That really isn't a good idea. Sure, Iowa was just a caucus, so some people hadn't been paying attention, but according to exit polls (new window), 27% of voters only made up their mind who to vote for within the last week, at least on the Democratic side. And this is Iowa, where they were bombarded with ads and info from the candidates.

Works great in Oregon. They mail you a ballot... all postage paid... you check off a few boxes and drop it in the mail. How could it be any easier than that?

This will only work in Red States where people don't care who they vote for -as long as it's not one of them moran egghead libruls.

Typical mail in voter:

Because People in power are Stupid: This will only work in Red States where people don't care who they vote for -as long as it's not one of them moran egghead libruls.

It really is working pretty well in Oregon. (new window)

I think it is a good idea.

And you'd be hard pressed to call Oregon a red state.

Because People in power are Stupid: This will only work in Red States where people don't care who they vote for -as long as it's not one of them moran egghead libruls.

You really think you are better, smarter, more handsome and all that than anyone else, don't you? You're probably wrong about that too.

Guess what? The most "automatic" voters in the country are blue through and through. This is perfect for them. They can just give the ballot and envelope to their shop steward, and they can fill them out and send them in for them. There don't need to be any speeches at the union meeting! There doesn't even need to be a meeting at all! Same goes for municipal, state and federal government employees. Just hand your ballot to your union rep.

Right, because the United States Post Office is ever so much more reliable that voting machines.

It's all rigged, so why is anyone worrying anymore? Enjoy America's descent into the Corporate run, Commie-financed hell our politicians are shaping for us! Smoke 'em if you got 'em!

pandabear: Guess what? The most "automatic" voters in the country are blue through and through. This is perfect for them. They can just give the ballot and envelope to their shop steward, and they can fill them out and send them in for them. There don't need to be any speeches at the union meeting! There doesn't even need to be a meeting at all! Same goes for municipal, state and federal government employees. Just hand your ballot to your union rep.

Ha! Fat lot you know, Mr. Smary-pants. We get an extra hour at lunch to fill out our voting ballots how our union steward tells us to.

I LOVE it when the 'Stupid' tag is picked an simple spelling mistake is in the headline.

No offense Smitty, just laughing at or in your Jen-Eh-RRal Dye-Wrecks-SHUN Monsieur.

eabod: Works great in Oregon. They mail you a ballot... all postage paid... you check off a few boxes and drop it in the mail. How could it be any easier than that?

You underestimate the awesome stupidity of the majority of the population.

One word .... Diebold.

/why do we even bother with the show these days?

How is it that we went so many years without any major voting debacles and all of the sudden we can't even elect a mayor without some kind of scandal?

I'm changing my name to "Resident Occupant Homeowner" and I'm going to run for emperor.

Because People in power are Stupid: This will only work in Red States where people don't care who they vote for -as long as it's not one of them moran egghead libruls.

Kinda like that oh so successful "Anybody but Bush" campaign the Dems had in '04 right?

Molavian: Ha! Fat lot you know, Mr. Smary-pants. We get an extra hour at lunch to fill out our voting ballots how our union steward tells us to.

I LOL'd on that one...

Ha, I get it...

/sort of like that Xerox thread a few months ago.

But how will Republicans steal the election without electronic voting machines?

Think of the (mostly white) children!

Why is it stupid? High-tech is only necessary to solve high-tech problems. None here. (unless you want to make a lot of money off selling voting machines and selling servicing of voting machines and selling a new live of voting machines to replace the old line you farked up on, and so on)

birdmanesq: Right, because the United States Post Office is ever so much more reliable that voting machines.

And what is unreliable about the post office? What service can you get for 41 cents which is reliable over 99% of the time? Who is getting this awful service from the post office, when I have had about 2 problems in my 35 years? Am I just lucky?

/not a post office employee

When is FARK going to wake up and post my mailed-in comments?

After high-tech electronic voting machines fail to meet safegaurds, Colorado considers going super low-tech with an all mail-in ballot this November... which the results will most likely be tabulated on a corrupt corporation-controlled computer thingy.

I think it's a fine idea. It's stupid that an election should be decided not by who is right, but by who is the best at riling people up in their emotional centers.

I don't see why we can't have electronic voting systems that also generate a paper "receipt of transaction". This would provide a good backup and paper trail in case the results come under contention.

Speed of electronic tabulation.
Reliability and fall back of a physical copy.

Oregon has been doing this for years now & we're definitely not a red state. As LyleDAL's link points out, we have checks & balances in place to prevent fraud.

birdmanesq: Right, because the United States Post Office is ever so much more reliable that voting machines.

While it is true (and it has happened) that employees of the Postal Service can examine and throw away ballots that don't quite match their ignorant world view, the odds of that happening on a large scale comparable to the effect fraudulent voting machines is slim, slim.

Because People in power are Stupid: This will only work in Red States where people don't care who they vote for -as long as it's not one of them moran egghead libruls.



Come on now. I've voted blue every time in an election and I live in a red state.


/my favorite stereotype is Pioneer

Suicidal_Elmo: I don't see why we can't have electronic voting systems that also generate a paper "receipt of transaction". This would provide a good backup and paper trail in case the results come under contention.

Speed of electronic tabulation.
Reliability and fall back of a physical copy.

Or, you can do it the way we do it here in OK and have a paper scantron type form that you mark, and then it scans it. It's scanned as soon as you hand it over the the volunteers so you know it's getting counted. I really don't understand why more states don't use it

the entire system needs a do-over:

Suicidal_Elmo: I don't see why we can't have electronic voting systems that also generate a paper "receipt of transaction". This would provide a good backup and paper trail in case the results come under contention.

Speed of electronic tabulation.
Reliability and fall back of a physical copy.

I heard the Elections Board Supervisor on NPR state that they don't do it that way because Americans are a "conveience culture", and that it would take up too much of their precious time to get and hold onto the receipt for a recount.

I'm curious, how is this working out for Oregon?

So you trust Diebold to give you money and accurately charge your bank account when you use one of their ATMs, but you don't trust them to count your vote?

People have been making crap ballots to cheat in paper ballot elections since the invention of paper.

Just another example of how there can be NO compromise in ANYTHING having to do with politics in America.

QT_3.14159: Or, you can do it the way we do it here in OK and have a paper scantron type form that you mark, and then it scans it. It's scanned as soon as you hand it over the the volunteers so you know it's getting counted. I really don't understand why more states don't use it

Wait, those arrows aren't connected all the way through. Obviously it's a Republican scheme to rig the election.

/I kid, and agree. Those forms are the best of both worlds.

birdmanesq: Right, because the United States Post Office is ever so much more reliable that voting machines.

I came here to say this.

QT_3.14159: Or, you can do it the way we do it here in OK and have a paper scantron type form that you mark, and then it scans it. It's scanned as soon as you hand it over the the volunteers so you know it's getting counted. I really don't understand why more states don't use it

Do you know what machines are used to add them up, and the code used?

My respect for you Postal Service (I prefer it in many ways to Canada Post, frankly) does not necessarily extend to treating as an arm of electoral law.
A longer, drawn out election, affording better access (travel to balloting stations) to all Americans mught leave lots of folks holding their breath but it doesn't change anything for the current Cheif Executive. He's only wondering if he gets to pass the strings (not the reins) onto another puppet.

Vote in person,
Limit one per (Living!) person.

//Wal-Mart could do it!!!

tuna fingers: I'm curious, how is this working out for Oregon?

Pretty well if I don't get distracted. : )

Aw, crap - YOUR Postal Service - no disrespect intended.

And yes, we did have a guy named E.Z. Million running for Lt. Governor.

birdmanesq: Right, because the United States Post Office is ever so much more reliable that voting machines.

Despite all the jokes the USPS is pretty farking reliable. Yes, I do think it is safe to say that based on demonstrated reliability that the USPS does appear to be far more reliable than voting machines.

Acharne

I LOVE it when the 'Stupid' tag is picked an simple spelling mistake is in the headline.



Don't throw stones, Glassy McWindowbreaker.

WayneKerr: While it is true (and it has happened) that employees of the Postal Service can examine and throw away ballots that don't quite match their ignorant world view, the odds of that happening on a large scale comparable to the effect fraudulent voting machines is slim, slim.

What kind of voting machine are you talking about?

I'm in a county in Colorado that has approved voting machines, so I don't really care what they do.

tuna fingers: I'm curious, how is this working out for Oregon?

My brother lived in Oregon for awhile, and he loved it. Apparently they send along a little bit of information on each candidate and issue up for vote, so lazy people don't even have to go and do their own research. Voter turnout is insane as a result (something like 80%).

Oldiron_79: So you trust Diebold to give you money and accurately charge your bank account when you use one of their ATMs, but you don't trust them to count your vote?

People have been making crap ballots to cheat in paper ballot elections since the invention of paper.

The ATM machines provide to us a paper trail : )

Anyways, we trust our banks to provide ATM machines that don't rip us off. If they have been repeatedly shown to be fraudulent or unreliable, then I have a pretty good idea that we'd shiatcan them.

The mail concern has been addressed in Colorado, to aleviate some of the unprecedented Post Office burden, the following plan was devised:

Registered Democrats are asked to submit their mail ballots between October 28 and November 4, 2008.

Registered Republicans are asked to submit their ballots by mail between November 5 and November 12, 2008.

So Ron Paul supporters are digging that Universal Stamp thing right?

Good in four years as well....

Good thing there's no bad weather in Colorado.

"Enjoy America's descent into the Corporate run, Commie-financed hell our politicians are shaping for us! Smoke 'em if you got 'em!"

Smoking? I see you have not yet received word of the next step in our glorious revolution, citizen.

/sit in this chair, we have some videos to show you

radioshack:

What kind of voting machine are you talking about?

The Diebold and ES&S manufactured touch screen machines, as well as the tabulators; both which have been proven fail over anddova again.

Oldiron_79: So you trust Diebold to give you money and accurately charge your bank account when you use one of their ATMs, but you don't trust them to count your vote?



This