Hand Counted Paper Ballots

[kster]

http://www.just-a-webpage.com/rantings/?p=116

SNIP...Paper ballots may be considered old fashioned and low-tech but they work. There is verifiable proof that is accessible by everyone. It is also very difficult to be alone with paper ballots for more than a few seconds to a few minutes, hardly enough time to transform the results to one more to your choosing. Paper is also easy to understand and figure out, whereas electronic voting, whether open or closed source, is often confusing for the average voter.

There is also the problem that, even if the source code is released, would it be the same as what is registered on the machine in question or can that information be erased? By not actually being able to look at the source code at all only invokes more questions about trusting the accuracy and security of votes instead of easing people’s minds about legitimate elections.

You cannot, at this point in time, verify the results of electronic voting. You cannot even verify that the parts of the machine are functioning properly. Paper ballots allow you to watch and verify everything from counting the number of people voted against the number of ballots, to actually looking at the ballot and verifying the count.

Trusting experts on the reliability of these systems is also akin to someone asking you to sign a piece of paper in another language that you do not understand and having them say, “trust me, you won’t be screwed.” If people cannot understand the ideas, concepts, and math behind how electronic voting works, even when the source code is placed in front of them, they should demand a return to paper ballots. All election results should be easily understood and verified by everyone simply by looking at them


http://www.just-a-webpage.com/rantings/?p=116

[AnotherDreamWeaver]

1. Even with paper ballots, the scanner reading it can have "rigged program"

I hope a large percent of ballots would get hand counted, under camera to verify vote. (I'm not against all ballots being hand counted, It just takes more time but, there likely would be enough volunteers to see that it happens.)
adw

[kster]

2. I can only say one thing, KEEP HOPING

cause your wish, will soon come true, We The People Have PLENTY OF TIME to count, not only a large percent, BUT ALL THE GODDAMN BALLOTS BY HAND!!!! Bring your Camera!!!!

[truedelphi]

6. That's why so many of us are now saying

Paper ballots, counted by hand

period.

[L. Coyote]

12. Paper ballots, count by hand, verify by machine

Machines should check hand counts, period. Check and balance!

The solution everyone will accept and trust.

[Stevepol]

8. Definitely true. The scanners are just like touchscreens in their programming.

If they're used, there has to be a required ROBUST audit. Otherwise, the scanners are no different than the touchscreens.

As things now stand, we have totally secret vote counting WITHOUT VERIFICATION. And obviously you can't have a democracy when that's the case.

Just because the scanner scans a paper ballot doesn't mean that the vote counting is transparent. The counting takes place in the bowels of the black box in accordance with the machine's programming.

The good thing is that the paper ballot can be kept for audits and recounts and if there are truly fair and robust audits, I think you could be pretty sure of a fair count.

[kster]

9. I would agree, under just about any other set circumstances

but not when you are dealing with a bunch of CROOKS, the Politicians and the voting machine companies are in bed together, THEY ARE NOT YOUR FREIND! And I repeat, THEY ARE NOT YOUR FRIEND!

This is our country, Hand Count the Paper Ballots, we do not need these e-sleeze machines in between us and vote count, there is no reason for it, You and I both know that. :)

[midnight]

3. Paper Ballots Please.

The souce code, and understanding it is a stubling block to the voter. Get rid of it.

[Kurovski]

4. K&R. (nt)

[kiteinthewind]

5. HCPB's--That's how I want to vote!

:toast:

[galloglas]

13. A toast to Kiteinthe wind !

I've already posted the story about Show Me The Vote's squad who hit St. Chuck's County, MO.

Now give a toast to our operative, kiteinthewind :patriot:, who kept Kansas City from stealing the election!!

:toast:

[nicknameless]

7. .

K&R

[bvar22]

10. Paper Ballot, Publicly Hand Counted,....

AT the Precinct (or polling station), results posted on the door.

I don't want the ballot boxes out of public custody until the ballots are counted.

[kster]

11. kick.nt