200+ years and we still can't run an election

Platapus · 09-22-08, 05:49 PM

Florida voting issues raise fears of 2000-like debacle

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/09/...ing/index.html

"For 2004, the county switched to touch-screen machines. There were no major issues here. But some local Democrats, including Rep. Robert Wexler, demanded changes because they said the touch-screen system might be vulnerable to fraud and did not, in their view, provide a reliable audit trail.

So the county switched again, to its third system in eight years, this time a paper ballot that is scanned by an optical reading device. The paper is then retained in case of recounts or other irregularities.

Local officials say the system works and promise a smooth Election Day.

But Dinerstein says the recount in the judicial race proves the folly of switching.

"We could have had nice, reliable computers counting and giving all of us an honest count," he said in an interview.

The 2000 recount drama led to major changes -- more than 40 states made changes or adjustments to the way they conducted and administered elections.

"We have had more change in our election process since 2000 than we have seen since the Voting Rights Act of 1965," said Indiana Secretary of State Todd Rokita, a recent past president of the national association of top state elections officials. Indiana alone spent some $67 million on new equipment, including a statewide voter file, and also requires a color photo ID on Election Day."

You would think that after 200+ years of elections we could get it right. It is a travesty that so many different states have different voting mechanisms.

We can put a man on the moon but we can't figure out an idiot-proof way of casting a vote?

Sad. Very very sad.

Happy Times · 09-22-08, 05:53 PM

Come here and copy our system, its not that hard.

Platapus · 09-22-08, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Happy Times

Come here and copy our system, its not that hard.

Are you sure it is understandable by Americans? Remember the people in Florida

Happy Times · 09-22-08, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Platapus

Quote:

Originally Posted by Happy Times

Come here and copy our system, its not that hard.

Are you sure it is understandable by Americans? Remember the people in Florida

You have a list, you have a paper, you have a pen, you write a number from the list,
you count the papers, you enter the count on computer, you send the count forward.
Voilà!

UnderseaLcpl · 09-22-08, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Happy Times

Come here and copy our system, its not that hard.

Why don't we just copy our own system? It's not that hard either.

U.S. Constitution FTW

August · 09-22-08, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Platapus

We can put a man on the moon but we can't figure out an idiot-proof way of casting a vote?

We used to have just that. You wrote the name of the guy you were voting for on a piece of paper and stuffed that in the ballot box. I don't see why we had to change in the first place.

Platapus · 09-22-08, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Happy Times

Quote:

Originally Posted by Platapus

Quote:

Originally Posted by Happy Times

Come here and copy our system, its not that hard.

Are you sure it is understandable by Americans? Remember the people in Florida

You have a list, you have a paper, you have a pen, you write a number from the list,
you count the papers, you enter the count on computer, you send the count forward.
Voilà!

Too complicated. You would lose most of the American citizens at "you write a number from the list".

Platapus · 09-22-08, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by August

You wrote the name of the guy you were voting for on a piece of paper and stuffed that in the ballot box.

Seems pretty straight forward to me.

Happy Times · 09-22-08, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Platapus

Quote:

Originally Posted by August

You wrote the name of the guy you were voting for on a piece of paper and stuffed that in the ballot box.

Seems pretty straight forward to me.

Easier if you only have to write a number, offcourse either one shouldnt be a problem.

Ive sometimes tought that there should be a test, that you would have to take before getting the right to vote, make sure that people know how the system works.
For exsample, our President has only powers in foreign relations but people still think the election is about internal issues.

I dont see this going against democracy, people should appreciate value of the right to vote.

Happy Times · 09-22-08, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Platapus

Quote:

Originally Posted by Happy Times

Quote:

Originally Posted by Platapus

Quote:

Originally Posted by Happy Times

Come here and copy our system, its not that hard.

Are you sure it is understandable by Americans? Remember the people in Florida

You have a list, you have a paper, you have a pen, you write a number from the list,
you count the papers, you enter the count on computer, you send the count forward.
Voilà!

Too complicated. You would lose most of the American citizens at "you write a number from the list".

Anyone that stupid needs a guardian, somehow i doubt Subsim has all the Americans with normal IQ.

Platapus · 09-22-08, 06:58 PM

Just remember that despite all the money we spend on education in the United States, almost half of our population is still below average.

Foxtrot · 09-23-08, 12:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by August

You wrote the name of the guy you were voting for on a piece of paper and stuffed that in the ballot box.

People may confuse Obama with Osama or McCain with McClane. Sometimes they even don't know how to spell the name of candidates.

We should simply print the photos of candidates on ballet papers, and tick mark box infront of them. Of course, planners may write "SELECT ONE CHOICE ONLY" in big bold letters at the top of ballet papers.

Hylander_1314 · 09-23-08, 12:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Foxtrot

Quote:

Originally Posted by August

You wrote the name of the guy you were voting for on a piece of paper and stuffed that in the ballot box.

People may confuse Obama with Osama or McCain with McClane. Sometimes they even don't know how to spell the name of candidates.

We should simply print the photos of candidates on ballet papers, and tick mark box infront of them. Of course, planners may write "SELECT ONE CHOICE ONLY" in big bold letters at the top of ballet papers.

Better yet, since we haven't got much to choose from, why not a picture of the candidates, and a dart to every registered voter.

Honestly. You have their names on a pice of card or paper with with little checkboxes by the names for people to choose from. But then again, you have to know how to friggin' read. Well, with the way education has been going for the last 20+ years, we have have a generation or two of adult illitereates.

Sailor Steve · 09-23-08, 01:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by August

Quote:

Originally Posted by Platapus

We can put a man on the moon but we can't figure out an idiot-proof way of casting a vote?

We used to have just that. You wrote the name of the guy you were voting for on a piece of paper and stuffed that in the ballot box. I don't see why we had to change in the first place.

When did we have that? At first we didn't vote at all - electors were selected by state legislatures. I'm not sure how they did it when different states started experimenting with letting the people choose the electors. It would be interesting to see some of those old ballots.

I still have no problem with checking a box beside the guy's name, or writing in a choice.

August · 09-23-08, 07:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mikhayl

Here they print identical papers with the name of each candidate. You pick one of each, you stuff one in an enveloppe and the rest in your pockets, you put the enveloppe in the voting box, sign the paper, and that's it. If you write something on the paper the vote doesn't count.

That would definitely work but I'd bet the greens would be all up in arms about the poor trees wasted.

09-22-08, 05:49 PM	#1
Platapus Fleet Admiral Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 19,365 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 0	200+ years and we still can't run an election Florida voting issues raise fears of 2000-like debacle http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/09/...ing/index.html "For 2004, the county switched to touch-screen machines. There were no major issues here. But some local Democrats, including Rep. Robert Wexler, demanded changes because they said the touch-screen system might be vulnerable to fraud and did not, in their view, provide a reliable audit trail. So the county switched again, to its third system in eight years, this time a paper ballot that is scanned by an optical reading device. The paper is then retained in case of recounts or other irregularities. Local officials say the system works and promise a smooth Election Day. But Dinerstein says the recount in the judicial race proves the folly of switching. "We could have had nice, reliable computers counting and giving all of us an honest count," he said in an interview. The 2000 recount drama led to major changes -- more than 40 states made changes or adjustments to the way they conducted and administered elections. "We have had more change in our election process since 2000 than we have seen since the Voting Rights Act of 1965," said Indiana Secretary of State Todd Rokita, a recent past president of the national association of top state elections officials. Indiana alone spent some $67 million on new equipment, including a statewide voter file, and also requires a color photo ID on Election Day." You would think that after 200+ years of elections we could get it right. It is a travesty that so many different states have different voting mechanisms. We can put a man on the moon but we can't figure out an idiot-proof way of casting a vote? Sad. Very very sad. __________________ abusus non tollit usum - A right should NOT be withheld from people on the basis that some tend to abuse that right.

09-22-08, 05:53 PM	#2
Happy Times Ocean Warrior Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Finland Posts: 2,950 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	Come here and copy our system, its not that hard. __________________

09-22-08, 06:58 PM	#11
Platapus Fleet Admiral Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 19,365 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 0	Just remember that despite all the money we spend on education in the United States, almost half of our population is still below average. __________________ abusus non tollit usum - A right should NOT be withheld from people on the basis that some tend to abuse that right.