Strange voting experience...

[cynatnite]

Voted early today. Went to the civic auditorium and the lines were unbelievably long. Photo ID or voting card was required. While I was waiting people were on the phone with election office over issues with the IDs. Names were misspelled and incorrect addresses. What was on the license didn't match with the voting records.

Saw we were doing the electronic voting thing and read the instructions. Lady in front of me was confused about entering the access code and I explained how I read it. Had to read it a few times to understand exactly what one was supposed to do. There was a wheel like thing at the bottom you turned to get the number. Push enter. Turn wheel again. Push enter and so on. Four numbers. It was odd.

First was the gay marriage amendment. Voted no, but I'm sure it'll pass here. :puke:
Second was some property tax thing. I read that four times and still didn't understand it. Voted no. Called a friend who said it was confusing for him, too.

After that, voted 'D' on Gov, Senate, House Rep, and State Rep.

When I finished pressed the red button signaling I was done with voting and that was it. I stood there feeling like I was just ripped off. Never had that feeling before in my life until today. It's still got me a bit unsettled.

All I have to show for it is a piece of paper with the stupid access code on it.

[Xenotime]

1. That uneasy feeling was your vote being converted to Republican.

[kestrel91316]

2. From now on, vote absentee. It's much more gratifying to

mark that ballot with your own hand and put it in the envelope with the stamp and send it away.

Or you could take your absentee ballot down to the polling place on election day and drop it in the box. Either way, it's a paper ballot that can be looked at with human eyes and actually recounted.

[Ellis Wyatt]

6. and know

That it will never be read?

And know that God-knows who is in charge of manually counting your ballot and can just throw it away if he/she so desires?

If someone is hijacking polling machines, it will be much easier to expose than handcounting issues.

[Ian David]

7. Be sure to use TWO stamps on your absentee ballots...

whether you think you need to or not.

[helderheid]

9. I used 5

:evilgrin: I wasn't taking ANY chances!!

[Ian David]

10. Using too many stamps looks like a "suspicious package"

They're going to take it to the parking lot and detonate it with a suitcase full of underwear.

[helderheid]

11. I'd be concerned if my vote counted in this state.

[Gelliebeans]

14. I used 3

didn't want any reason for not counting my ballot. ;)

:rofl:

[Flirtus]

3. I voted yesterday

It made me feel better. Our election commission was busy, but efficient, even at 6:30 pm, and I knew a lot of the workers had put in a full day. I got a reallll kick from voting for Benedict! And I voted against Hate, a/k/a other people's morals. Then I drove home happily.

I'm in Chattanooga with optical scan ballots - no access codes, etc. But no receipt, either.

Where are you? Dumb me, I thought all of Tennessee would have the same machines.

[cynatnite]

8. I'm in Kingsport...

We had different machines in 2004. I voted on election day and it was in my district. It was some sort of electronic punch card thing. :shrug:

When we lived in Idaho our ballots were manual punch type ones. Then our district was redrawn and went to a different place to vote in the next election. That time we had touch screen voting.

I'm still amazed at how many different machines there are everywhere. Seems like it's a convoluted system and not well organized.

[TechBear_Seattle]

4. It wasn't an access code, it was a program code

:tinfoilhat:

Each voter is assigned a program code to enter into the machine. This way, they know with which party you are registered, so they know who to "disappear" as a traitor after the election.

[nashville_brook]

5. careful! wouldn't want to be called a troll

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x2530648

or defeatist...

or a nattering nabob of negativism.

you're just supposed to shut up and vote now, doncha know.

[Jazzgirl]

12. Sounds like we used the same machines.

I voted today too and it was a little confusing. As a matter of fact, the screens have changed since the last time and I swear they are intentionally confusing. I don't consider myself ignorant or computer illiterate but the wheel thingie was definitely different. I meant to see what company manufactured them but forgot to look before I walked out. Voted straight Dem ticket and voted for an amendment I wasn't sure I understood that had something to do with homesteading. Hope I read it right! :eyes:

[Eric J in MN]

13. Did the machine print a voter verified paper ballot? NT

NT

[cynatnite]

15. No, we just got the little paper with the access code number n/t