Hey Americans - what did your actual ballot look like?

[kmullini]

I voted in Virginia where they had a punch system at one time. The last Gubenatorial election in Ca. I voted with a punch system too. When I voted last month in Virginia you just darkened circles. All the systems I used were pretty straight forward. Although, I could see potentially a lot of problems that could arise with the punch system but I think its the voters responsibility to make sure its right before they submit it. Plus that person should ask for assistance if they are having problems. After that it should be final unless there was some kind of negligence involved. I believe that its crazy too try to discern how people vote with those chads that dont have any clear indication of the voters intent( i.e. chads with stray marks, pregnant chads, and hanging chads.) There are people that go to the voting poll that cant make up their mind. Anyways, thats my 2 cents.

Originally posted by cash78mere:
I didn't even KNOW that other parts of the county didn't use the machines. We've had them all my life! Those places need to get up to speed! We're in a technological world!

Yeah, I see what all of this TECHNOLOGY is doing for us now!

[Taykimson]

Originally posted by juniorgrrl:
In Louisiana, someplace you would think of as backwoods, we have computerized machines. I press a button next to the candidate's name, it lights up with a green X. When I'm finished, I press "VOTE" and it registers the votes and clears the ballot. Very simple, very accurate.

That was the case in my precint in NC as well. We also had the ability to go back and change selections. Once you pressed submit - you could not change your vote.




------------------
Alpha Kappa Alpha
17-Alpha Phi-91

[AKA2D '91]

Yeah, we do have computerized ballots in Louisiana, this has been the case for less than 5 years.

I was shocked *(*&^%$$ that Florida, as well as other states were using the OLD ballots and even boxes...Oh my!

[Franny Granny]

Here in Northern California we had the push hole thingy...When the lady showed me how to use the damn thing...She voted Gore for me!!! Any way...You slid your ballet into the little metal book looking machine...use the pin hole push pencil looking thing to punch a hole in your ballot...then you used your ballot book to look up the different numbers of the actual thing that you were voting for. After you were done, you took your ballot out of the metal book looking machine and dropped it in to a box on the counter...

[CutiePie2000]

Yes, I've resurrected this thread as it was an oldie but a goodie...

Question to Floridians...
"Did they ever get that hot mess butterfly ballot situation sorted out, or did any of you vote using a butterfly ballot?"

Just wondering.....

[EagleChick19]

Originally posted by CutiePie2000
Yes, I've resurrected this thread as it was an oldie but a goodie...

Question to Floridians...
"Did they ever get that hot mess butterfly ballot situation sorted out, or did any of you vote using a butterfly ballot?"

Just wondering.....

Yes, butterfly ballots still exist. How do I know? I had to vote with one yesterday. To top it off, I don't live in Florida. I live in a suburb of Philadelphia, PA.

[navane]

My ballot looked like a sure fire way to get fired.


Seriously though, the County of San Diego used optical scanning ballots that were 18" long and had printing on both sides. Voters filled in the oval next to their choices and then fed them into a scanner where the ballot then dropped into a sealed ballot box.


.....Kelly

[Munchkin03]

My absentee ballot was an optical scan card.

Originally posted by Munchkin03
My absentee ballot was an optical scan card.

My walk-in ballot was also an optical scan card. One side listed the candidates for whatever office, and the other side listed the Constitutional Amendments we were able to vote for.

[honeychile]

Four years later, and we're still using the machine described in the beginning of this thread! It's easy, rarely breaks down (if properly maintained), and the results from four machines can be read within a half hour.

BUT! I'd still like to see a nationalized standard. Of course, I'd also like to see an amendment that provides for ONE six-year term, no reelection ever.

I'd also like to see a ban on exit polls, and either a 24-hour voting period or a total news blackout on election days. I always feel as if the Pacific states are somewhat disenfranchised.

[AGDee]

The wonderful state of Michigan has 9 different types of ballots. They graciously put videos of how to use each type on our Secretary of State's web site.

videos of voting equipment

I did hear at one point yesterday that so many people in Ohio voted that the punch card tables got full, so when people pushed the pin thing down, the chads didn't have anywhere to go and stayed on. (Picture a 3 hole punch that is completely full and can't pack any more holes into it). Thankfully, due to Florida's issues, voters noticed it and worked to get those chads all the way off.

Dee

[Lil' Hannah]

Maryland had a new one this year...touch screen computers. They gave you a card the size of a credit card with some info encoded on the magnetic strip. You went to the machine and inserted it in a slot. Then you touched the screen for each of your choices. When you were done you hit "cast ballot" and a few seconds later the card popped out of the slot. Then you gave your card to the election judge and you were done.

[ZTAngel]

Originally posted by CutiePie2000
Yes, I've resurrected this thread as it was an oldie but a goodie...

Question to Floridians...
"Did they ever get that hot mess butterfly ballot situation sorted out, or did any of you vote using a butterfly ballot?"

Just wondering.....

Orange County used optical scan cards.
There were many South Florida polls that used electronic voting. Many people were complaining because the machines needed to be calibrated which resulted in people hitting the screen for one candidate and the machine registering another. Of course, at the end, the machine gives you a list of your choices so you can verify. Plus, there's no paper trail from the electronic machines which can lead to problems.

[GeekyPenguin]

I believe all of WI has the "connect an arrow" paper ballots.

You'll see a list like:

John Kerry/John Edwards <-- ---
George Bush/Dick Cheney <-- ---
Michael Badnarik/whoever <--- ----
Papa Smurf/Big Bird <-- ---

And you connect the arrows.