New York's new optical scan system is annoying as hell, but effective.

[LLStarks]

Old folks are going to hate this.

For me, I'm indifferent.

The lever machines took no more than 30 seconds to vote, 5 if you did a party line vote. The new system has a paper trail, but it'll take you at least a 5 minutes to bubble everything in and then scan the ballot.

When I voted in '06 in Maryland, the plastic voter cards and paperless touchscreen really worried me.

I guess there is a trade-off between convenience a verifiable paper trail.

[kick-ass-bob]

1. I'm not sure why we (Wake co, NC)

went from connecting an arrow to filling in ovals.

Which is harder - drawing a straight line between 2 pieces of an arrow with a marker, or filling in an oval with a ball point pen?

[LLStarks]

2. Were both systems optical scan? nt

[kick-ass-bob]

6. yes they are.

I think some official reason was that the arrow was too confusing. :wtf: I have no idea how that could be confusing.

[LLStarks]

7. I guess a bubble is less likely to be considered a "stray mark". nt

[democrat2thecore]

3. Optical Scan is the ONLY way to go

Why every state does not use it boggles my mind.

[LLStarks]

5. Agreed. But work must be done to make them more compatible with poor eyesight and shaky hands. nt

Hence why old folks might not like the new system as it is right now.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

17. they have accessibil;ty mahchines....

http://votethenewwayny.com/en/using-the-new-voting-system/video.aspx

[LLStarks]

18. Ah. Okay. That's fine. nt

[marions ghost]

10. +++++

Simple and verifiable and tested over time.

But the sellers of e-voting machines don't want those features.

[Drale]

4. You know stuff like this is cool

its new technology, in a few years it will be a useful technology and will be reliable as well.

[LLStarks]

11. Trust needs to keep up with technology, but that hasn't happened with other electronic systems. nt

[BeFree]

15. "...in a few years..."

How many is a few?

These machines have been around for more than a decade now.

"...will be reliable as well."

Ah yes, will be reliable. Well, when? How?

[Mz Pip]

8. It seems overly complicated

I went with my son when he voted today in NYC. He checked in at one station, then went to another for his ballot, then to another to mark it,then to another to have it scanned. A couple of older folks seemed to be pretty confused. Fortunately that particular polling place had lots of workers.

Good news, though, there was a heavy turnout!

[LLStarks]

9. Yup. Same procedure here on the island. Your ballot is with you from hand-off to scan completion.

Good stuff.

[marions ghost]

12. New York did the right thing

people will get used to it and wonder why they ever put up with those clunky machines.

[LLStarks]

14. Clunky doesn't even begin to describe those space-wasting Analytical Engines. nt

Babbage must be spinning in his grave.

[marmar]

13. Yep, we do opti-scan in Michigan and I have no gripes with it.

nt

[ElsewheresDaughter]

16. I am so glad that we(NY) have a verifible paper trail ballot!

[democrat2thecore]

19. Exactly right. And a recount,. if necessary, actually MEANS something

With optical scan, the recount is of the paper ballots themselves. With the old voting machines and other e-voting systems it's just to make sure the machines performed "properly." Paper trail is the key to fair elections. Period.

[PBass]

20. It's kind of a pain now... voting a straight ticket is slow.

Also, a poll worker will see your ballot when they 'help' you get it scanned. It's not very private.

That being said, it seems okay to me as a user. No idea how secure it is, as far as vote-stealing behind the scenes. That's my main concern.

[democrat2thecore]

21. A few things...

- Ballots are certified before being used - they can't be replaced. The ones delivered to the precinct are the ones returned - including blank, unused ballots.

- Most optical scan machines will take your ballot any which way you put it in. So the poll worker doesn't have to see anything....It's just a natural thing to try to insert it "up" - but it doesn't matter.

- The bubble makes a "mismark" almost impossible.

- No clunky room-sized machines.

I love these things.

[LLStarks]

22. long island bump nt