NY: "Since I don’t understand how the machine can record the votes...I did not feel confident"

[Bill Bored]

A Voter Critiques the New Machines
By LYNN BRENNER

Lynn Brenner, a friend of City Room, sent around an e-mail describing her voting experience in New York City on Tuesday and contrasting it with her experiences of past years. This follows a primary day that prompted many complaints. We thought it smartly summed up the experiences of many, and we happily present it here:

The inherent flaws and initial spotty performance of the new New York City voting system have already been denounced by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, who spoke for just about everyone who voted yesterday.

Here is my firsthand report.

First, a brief description of the old system:

-snip-

When you pulled the lever, there was a clicking sound, and an X appeared in the box next to the candidate’s name. If you had mistakenly pulled the wrong lever, or had second thoughts, you pulled it back. The X disappeared, and you could begin again.

When you were satisfied with your selection — (I use the word “satisfied” loosely, of course) — you cast your vote by pulling the giant handle again. With a big ka-ching! sound not unlike the theme of “Law & Order,” your vote was cast: The X’s disappeared (ensuring its secrecy) and the curtain behind you opened.

-snip-

So here’s the new system:

-snip-

You fill in the little circles (like the SAT test, only less legible). You then put your ballot inside the “privacy folder” and walk to one of the scanners — which look something like a Xerox machine, but not as comfortingly familiar — where a friendly poll watcher helps you cast your vote. The immediate question is, “Do I put in my ballot face up or face down?” In my case, the poll watcher said, “It doesn’t matter.” So I put it in face down, to conceal my vote. It went into the machine, which then flashed the message, “Your vote has been counted.”

Since I don’t understand how the machine can record the votes regardless of whether the ballot is inserted facing up or down, I did not feel confident this was true.

-snip-

Read more, and some interesting comments at:

http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/09/15/a-voter-critiques-the-new-machines/

[BrklynLiberal]

1. Personally, I was really disappointed and angry that I did not get a paper receipt

verifying my votes, to be used in case of a recount or other "irregularity".

I wanted some sort of proof that the votes I entered were read as I meant them to be read.

[Bill Bored]

3. That still wouldn't prove your votes were counted as cast. nt

[Wilms]

4. Who gets a paper receipt?

That would open up the process to votes that are coerced, bought and sold.

There are serious concerns about these systems. But that's not one.

And about "to be used in case of a recount or other "irregularity"". In the unlikely event of recount, ya mean. There was paper in FL2000 and in OH2004. Paper that didn't get counted, despite...



BTW, how are the trees in Brooklyn doing? :cry:

[BrklynLiberal]

5. Thousands of trees were lost..some incredibly old, magnificent ones that will take generations

to recreate...Very sad.

[Historic NY]

2. mine got rejected because it didn't come out of the folder smoothly..

I had to run it again. I did notice that those special pens. If your ballot is still wet the ink will leave marks in the folder, which can make spurious markings on your ballot. I think older people are goingto have trouble loading the ballots.

[TreasonousBastard]

6. Very simple answer....

the scanners are designed to read both sides of the ballot.

In the general election there may be too many offices, candidates and propositions to fit on one side, so the back of the ballot will be used. The scanner has to be able to read the back so it can scan in one pass, and the ballot is coded so that the scanner knows what is being read. So, it makes no difference which way you put the ballot in.

Next question?

[Bill Bored]

7. You didn't answer the question, which was: HOW DOES ONE KNOW THE VOTE WAS COUNTED AS CAST? nt

[Wilms]

8. Faith. n/t