WaPo: "If paper ballots restore trust in elections, let's switch"

[Amaryllis]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/20/AR2006092001876_pf.html

If Paper Ballots Restore Trust In Elections, Let's Switch
By Marc Fisher
Thursday, September 21, 2006

Well into the second decade of the television era, the machines still conked out, a lot. "TV's on the fritz again," folks would say. There was such a thing as a TV repairman, who would come to your house. Now, TVs work.

Here in the relatively early stages of the computer era, these vastly more complex machines still lock up and shut down. Yet we're so enraptured by computers' power that we want them to do everything -- even handle the sacred core of our democracy, voting.

But the machines aren't yet reliable, at least not 100 percent. Maryland voters learned this firsthand in last week's primary, and now the state has less than seven weeks to gin up a credible, smooth general election.

The obvious solution, as Gov. Bob Ehrlich said yesterday, is to put the machines in the closet (actually, returning them to the store is an even better idea; does anybody in Annapolis still have that receipt for $106 million?) and go back to paper ballots. The governor bemoaned flaws in the Diebold electronic poll books that Maryland used for the first time last week to check in voters: "Technology is a wonderful thing, but clearly, given their apparent inability to function appropriately -- when in doubt, go paper, go lower technology."


Lots more:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/20/AR2006092001876_pf.html

[Phredicles]

1. Whoa - simple, common sense

We can't have that in this post-9/11 world.:sarcasm:

This is so blindlingly obvious that I don't see how it'll ever get anywhere, alas.

[blm]

6. It's so simple. Paper ballots. Hand counts. Videocameras in every precinct

while votes are being counted. Low cost AND secure.

[bushisanidiot]

2. Don't expect common sense to prevail in El Diablo's Amerka

we should definitely go back to paper ballots. hands on is the only proof positive way to have our votes counted.

[Kurovski]

3. A big, fat K&R.

My favorite quote: "Everything's been whitewashed pretty good."

Thanks, Amaryllis!:hi:

[Kolesar]

4. Excellent writing. He made some fundamental points very well.

Email that to all the vote-fraud skeptics you know at the papers.

[mod mom]

5. Adopt a journalist:

find someone in the msm and develop a rapport with them. Send them info and keep them informed. I did this last spring and have made progress. It is a great way to reach more people.

[BeFree]

8. Mom!

Where ya been? How ya doing?

Are ya ready to kick some ass? Some pub butt? Things are looking pretty good, right?

I even got me a journalist type... he's too doggone conservative but he's coming around. Has to face the facts, he does.

Good to see your name floating around. Cya!

[mod mom]

17. Working on the periphery for a while.

A little info overload. I've been volunteering at the local dog shelter almost every day with my children. I highly rec'd doing such work for those a little stressed.

I believe my journalist has seen the light. I just sent him the new RFK Jr. and he replied back requesting info on other litigation on e-voting.

[BeFree]

20. Info Overload

'Tis a problem.....

Tell ya, I gotta hand it to the people in this forum who have stuck around... yall know who you are. We've been through the wringer. Not just the elections wringer, but the general worldwide wringer, too.

We've come a long way, baby. And we're still here! It is just great to see the names that keep popping up here... tells us that we ain't all alone, so that keeps us going.

And how 'bout those eyes! When that animal looks up at you and the trust is as thick as fog, how can you not feel better? We are needed, and wanted. And the least amongst us appreciate us more than we will ever know.

[Amaryllis]

16. This is a GREAT idea!

[bobbolink]

7. Here's hoping this common sense reaches a lot of WaPo readers!

Good post--Thanks! :thumbsup:

[Tin Man]

9. UPDATE - Ehrlich now encouraging voters to file absentee ballots

In the face of stiff opposition from state Democrats, Ehrlich has modified his position somewhat: in lieu of dumping DRE machines altogether, the governor is now encouraging voters to submit absentee ballots. And oddly enough, state Dems are STILL voicing opposition to the new suggestion - it seems that for Maryland Dems, it's Diebold or nothing. :shrug: :shrug: :shrug:

from the WaPo:

Democrats Blast Ehrlich's Absentee-Voting Initiative
Governor May Attempt to Ban Electronic Voting

Faced with intense opposition to his proposal to switch from electronic voting machines to paper ballots, Maryland Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. (R) yesterday urged voters to stay away from polling places during the November general election and instead cast paper absentee ballots.

Ehrlich's suggestions -- which he made through a senior administration official -- came after last week's primary, when voters experienced widespread problems at the polls.

"It's the most rational solution to the primary election dysfunction," said Joseph M. Getty, Ehrlich's policy director.

The plan was denounced by some Democrats who said it was another attempt by the governor, who is up for reelection, to boost his candidacy by suppressing voter turnout and sowing doubts about the state's electronic voting system.

full article at: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/21/AR2006092101046.html

[MissWaverly]

10. I don't like the absentee votes idea

When I went to the polls and they told me I had already voted before I got there, I knew
what went on. When I went to vote in 2004, and saw my machine default to Bush 5 times
I knew what went on. If I send in my absentee vote, I will not be present when it's discarded, I will not be able to see what goes on. This is how democracy dies in secret,
behind closed doors.

[Tin Man]

12. Yeah, but can you ever be sure your vote is actually counted?

Even when you pull the lever on a good'ole fashioned mechanical machine, can you truly be certain it tabulated your vote fully and completely? Or that the poll worker that extracts the totals from the machine actually records the machine reported values correctly, or that the poll totals are reported correctly to the precincts, etc...

There's a certain degree of faith that's required in any/every method of voting. And to be honest, I don't know precisely how absentee ballots are tabulated, but is there really evidence to support that the people and/or mechanisms that tabulate absentee votes are any less reliable than those at polling places?

In Maryland's case, the voter is forced to choose between two uncertain options: vote absentee ballot, or vote Diebold DRE - but which is less reliable? It may boil down to a case of "I'll choose the devil I don't know over the one I do"

[MissWaverly]

15. Well at least I can document what happened

Now, I did ask for a paper ballot but they said that I could not have a paper ballot because
I had already "voted." So because I voted before I got to the polling place (which I didn't)
then I was locked into Diebold and we will attach a piece of paper with your vote scam.
Did my vote count in the 2006 primary: No, did my vote count in 2004 general election
when the machine defaulted to Bush 5 times when I selected Kerry, No. Did the State of
Maryland pay Diebold 143 million for a system that does not work and they continue to
defend, YES.

[bleever]

11. Elections are not trustworthy now.

We should restore trust in elections.





Twenty two months ago, these were the thoughts of tinfoil hat conspiracy theorists. Now they're conventional wisdom.

We've come a long way, and we're not stopping yet.

[MissWaverly]

18. Bleever, I agree with you

but the price has been steep, 3 stolen elections, a trashed country, a do-nothing congress
and for Maryland alone a huge price tag, I have heard various estimates but I believe
the estimate is 143 million, it costs 1 million dollars just to store these machines
between elections in Maryland alone.

[Patsy Stone]

19. Beowulf

"Fate often spares the undoomed man, if his courage is good."

:hi:

[texpatriot2004]

13. K & R for Transparent Democracy nm

[cyberpj]

14. WHOO-HOO!!!! Finally! nt