BEWARE: Straight Party vote may not include Presidential AND CONGRESSIONAL RACES

[diva77]

this post is an addendum to Dover's excellent post http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x509649

Judy Alter of www.protectcaliforniaballots.org has warned that not only does the Straight Party voting option exclude the Presidential race, as it did in the 2004, but the devious sleight of hand of the software now omits the Congressional races as well (at least the Senate races; not sure whether Reps. are part of it or not). BEWARE!!!!

[cui bono]

1. How is it legal to have voting work differently for different parties?

EIRS records indicate that the "straight-party" option appeared not to have included a vote for president for every party except for Republicans. When a Republican voter selected the straight party option, a Bush vote appeared to register automatically, that is, the machine showed "Bush" (with rare exceptions). "Straight-party" voters from other than the Republican Party may not have discovered the absence of their presidential vote on their review screens. And others who reported finding no presidential vote on their review screens may not have realized how their choice of the "straight-party" option contributed to the absence of a presidential vote. The "straight-party" option appeared to have created a large under-vote by means of the no-vote-for-president (except Bush) phenomenon.

[TexasProgresive]

2. I never vote straight party because I live in Texas

I go candidate by candidate and vote for the dem but if there isn't one I vote for the non-puke (libertarian or green). If there is only a puke I abstain. By voting for the non-pukes I intend to send them a message that they are not loved by all-for what it's worth.

[Indenturedebtor]

3. As of 06 we still used paper here in AZ. I'm sure that if Obama somehow wins AZ

That will change by 2012. Until now stealing votes here is probably not worth the risk and expense.