I'm torn on what to do? Should I get an absentee ballot or should

[pooja]

I go and vote. If I see any discrepencies take a picture with my camera phone. Also, if I don't see any changes on the screen... then should I demand that I get a print out receipt. Sort of a protest. A demand from the little voter ladies that I get a print out. I think #1 they will be stunned, and #2 it will hopefully attract attention to the crisis with the voting machines.

On the other hand, I want to make sure my vote is counted. I know that the machines are def. unreliable. It is important to me that all democratic votes are counted. Especially with the gov. race. Its neck and neck here. I would hate for the vote to be stolen again.

[ClassWarrior]

1. Vote absentee, take Nov. 7 off, and volunteer as a poll watcher.

B-):thumbsup:

NGU.

[pooja]

4. Yes, I understand.... But at the same time... I think the whole sheeple

through the process line needs to wake up. Maybe this would do it.. of course, my voting place is at an old persons home, I would really hate to cause any stress related fatalities due to my protest.

[BelgianMadCow]

2. Good question - I am also curious about DU advice on this matter

When are absentee ballots counted? Only when the results have been announced or...?

[WI_DEM]

3. I like to vote bright and early on election day--it always makes me

feel good for the rest of the day and then I can go and take others to the polls.

[meldroc]

5. Even absentee ballots are subject to fraud.

In Ohio, thousands of absentee ballots were found in the trash, for example.

I'd suggest early voting if your state allows it. That way, there aren't as many people in line (putting not enough precincts and voting machines in Dem-leaning areas is one way they're disenfranchising voters.) Also, some precincts give you the choice between using the touchscreen machines or voting on a paper ballot, so of course you should use a paper ballot. Even if your precinct doesn't have that option, ask for a paper ballot anyways (a real ballot, not a provisional ballot.) That way, by early voting, you actually see your ballot go into the ballot box.

Granted, there are still zillions of ways for your vote to be stolen, but I'd say early voting's the lesser evil.

[Tin Man]

7. but at least absentee ballots leave a trail, whereas purely electronic ballots do not

Your example of Ohio absentee ballots found in the trash, just goes to show that it's more difficult to successfully cheat when there's physical evidence involved. The DRE alternative, as we all understand, leaves little or no evidence of either unintended failures or worse, systematic malfeasance.

IMO, considering all of the failures currently documented in purely electronic voting systems, I'd say voting via absentee ballot (on paper) is the most secure method for casting your ballot.

[RagAss]

6. I voted today - electronic in Florida........no paper trail...

I know, I know...what a fuccin waste of time ......

[BeFree]

8. You should know by now

How they count your vote.

If you don't know by now, rove is as happy as a pig in shit.

If no one knows how their vote is counted GO FIND OUT!

Then get back to us. Maybe then someone can answer your question.

See, this is the problem in the voting system. There's probably a hundred different ways that votes are counted. It's chaos!

Now may be too late, but in less than two years everybody needs to be voting pretty much the same, don't yall think?

[marions ghost]

9. Ditto!--ask questions

of local election officials. Find out where the ballots go. Are they counted at the precinct first? Are they delivered to the State Board of Elections? Who does this and when? Are there any witnesses when the state totals are done? Do they have random hand-counts?--probably not, but doesnt hurt to ask Do the political parties take any interest in vote-counting?

Yes, we have to get rid of these byzantine vote counting methods...and get some standards in place to prevent all these opportunities for manipulation.

[Peace Patriot]

10. Voting by Absentee Ballot and voting on the Machines is a wash, as to

the "safety" of the vote. So why endorse Bushite-controlled electronic voting machines, run on TRADE SECRET, PROPRIETARY programming code, and the whole rotten purchase of our election system and death of our democracy, by voting on their machines?

BOYCOTT the Machines is my recommendation! Millions of voters are doing it--there has been a huge increase AB voting, by people who DON'T TRUST THE MACHINES. If enough people do it--if everyone who WANTS transparent vote counting (92%, according to a recent Zogby poll) votes by AB--we would have a paper ballot system by default--then we could work on getting rid of the central electronic tabulators, also controlled Bushite corporations and also run on "trade secret" programming.

It's already 50% and 60% AB voting in some places. "The natives are restless," as they say. Rebellion of the voters is under way. It's big. And it will help election reformers, who can use this huge citizen "vote of no confidence" in the machines to demand TRANSPARENT vote counting.

Two additional positives for AB voting: 1. If the machines "break down" --by accident, or by fraudulent design--you will not be deprived of the right to cast a vote in these elections. AB voting is the ONLY guarantee against this--and machine "breakdowns" have become a pandemic. Long lines. People turned away. Sometimes no ballots available--or only "Provisional" ballots (easily tossable). You will have your own ballot in hand, or you will already have voted. 2. You cannot be deprived of your right to vote by some shenanigans about Voter ID.

1. Fill out your Absentee Ballot and its envelope carefully, to avoid disqualification, with special attention to your signature (sign it exactly as you signed it on your registration form, and as it appears on the voter materials that are sent to you by the registrar).

2. 1st class postage is acceptable, but best to get it weighed. I've heard some Calif counties have heavy ballots that required two stamps. Some jurisdictions have pre-paid postage; some don't. I recommend mailing it certified/return receipt requested, to make sure it gets there. Or hand-deliver it your registrar ahead of time, or to your polling place on election day.

3. To get it into the early count, mail it in ASAP.

4. Raise hell with your election officials about how AB votes are handled and counted. Write/call registrars and contact media. Demand that AB votes be hand-counted, and the totals posted, before any electronics are involved. This should also be done with optiscan votes. It is outrageous that it is not done. Make officials know that they are being watched!

5. Join with an election reform group or Dem candidate to monitor the election--also to analyze results for fraud, to challenge suspicious results, to publicize problems, to expose non-transparent electronic vote tabulation, and plan reform efforts.

-------------------

There are still FIVE DAYS left to request an Absentee Ballot in California. Plenty of time. Deadline is OCTOBER 31 (Halloween). You need to send the Registrar a signed note requesting an AB, but at this point, best to go there with your note and pick it up--faster turnaround. (The CA deadline for registering to vote is already past, but if you're registered, you can still be an Absentee Ballot.) For other states, check local rules (on all of these AB voting matters.)

AVOID having to vote on a "Provisional" ballot. Those are very bad. CA's Diebold shill Sec of State has given election officials leave to sub in "Provisional" ballots in case of machine "breakdown," or IN CASE YOU REQUEST A REAL PAPER BALLOT at the polling place (a right you have in Calif). This effectively kills the right to a real paper ballot. DO NOT PRESUME that you will be able to vote, nor that real paper ballots will be provided. I repeat, your ONLY guarantee of casting a vote is by Absentee Ballot.

If you are a Californian, vote for DEBRA BOWEN for Secretary of State. Very important!

[ellenfl]

11. i am paranoid about the repugs advising their voters to

vote absentee. will those be the only votes counted if there is a recount? will the repugs themselves call for a recount just so the paper ballots can put them over the top (after they have monkeyed with the machines)? am i being too paranoid?

will my paper ballot be thrown on the trash?

ellen fl

[pooja]

12. I know... jeb bush himself was endorsing the ab ballot for the repugs