Drudge Siren: TOUCH SCREEN CONFUSION

Drudge ^ | 11/05/02 | Drudge

[TheConservator]

Systematic problem statewide in Georgia confirmed: When placing vote, and touching the screen for a Republican candidate, the box is incorrectly checked for the Democrat candidate. Another similar situation is occurring when the review screen comes up and previously marked Republican votes are showing as Democrat votes... is happening in lots of different races. Officials fixing problems as they arise when made aware of them... Developing...

[Mo1]

I'm in Montgomery County and I didn't notice any problems .. no lines or anything and it looked like things were running very smooth

And we have the touch screen computers

[hobbes1]

I see them all the time.

Video Games in eateries as well.....

Never a prob.

[FreeAtlanta]

The code and system just needs two independent auditing firms and the source and methodology to be made public.

[free me]

Funnin yes. But Dems have been known to mark an additional "X" on the ballot, thereby making it an overvote. Or they could lose the ballots etc..

A printed reciept with a unique number is all that is needed to ensure integrity IMHO.

[bigdog]

Why can't we have a paper-trail...

I'm also in GA and there is a paper trail. Each machine records all the votes on a continuous paper roll.

I saw this on 11 Alive last night as part of a demonstration of how to use the new system.

[SauronOfMordor]

There is ZERO reason that these things should not be as reliable, and reciept printing as an ATM machine.

Here's one reason: to prevent your union shop steward or anybody else making you hand it in, to make sure you voted (and voted "correctly")

[hot august night]

I went to vote for Doug Forrester at 6:30 a.m. in the People's Republik of NJ, and was denied my right to vote "because we are having problems getting some of the voter's registration books in here" (some were not on-site so they couldn't check off my name to vote). The volunteers (definitely union-type, sheeple Dims) told me in a non-apologetic and cool tone that I would have to come back later "when the book with your name gets here". I guess they figure the Pubbies would get there earlier in the morning to vote, so they "would have problems" and not have the books on-site. Of course, there were also signs in Spanish highlighting voting procedures. (Those they made sure were not off-site.) I walked out swearing. Now I have to go back tonight after work and go through this all over again(not that my vote will make a difference in this liberal wasteland.)

Something is not right here...how much of this is going on today, and how many hard-working conservatives who are stuck working long hours and may not get another chance to make it to the polls are being denied their right to vote?

[Zon]

For decades those problems have occurred but it wasn't until the 2000 Presidential election that it was reported by the mainstream media. Not very promising for past elections, is it? People were asking is it only a problem in Florida and just in the 2,000 election.

[hot august night]

I went to vote for Doug Forrester at 6:30 a.m. in the People's Republik of NJ, and was denied my right to vote "because we are having problems getting some of the voter's registration books in here" (some were not on-site so they couldn't check off my name to vote). The volunteers (definitely union-type, sheeple Dims) told me in a non-apologetic and cool tone that I would have to come back later "when the book with your name gets here". I guess they figure the Pubbies would get there earlier in the morning to vote, so they "would have problems" and not have the books on-site. Of course, there were also signs in Spanish highlighting voting procedures. (Those they made sure were not off-site.) I walked out swearing. Now I have to go back tonight after work and go through this all over again(not that my vote will make a difference in this liberal wasteland.)

Something is not right here...how much of this is going on today, and how many hard-working conservatives who are stuck working long hours and may not get another chance to make it to the polls are being denied their right to vote?

[thoughtomator]

Just a reply to your objections to paper ballots:

1) They're difficult to count quickly
A well-designed paper ballot need not be difficult to count quickly, it could easily be marked in such a way to allow machines to count them accurately.

2) When you try to count them quickly, they can be damaged
This is only true if you use a dumb-as-hell design on the ballots, such as having perforations indicate votes

3)Paper ballots can be manufactured, manipulated, and misused.
It's a lot harder to commit massive fraud when you need to actually have physical ballots to do it with, plus there's plenty of evidence for a prosecutor to use when someone is caught at it. Electronic votes can be manufactured much much more easily, and can be much harder to detect. There's no fingerprints on an electronic vote, and while physical security could secure paper ballots, it is no defense against electronic manipulation. It takes much more effort to commit fraud with paper.

A simple fraud-committing program written and distributed by a single person to, let's say, add 200 extra Dem votes to every machine would require only the ability to access the machines once, and it could be done at any time before the election. This type of fraud would be very difficult to detect and prove. To do the equivalent with paper ballots would require a much larger number of people to get physical access to all the polling sites on the election day itself - the amount of effort and manpower needed to do is immense compared to the ease of electronic fraud.

[Mo1]

Yea yea ... I've heard all about before

In the mean time VOTE REPUBLICAN

VOTE THE RATS OUT!!!

[gnawbone]

It's a problem and allows for fraud to occur. No real solutions have been proposed.

I disagree.

Paper ballot with a big "X" through the box next to the name of your candidate of choice.

Then hand count the paper ballots, keep them in case there is a need to look at them or count them again.

So what if it takes an extra day to get it counted, it took 34 days of lawsuits the last time. I sure as H-E-!-! don't want computers doing it because I can't see or touch the ballot that was cast. I also don't trust the programmer that has an agenda.

[Bush2000]

Our county in NJ installed these machines, used them in the primaries, used it today. They are very simple and foolproof. I suspect someone hacked the software to cause the problem. Ours have a stylus, and couldn't be easier to use, espically with the ballot review. The machines they show in Florida were identical to the machines we are using.

One of the problems with these touchscreens is that, if you place the curve of your hand down on the screen to write or click, it will register the activity in a different location than the stylus. People often don't realize this problem until after they've affirmed their selection.

[twigs]

I didn't realize that the area had touch screens. I work in MOnt. but live in Bucks. We still have the old "pull down the knob to expose the X" machines. They're old and mechanical, but I've never known them to malfunction, at least while I've been there.

[Zon]

Too true.  Politics is not the solution -- it's the problem. Politics suck -- politics suck objectivity out and insert irrationality in. Sometimes a small error will be compounded over and over until it becomes a massive problem.

In mid-term and presidential elections tens-of-millions of people vote for the lesser of evils despite that it still begets evil. How can so many people thinking they're right be so wrong?

The tide is turning; the pendulum is swinging the other direction. Reality asserts as sure as honesty outlives the lie. It always has and always will. In politics, democrats are but the first party in the pendulum's path to be defeated in their irrationality and dishonesty.

[Mo1]

For decades those problems have occurred but it wasn't until the 2000 Presidential election that it was reported by the mainstream media.

You are right .. and about the only good thing about the 2000 election was that now the media started reporting it and people are start to realize

Most folks in Philly are aware of the voter fraud .. but it use to be that little secret everyone knew about but never talked openly about

Now the eyes and cameras are watching

[rintense]

My friend, you were just a victim of dirty democratic tricks to intimidate voters. You should call the news.

[Leto]

The machines we were using had a stylus, very easy to use and keeps your hand away from the screen. If the machines are being deployed without the sttylus this will make the touch screen more error prone.

[EnquiringMind]

I doubt this is really a problem but am convinced it will be twisted into a colossal fiasco. In South Florida, the only problem I encountered with the touch screen was its sensitivity - an inadvertent brush with my hand caused it to check a box. No big deal - anyone paying attention would catch the error.