New Voting Method in Nevada

KLAS-TV, Las Vegas ^ | December 11, 2003 | Colleen May

[Willie Green]

For education and discussion only. Not for commercial use.

(Dec. 12) -- Major changes are on the way for how people will vote in Nevada in the upcoming elections. Nevada is the first state that will require voters to see a paper printout of their selection before they cast their ballot.

Nevada Secretary of State Dean Heller says he's trying to avoid the political disaster of the Florida recount in the 2000 Presidential Election. "I feel very important the public confidence has to be high in order to entice them to go to the polls," said Secretary of State Dean Heller.

Heller has mandated that all Nevada counties begin using what's called direct recording electronic voting machines or DRE's by Sequoia Voting Systems. The machine allows voters to see a paper printout of their ballot selections before they leave the voting booth.

"For people who don't trust government who are uncomfortable what's going on inside the machine, this should make them comfortable as to what they picked. There is a record accurately recorded," said Larry Lomax, Clark County Registrar of Voters.

Clark county has used Sequoia machines for ten years however 16 other counties in Nevada still use punch card and scan machines. Heller says those counties will switch over by the March 2004 election.

More than 700 of Clark County's newer voting machines will also be retrofitted for the paper printout. But 2100 older machines won't be upgraded until 2006.

"We need to make sure there is some form of accountability during these elections," said State Democratic Party Chair Adraina Martinez, adding that these machines are a step in the right direction but they all need to be retrofitted by next March.

"This is a non-partisan issue. We want to make sure your vote counts." But Heller is confident your vote is safe. He says, "The better the technology gets the better the better the machines get the security aspect of it."

[Willie Green]

I don't particularly care for this method.
IMHO, the optical scan is better.
Voters can mark a traditional paper ballot with a marker,
and the ballots are retained as backup in case there's any electronin snafu.
But the scanners can quickly tabulate the votes and also provide immediate feedback if errors are made.
That's good enough. No sense getting excessively expensive technology that'll only confuse elderly voters while being more susceptible to electronic gremlins.

[neptune235]

Yeah, but its good to see people making forward motion here. I heard John Hopkins computer scientists found a flaw in Diebold voting machines, and the only action taken was requirements for a paper trail in 2006. I want a paper trail now, or better yet a system like you're talking about.

[Moosilauke]

"For people who don't trust government who are uncomfortable what's going on inside the machine, this should make them comfortable as to what they picked. There is a record accurately recorded," said Larry Lomax, Clark County Registrar of Voters.

Big deal. You give me a slip of paper. How does the voter confirm that that's the way it was actually counted, that some hacker hasn't hidden away a line of code with counts every 10th vote for Jones as a vote for Smith?

[cake_crumb]

Agreed. While attempting to fix a perceived problem, we're overcomplicateing, therebye creating more problems.

[Willie Green]

I want a paper trail now, or better yet a system like you're talking about.

Well the problem is that we already use the scanners I'm talking about in some communities, and the idiots are even replacing THOSE with the high-tech crap. I'm all in favor of replacing the antiquated mechanical devices, but what they're putting in instead is far too extravagant.

[WackyKat]

I feel very important the public confidence has to be high in order to entice them to go to the polls

If they want to entice voters, why not put all the voting machines in casinos, bars, and brothels?

[sonofatpatcher2]

Is this a new version of Texas Hold 'em?

[BooBoo1000]

Please,,,we have the Brothels for other purposes, they were never designed to sc*** all of the public. Just the paying ones. On a serious note, all it takes in one of the electronic machines is a little alligator clip from Radio Shack to have the votes for one person, register on another persons total.. Not Good.

[chudogg]

They will never get a system as easy to use and accurate as the punchcard system...

[Irene Adler]

I prefer the optical scan as well for the reasons you gave. Our experience with it in our area has been very good.

[rushisright]

My friend,
How does any of this help dead voters, convicted (and sometimes still imprisoned) felons, and illegal alien voters who strangely all vote for Democrats?

Do the walking dead have the ability to read their votes for Al Gore or any of the other Necromancers?!!!!