Comments | hot_kachina: Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, comitted

hot_kachina

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, comitted

Nov 01, 2004 13:26

citizens can change the world: indeed it is the only thing that ever has."- Margaret Meade ( Read more... )

Comments 5

ladykalessia November 1 2004, 17:59:38 UTC

hey there. I actually work for the Elections department. :) Santa Cruz County doesn't use the EVoting machines, so there's nothing to worry about here. The Help America Vote Act (HAVA) requires that all voters filling out new registrations include their drivers license number OR the *last four digits* of their social security number, otherwise they are labeled as a "First Time Federal Voter" and sent a letter. When FTFVs go to their polling places, they have to produce proof of identity. It's always a good idea to have your DL handy though, just in case. :)

hot_kachina December 2 2004, 09:38:44 UTC

You knwo i replied this weeks ago, and i don't know why it didnt get posted. Anyway, i'm curious, in order to count the votes the program "Optical Scan" was used, no? Thats what it said in the voter information packet. I also remember hearing that Optical Scan is not very reliable.

ladykalessia December 2 2004, 11:04:03 UTC

Santa Cruz County uses the DFM Mark-A-Vote system, which I've been told (by my supervisor) has about a 99.8% accuracy rate. (I know it uses optical scan technology, like a scantron sheet, but I don't know that it's Optical Scan(tm) the product.) If we're talking reliability, it's been used here for a number of years with no problems aside from those related to routine maintainance, and it only spits out votes for manual counting when the ballot is mismarked (as in, not in the bubble but elsewhere on the card), smudged, or otherwise illegible. If you've got any questions on this, you're more than welcome to call Gail Pellerin, the county clerk, and ask. (831) 454 2060. I'd be interested to find out what she says. :)

I'd also be interested in hearing your sources on "not very reliable" since it's nice and vauge.

typhren November 23 2004, 03:20:01 UTC

Don't you think sometimes that the low voter turnouts are indicative of something? As in, our candidates do NOT form a representative government?

hot_kachina December 2 2004, 09:40:23 UTC

I dont think our candidates can ever be truly represenative. There are simply too many views. But i would have to argue that you might as well let your voice heard. For example, this election in my opinion, was too important to ignore. In my experience, most people i know, who dont beleive in either candidate just sit on their asses. If people dont agree with the way goverment is run then do something about it. I do realize that we lack modern day models of activism thus making it difficult to display our beliefs in a manner that is truly impactful. But we cannot let that stop us from attempting to change the world, it's time to think of a new model and implement it ( ... )