I voted at about 3:00 p.m. yesterday. When I requested a paper ballot, there was a lot of head turning and confusion, until finally a woman was located who had a small folder of paper ballots. She borrowed a pen for me from a poll worker and sent me off to a corner where there was a cardboard voting booth. After I completed my ballot and returned it to her, she apologized for the confusion and told me I was the only voter all day to ask for paper. Seems that rejecting electronic voting machines isn't much of a priority around here.

Damn liberal troublemakers!

beating your head agains a wall doesn't do much... I have done he same many times, but att least it gives you the understanding that it's somehing you can be LOUDLY VOCAL about before the national... and who beter than a raging postman to be a spokesman against beaurocracy and corruption!?

There is still the absentee ballot option

depending on your state's deadlines as to how far ahead you have to register for it, and residency requirements, absentee ballots may not be an option... in 2k4, I had to file for absentee status over a month ahead of time, and verify it twice before actually being able to cast a presidential ballot, and that was simply to vote AGAINST Bush, in NY from AZ., not vote in the primary.

Always an option.
If not for the next election, then get set up for the one after!

I've heard that absentees are last, and sometimes not, counted. I've used them twice recently, tho. The issue isn't the extremely minor inconvenience I had when I requested a paper ballot, but my dismay that voters aren't rejecting the machines en masse when they have the opportunity.

Yeah, I'll continue to do what I can. I bring the issue up at county Democrat meetings. Sometimes they ask me to write letters to the editor, and I get quite a few printed in the weeks just prior to an election. The rest of the year Gannett, who owns our local, is pretty stingy with what they must consider liberal points of view. I appreciate your comments, but it's bad form to applaud yourself.

I don't know about other states, and other voting precincts, but I actually hand mine to the lady that's gonna count it!
And yes, little old ladies make double and tripple sure that every single legal ballot gets counted. And if there should be a problem, they will mail it back to me with a post paid return envelope.

i was applaudinng you to inspire you forward, just like i was telling you tto put on your ninja costume before heading into the fray...

http://www.news-register.net/page/content..../id/506792.html
Reconsider Ohio Paper Ballot Order
The Intelligencer
POSTED: March 8, 2008

Ohio voters seem to have made it clear that they, unlike the state’s chief elections officer, are comfortable with electronic voting machines. They did so during the primary election this week.

Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner, concerned about security with electronic voting machines, ordered the 53 counties where they are used to offer voters the option of casting paper ballots rather than using the computer devices. Jefferson and Belmont were among counties affected by the order.

But in Jefferson County, just 457 of the 27,191 people who voted Tuesday asked for paper ballots. That is less than 1.7 percent. Belmont County elections officials, though estimating that they received a large number of requests for paper ballots, did not have numbers available.

A study by the Columbus Dispatch found that, where numbers were available in the 53 counties, relatively few paper ballots were requested.

The vast majority of voters given the option of using paper ballots instead of electronic devices seem comfortable with the machines, both from the standpoint of security and that of ease of voting.

Brunner’s job is to ensure that elections are operated as fairly and efficiently as possible, of course — but, again, most voters seem to believe that electronic voting machines are fine in those regards. That should prompt the secretary of state to reconsider her plan to promote use of paper ballots.

they used the electronic machines because it's easier.
If later some body shows there's been election fraud, THEN they'll cry.

Next, drive through electronic voting?


I think y'all outta check what happens to absentee ballots in your state, and if there's a problem, that would be easier to fix, and a true viable alternative to the machine.

It seems, Sky, that most voters aren't interested in alternatives. I hate to beat the old "corporate media" drum, but I have to think that a majority of rank and file voters just haven't been made aware of the actual and potential danger of these machines. We cry babies who rail about the details of election theft are lumped into the same conspiracy theorist category as those of the 9/11 variety.

Unfortunately though that's not entirely true. In Washington and Oregon absentee ballots, or "Vote by Mail", is very popular! In fact in my state we still have poling stations as required by law. My neighbor who is an elections volunteer says the poling stations are always dead quiet. Perhaps the machines are popular in your state, but not in mine!

Every single person that votes has the obligation to know what they are voting for and why. This then includes the obligation to know your vote is safe and protected, otherwise why even bother? This also is clearly is a non-partisan issue as everybody wants to know that their efforts aren't a waste of time!

I don't have to hassle with driving to the poling station and waiting in line. I have a couple of weeks to actually look at my ballot and consider my options. If I want I can go on the net and research a particular bill or candidate while I vote. Then all I have to do is add a stamp and drop it in the mail box. I think if Ohio made any effort at all, y'all would come to love Vote by Mail too!