast on paper, would not be counted.
http://countthevote.org/rogers_memo.htm

[EFerrari]

3. When I post the ERD, it looks like there is a county by county

coordinated effort in PA to put electronic voting in the best light. Last week and I think the week before, it looked like at least four or five counties were "on message" and releasing similar statements all on the same day.

If your WA CO election guy actually LIED to the Post Gazette, you should email the reporter. If you get no response, email the Readers' Rep. The point isn't to harrass but to get the truth out.

It's pretty hard to believe that only two people requested paper ballots in your country. Does the article also say both were refused paper ballots? :eyes:

edit: in PA

[Stevepol]

4. In TN you are. As the following article indicates:

Courtesy: John Gideon & VotersUnite






Link:

http://www.tnimc.org/feature/display/15982/index.php

As the author says, "I created a bit of a stir in my polling place. I asked for a paper ballot. “I don't think anybody's messing with the results of this election,” I told the surprised clerk. “It's the principle of the thing.” I was the only person of the hundred or so who had voted in my precinct to make such a request, and it took them a couple of phone calls and a bit of paper shuffling to get it together, but I was provided with a number two pencil and a paper ballot and got to indicate my choices in good, old fashioned, unmistakable pencil lead. Actually, they tried to set me up with a ball-point pen but I pointed out that the instructions on the ballot called for a number two pencil. They weren't gonna throw my ballot out on technicalities, no sir.

Let me tell you a couple of stories about why I insisted on a paper ballot.

snip....

[nicknameless]

5. Kick

Recommended earlier.