thoughts on election day (not about candidates)

[cellio]

Voting reforms I would like to see (unlikely as they may be):
1. No "vote straight party" options. The right to vote is important and was hard-won; it is not too much to require that you actually vote for candidates.
2. All voting is write-in. If you can't bother to learn, or write down

Comments

#1 has been implemented in Missouri, and people find it VERY annoying

[dakiwiboid]

I'm here via browngirl, who knew I'd find this interesting. I'm recuperating today from nearly 19 hours working at the polls yesterday with a sprained ankle and a crick in my neck, so forgive me if I'm a trifle incoherent

May I make a suggestion to you, since you're so concerned about security?

[dakiwiboid]

People who want to help protect the sanctity of the vote are desperately needed on the front lines, i.e. at the polls. Running those machines and protecting the data in them while it's at the polls is desperately important, as is making sure that people have a chance to vote. Are you actually committed enough to give a few days per year to the cause of free and fair elections? I can't imagine that any state would turn away an intelligent and aware volunteer.

Re: May I make a suggestion to you, since you're so concerned about security?

[cellio]

I was surprised to discover this year (too late to act) that, with advance notice, my employer gives paid time off to work the polls on election day. My (retired) mother works the polls every election day, so I may have to ask her what that entails.

Re: May I make a suggestion to you, since you're so concerned about security?

[dakiwiboid]

Seriously? I know where Bob will be next year. Our kids think Election Day is a minor holiday. (Of course, his working at the polls would impede the traditional post-voting family breakfast at Eat 'n Park, which would probably not be popular

Re: May I make a suggestion to you, since you're so concerned about security?

[cellio]

Seriously?

Yeah. Sometimes it pays to read the corporate newsletters. Now, given the way the company is structured, whether any particular location will go along with that hit to overhead hours is anyone's guess, but it's worth a try! (The policy requires 30 days' notice to one's manager, FYI.)

I would be bothered if I thought someone were able to tell who I, specifically, voted for too. (For the same types of reasons that I think votes to unionize a workplace should remain as secret ballots.)

Re: #1 has been implemented in Missouri, and people find it VERY annoying

[cellio]

Hello, and thanks for commenting.

I can't tell you how often people complain to me about having to touch in or ink in the oval next to their candidates' names.

Yeah, some people will complain about anything, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't do it. I mean, it would sure be easier on lots of us if they would just mail a ballot to my house and come collect it afterwards, too, but that doesn't mean anyone's going to listen to me. :-)

As for write-ins...If you do that, you need to raise funds for your governments to get 1)very, very sophisticated handwriting recognition software 2)an army of staff and 3) be prepared to wait at least a week for your election returns.

The implementation I had in mind for write-ins is actually type-ins, but yes this would slow down the counting. I'm ok with not having instant gratification.

I would mostly agree with you on number three, except for the simple fact that often people do take the list of party candidates and use them as a voting guide.I wouldn't bar bringing in materials at all; anything