I've never voted in NY before (only GA). They had these machine deals where you flip down tab next to your selection and then, when you've finished, you flip a big red level over to lock in your vote. I'm assuming papers were being punched but I never saw any paper.

As a group or just, say, Sean Hannity? http://smilieshq.com/smilies/rolleye0012.gif
You mean the CMPA that a former FoxNews contributor founded? That CMPA? I'm afraid I take them with a grain of salt.

To be clear, I wasn't meaning to suggest that Fox is slanted while other news sources lack biases of some kind. In fact, I tried to imply otherwise. I think it's better to admit that than to pretend they are objective (or fair or balanced). But, just based on my own observations, I just can't agree that Fox is the most balanced of them. Not saying it's the worst (in terms of objectivity -- I mean, there is still MSNBC), but I can't say it's the best either.

Welcome to the 1970's! Those are the really old machines. The machine itself tabulates the votes when you pull that red lever and it is recorded on the back of the machine. That's how we all used to vote. They were used for years and years and years. I loved, as a kid, going with my mom and watching her disappear into that booth, pull the curtain and then come back out again. It seemed so important and mysterious and certainly more private than cardboard dividers!

ETA: The last time I used one like that was 1984!

That was the first type of machine I ever voted on. In NY.

We had those old lever voting machines up until last year. I remember my mom voting with those machines back when I was a toddler.

I have to say that there was something satisfying about throwing that big red lever and hearing the machine go CHA-CHUNK! But I much prefer the new optical scanner system. It's quicker, it's quieter (!), the scanner will spit your ballot out if it can't read it, and there are actual physical paper ballots to count if any problems arise.

I love that sound. Ever since I was little - I just love that sound.

Ditto

D, sometimes I think you and I live essentially the same life.

Well, we ARE sisters.

:D

Too bad there's no AGD chapter where I went to school :p

You can be part of the "my mama took me to vote" club.

:D

I went to vote mid-morning. (Working from home rocks.) Most of the other voters in line were senior citizens, but I saw several mothers with children of varying ages, and I overheard a few of them telling their children, "This is a historical election!" That's kind of sweet - and hopefully it impressed these children enough that, when they are old enough to vote, they will do so. Even if they will never get to throw a big red lever.