posted
My polling place was at Dulaney High. I was actually surprised by how many people were already there - the side parking lot was about 2/3rds full and there were people walking in and out of the building. Last election the place was just DEAD.
There were two people standing on the curb handing out fliers - one was a young guy in a "Doors" t-shirt, the other was an older man in a green jacket. Don't know who the younger guy was pitching for, but the old guy gave me a Dutch Ruppersberger flier (he's running for the House of Rep).
I walked into Dulaney. Now, I've never GONE to Dulaney High, so I don't know if this is the lobby or what. It almost looks like the entry to the cafeteria or maybe an auditorium. Well, whatever. Went over to the table that said "A-C" and I pulled out my driver's license. When it was my turn, I handed my license over to the woman who looked quite surprised that I had it ready.
She flipped though a box of forms and produced one. "Is the information correct?" she asked me. Well, my address was wrong, so she crossed it out and wrote in the new one. I actually moved closer to Dulaney then I had lived during '02 when our state elected Bob Ehrlich. Two more years, and we'll get a chance to correct that mistake.
Once I'd signed the form, I moved to the guy seated at her right. He marked something off on his page, and noticed my party affiliation, which was listed as "GRN." "What does that mean?" he asked, and I told him: Green Party. He said 'oh, okay' and handed me a plastic keycard and gave me instructions on how to use the voting machine. "Insert until you hear a click, and then follow the instructions."
There was an open voting machine so I was able to get to it quickly. I was a little nervous, and read the instruction page twice. I made my votes, and another screen opened, showing who I had voted for.
Yay! I mastered electronic voting!
And then I pummeled to death an old lady who wanted to know why Eisenhower wasn't up for reelection.
posted
Whats the big deal with electronic voting anyways? (aside from having fun security issues, programming bugs and such) Is it supposed to save money or something?
At least here in Canada, the whole thing is paper and we get results the night of, practically as the polls close, so it can't be a speed thing. As for cost, I can find a cost of the Canadian election since we have a federal agency in charge of the whole thing...but it doesn't look like there's a US counterpart since everything is run state by state it seems. However, from a common sense POV, I would think that the biggest costs for a US election would be campaigning and advertising by far, not the simple act of counting votes.
They have your party affiliation at the polls? Why do they have it?
Registered: Mar 1999
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And how come you can STATE your affiliation out loud? In Argentina, any open declaration of political affiliation at the voting table would inhibit you to vote.
Registered: Jan 2001
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I wanted to vote for myself. They told me that any ballots with write-ins not on the pre-approved list would be destroyed. So... what's the point of a write-in, again?
-------------------- "This is why you people think I'm so unknowable. You don't listen!" - God, "God, the Devil and Bob"
Registered: Mar 1999
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See, I just meant, why should they have your party affiliation listed at the polling station anyways? It doesn't seem to add anything to the process and it seems open to abuse.
Registered: Mar 1999
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"Whats the big deal with electronic voting anyways? (aside from having fun security issues, programming bugs and such) Is it supposed to save money or something?"
It's more reliable.
This is where we pause for a moment, and then all burst into raucous laughter.
"They told me that any ballots with write-ins not on the pre-approved list would be destroyed."
That doesn't sound legal. I mean, I don't know enough about the relevant laws, but I don't see why there wouldn't be one against that.
"They have your party affiliation at the polls? Why do they have it?"
So that they know what party you'll be voting for during the primaries/caucuses. Some states make you register with a party ahead of time. Others let you just pick one at the time that you vote. It isn't really applicable at a general election like this. But, since it was on record, it probably just printed out on the voter list by default.
I'm more worried by the fact that the guy couldn't figure out what "GRN" stood for.
"In Argentina, any open declaration of political affiliation at the voting table would inhibit you to vote."
So, does that mean people who run for office can't vote? Because, obviously, they will have stated their party affiliation rather publicly...
Registered: Mar 1999
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My voting place was at somebody's garage a block away from my house. I am now rather Libertarian-leaning, but I'll register as Repub. or Dem. before the next presidential election so I can vote in the primaries (as I'm now a registered Independent).
"So, does that mean people who run for office can't vote? Because, obviously, they will have stated their party affiliation rather publicly..."
Well, in fact they do. But they don't have to be affiliated to a party to run. And affiliation is not listed at the polling list.
This comes from the times before 1914's electoral law. Before that, people said their vote out loud. Of course, each election was won with fraud. Then, secret (and mandatory) voting was imposed. Including, not being able to wear party distinctives or stating party affiliation at the polling place, campaining during the 48 hours prior to election day, public meetings of more than three people during election day, no alcohol in sale from 8 PM the day before, etc.
Registered: Jan 2001
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Election results are looking baaaaad just now.
-------------------- Justice inclines her scales so that wisdom comes at the price of suffering. -Aeschylus, Agamemnon
Registered: Aug 2002
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