Florida ballot terminals favor Republicans--Even when voters don't

[BurtWorm]

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/10/31/florida_terminals_dont_cooperate/


By Thomas C Greene in Dublin → More by this author
Published Tuesday 31st October 2006 13:15 GMT


Florida voters using electronic ballot machines are having persistent problems choosing Democrats in early elections, the http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/breaking_news/15869924.htm">Miami Herald reports.

The touch-screen gizmos seem strangely attracted to Republican candidates. One voter needed assistance from an election official, and even then, needed three tries to convince the machine that he wanted to vote for Democrat Jim Davis in the gubernatorial race, not his Republican opponent Charlie Crist.

Another voter who went Democrat across the board kept finding Republicans listed in the summary screen. He made repeated attempts until, finally, the machine registered his votes correctly, and he cast his ballot.

Yet another frustrated voter who complained of difficulties selecting a Democrat was told that the machine she was using had been troublesome. Poll workers fiddled with it for a bit, and then it seemed to work properly.

Apparently, this happens all the time. According to the Herald, "Broward County Supervisor of Elections spokeswoman Mary Cooney said it's not uncommon for screens on heavily used machines to slip out of sync, making votes register incorrectly. Poll workers are trained to recalibrate them on the spot - essentially, to realign the video screen with the electronics inside. The 15-step process is outlined in the poll-worker's manual."

Well that's a relief. Only we have to wonder, if the screens "slip out of sync," might other components do so as well? And why are poll workers permitted to fiddle with the machines?

[droidamus2]

1. but why?

Why does it always seem that when these things happen it switches Democrat to Republican. Not Democrat to Green party or Republican to Peace and Freedom or dare we say even Republican to Democrat. If you are forced to use an electronic voting machine be like these voters and make sure the summary shows who you actually voted for. If the summary doesn't then keep trying, including getting help, until it does.

[BurtWorm]

2. Why indeed.

:wtf:

[Jack Rabbit]

3. That's worrisome

If the machine isn't calibrated correctly, how does the voter know that his ballot is being recorded correctly, even when his the monitor displays it correctly?

[magellan]

4. What's "slipped out of sync" is America's desire for fair elections

...and the Republicans' desire to provide same.

[emlev]

5. SEE THIS THREAD!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x2537806

And remember--you may be able to push the button enough times to get the touchscreen to claim to be registering your vote the way you've cast it, you may even be able to get the paper trail to agree, but the touchscreen machine could still be counting your vote for a different candidate altogether.

[BurtWorm]

6. kick