Kiweagle's Blog

Kiweagle Commented on Is Voting Reform On The Horizon?]]> by Zachary Roth

2008-11-12T03:45:01Z

And that's precisely the point of a nationalized voter registration system: Every election official should have a person's information in front of them via computer for verification and instant registration when necessary. Moved? Bring proof of your new address and we'll register you on the spot along with confirmation that you haven't voted elsewhere. Gotten married and took your husband's name, bring proof of the marriage and your previous name and your registration will be updated on the spot. And on, and on, and on...

Kiweagle Commented on Is Voting Reform On The Horizon?]]> by Zachary Roth

2008-11-12T00:47:26Z

My experience with absentee ballots in 2002 and 2004 was abysmal, as both were rejected because the address for the witness was listed, even though the photocopies of each proved that they'd been supplied and in the correct format.

Standardizing the ballot on paper would ensure everyone got the same instructions and/ or training - especially for election officials. No batteries, electricity, tech support or soon-to-be-obsolete equipment required for paper.

While voting in person here in Alexandria, VA, it was wonderful to note that 9-out-of-every-10 people avoided the machines and voted on paper instead. Of course, optical scanners are also problematic, but discerning under/ overvotes can be easily solved with the naked eye.

Kiweagle Commented on Is Voting Reform On The Horizon?]]> by Zachary Roth

2008-11-11T23:06:34Z

The current US voting system is an embarrassment of international proportions - all the more so when one of us has the audacity to declare that we're the greatest democracy on the planet.

A federal voter registration system is a good start, but mandating paper ballots and outlawing the machines is really the only way to ensure voting is verifiable and reliably counted. Even the machines that are trustworthy require a paper receipt and bankrupt the election budget of every county that uses them. If procurement costs don't render break the bank, the technical support required will. Besides, what better way to solve the long lines and overflow problems than by simply handing out more paper ballots at the location?

Seriously, if the Gore-Bush Election of 2000 wasn't enough motivation to solve the problem by now, then what the heck will! 8 years gone by and we're still struggling... How embarrassing.