Interesting and disheartening voting experience today

[RayOfHope]

I just returned from voting. I live in Vernon County, which is a fairly small (in terms of population) county in SW MO.


When I finished voting, I took my ballot over to a new electronic Sequoia machine. We haven't used those down here before. YOu feed your ballot in, and it beeps and lights flash red and green. As soon as I (reluctantly) fed my ballot into this scary-ass thing, it beeped like crazy and I heard two of the five of the election judges say "oh no". Another judge came over to see what was going on. She looked it over, couldn't find anything wrong as the other judges were telling her the beeps they heard weren't normal. The judge told me 'don't worry, it's been counted". "Shyeah, right", I thought.

A receipt-like list comes out the top of the machine. I don't know if voters are supposed to rip theirs off after they vote, but no one had yet, so there was a big list. I looked at it and couldn't believe how full of error messages it was. "Ballot returned", "Ballot unread", etc etc.

The elections were rather small today, only city council and school board. But I have to say that if this is what we are now using and the votes aren't hand tallied, I have ZERO faith in the system.

Some people really take voting for granted, but I tell ya--the thought of my vote not counting, of not having that power, made my stomach drop.

[evlbstrd]

1. Today looks to be my last time to vote with a punch card.

Diebold is coming to KC. Not looking forward to it.

[cornermouse]

2. They have a big black box here.

You put your ballot up to it, it sucks it in and that's the end of it.

[RayOfHope]

3. Yes. that was it. It was much bigger than I thought it would be.

And seeing how none of the judges knew quite what to do with the damn thing, I can see how they would be easy to hack.

[usregimechange]

4. W need to let our friends know from greater DU about this thread.

[proud2BlibKansan]

5. Put a link in GD

[RayOfHope]

7. Hey Seth

The people that won for city council here are bad, bad news. Word is that they are going to fire the city manager (who is a progressive dem) and the director of Parks and Rec, install one of their good ole boy buddies for interim city manager, and make sure they all get the 'benefits' from being on city council for their businesses.

One of the men is the owner of the hotel there at the 71 exit. For lack of a better word, he is a real prick and a HUGE repug.

[usregimechange]

8. As bad as that is I would feel better about it if the results were valid.

[Broken_Hero]

6. hmm...

I'm in SW Missouri, McDonald county. My wife and i voted for Neosho School District Bond issues, cause thats our school system(we live literally like 2 miles from newton co). We had no problems, but a problem I thought of tonight, concerning voters...

My wife, and I are barely making ends meet, we voted NO on a school bond issue, yet, the bond passed, yippie, more taxes, great. Yet, the total votes were around 3,000...about 2000 saying yes, about 1000 saying no. Yet, the total vote was 13% of the electorate...and I was wondering, why are these things voted on when barely 1 out of 10 vote? I don't know, it seemed kinda funny, but it seems to be a recurrent theme in all voting sessions...

I don't know, i wasn't a big fan of Neosho's school bond, or McDonald County's school bond...we got 39 cent increase per 100 dollars, McDonald County's is more, 44 cents, but theres will increase every year, for four years...man, I wish they would have just raised sales tax, or found another way to do this...my wife and I just got an increase of 450$ on our property taxes, and now this 39 cent one, which will probably raise it another 400 bucks...damn, rough times for the middle class, and lower classes...especially new home owners...(which is what my wife and i are)....

[LiberalFighter]

9. Initiatives and bond issues should not be on the ballot in primary

They should be voted on when the general election is held to ensure maximum voter turnout.

[Broken_Hero]

10. well, somethings wrong then...

cause every damn school bond, that was up yesterday passed...ones for webb city, carthage, neosho, and mcdonald county...and a few others...I know the kids need schools and what not, but there should be an easier way to do that, than raising property taxes...

And don't get my started on Property Taxes...damn, high way robbery if i ever saw it...shit, the mafia would be proud....

[LiberalFighter]

11. If they quit giving out tax abatements to companies

it would reduce the taxes for individuals.

Taxes on the goods and services produced by companies aren't just paid by local consumers. They are also paid by consumers from every state or outside the taxing area.

[RayOfHope]

12. yes, this is a big problem in our county

We have a big 3M facility that challenged these taxes and won. That was $300,000/yr that would have gone to the school district. SBC is now in legal proceedings looking for an abatement as well. The case won't be decided for a year or two, but they don't have to pay taxes in the meantime.

Tell me every other big business won't want to do this, too.

Thanks, repub lawmakers and judges!