American Public Radio Marketplace: Have you changed the way you vote?

[BillORightsMan]

I listen to MARKETPLACE on my local NPR station as often as I can, including their morning report. Some time ago they sent out a request for listeners to participate in their on-air stories and ask for feedback. I always have something to say (imagine that!) and dutifully reply with gusto! Today I received THIS in my inbox:

Is technology rocking your vote?

Your voting method has very likely changed since the last presidential election.

Florida’s “hanging chad” butterfly ballot controversy in 2000 led counties to junk their old punch card and pull-lever machines in favor of video touch screen or optical scan ballot systems made by a few big companies.

Congress pushed along the changeover by authorizing more than $3 billion to replace voting machines, update voter registration systems and improve polling place accessibility for the elderly and people with disabilities.

How has this spending changed the way you cast your vote?

Despite the overhaul, problems persist: A software problem caused about 1,000 ballots to briefly drop off voting machines in nine counties in Ohio in March. And a voting machine glitch this month delayed election results in two Florida counties.

The stakes are high, especially in battleground states where the outcome of the national election could rest on a slim margin of victory or a contested result, as it did in 2000. If you’re a voter, a polling place worker, or county elections official, share your knowledge of your local voting system with Marketplace.

Click here to respond.

Thanks in advance for your help, and please use the link above to pass along this note to others with insights to share.

Sharon McNary
Analyst, Public Insight Journalism
Marketplace
American Public Media
[e-mail]

Well, this is the FIRST TIME I've ever had this question asked of me.
My head is spinning! I don't know where to start!
Voter Caging? Voter ID laws held up by the SCOTUS?
The numerous studies showing these DRE machines completely HACKABLE?
Howard Dean's CNBC video with Bev Harris?
Ken Blackwell and the Tennessee Servers counting Ohio's vote in 2004?
John Conyers' report?
The fake GOP "election protection" front company?
Bob Ney, Jack Abramoff and HAVA?
Everything in the DU EP News from the last four years?

Maybe you can help out!

Click here to respond
Pick ONE instance, perhaps focused on your home state, that document "rocking your vote".
Send a link to a BradBlog or FreePress/Wasserman/Fitrakis article!
You name it!

SEND IT!
Click here to respond

This could be HUGE! Share your letters to MARKETPLACE here!

imbillorightsmanandiapprovethismessage
:patriot:

[tbyg52]

1. Kudos to them for asking! K,R,&done nt

[tbyg52]

2. Dupe. 'Puter lied to me about failed message. Tell me again why we vote on 'puters???? nt

[tbyg52]

3. Hey, y'all, this showed up in my ER news search, and yet has only 4 recs!

What's wrong with this picture....? ;)

[BeFree]

4. Confusion

Where I live, this will be the third different vote recording/counting device in the last three elections. 3 for 3. It shows me confusion reigns, and when confusion reigns, the crooks find an open door.

[ArkySue]

5. K&R

:kick: