Petition article to prohibit computerized vote counting passes

[ensho]

http://www.ledgertranscript.com/article/voters-count-ballots-by-hand


Voters: Count ballots by hand


By approving a petition warrant article at Saturday’s Town Meeting, Lyndeborough voters made their town perhaps the first in the nation to formally prohibit computerized vote counting and ensure the tradition of hand counting paper ballots.

Voters approved the petition article that “prohibits vote counting concealed from human eye by method of computers.” Resident Nancy Tobi, who sponsored the petition article, said she brought the article to the town to ensure Lyndeborough would continue to count its ballots by hand, as it has for more than 200 years.

“I know that the town of Lyndeborough loves its elections and is very community oriented. I thought it would be good to be proactive and protect this piece of democracy we have in New Hampshire,” Tobi said Tuesday.

Lyndeborough is one of 144 towns or cities in New Hampshire that still counts its votes by hand, and the town’s approval of the article was a historic one, Tobi said.

“I’ve been trying to make voting changes in the state for years and fighting a losing battle. Having my own town agree that preserving democratic and community-based elections is very fulfilling. I’m ecstatic,” Tobi said. “I think that this may be the first town in the nation that passed into law a prohibition on concealed vote counting.”

-snip-

“I would just love to see the federal government or the state of New Hampshire try to tell us that hand counted elections are no longer approved. That is one constitutional battle that I would love to fight,” Tobi said.
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congratulations to Lyndeborough

well, that can be our next fight. hand ballots - no more vote rigging via machines.

[drm604]

1. K&R

Although DUers have been distracted by other important issues recently, this is still a very important (perhaps the most important) issue.

[Ozymanithrax]

2. There always has and always will be questions about ballots...

But this is the right way to go. I'd Rather trust to hundreds or even thousands of individuals counting and recounting ballots than a machine whose program I can not see and do not understand counting the votes and saying, "Here's your elected official."

Some things should be done by humans.

[ensho]

3. good motto - some things should be done by humans

nt

[Ozymanithrax]

4. Would be if I could spell it right. n/t

[WhiteTara]

5. good Job Nancy Tobi!

I hope this grows like a wave across our country.