Holy crap that was easy! (non-partisan voting-mechanics comment)
Leigh Claffey
from the old lever style voting machines.
And maybe I'm biased by the fact that there was not much of a line
(does a woman and her daughter in front of you count as a line?)
and that was mainly because I went in the middle of the morning,
but this time voting was not the irritation it usually is
(explication: with the curtain drawn, the old machines tended toward being
rather dim and often I had a hard time reading the labels.
And it isn't like I'm going blind or anything either).
So, since they were using bubble test readers back in the early 80s in
my school system (and I know they're at least a decade or so older than
that)
in order to score multiple choice test answer sheets, why in hell did we
stick with the antiquated behemoths for so long?
(*there has to be a better name for the things...)
Anyway, I had a good experience for once.
How about you?
--Leigh
Erin
> Okay, so CT has finally gone to what amounts to a bubble test reader*
<snip>
> (*there has to be a better name for the things...)
Scantron :-)
Robert Miles
"Leigh Claffey" <lcla...@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:iI-dneFXuv_W643U...@giganews.com...
The poll workers in this northern Alabama district said
they expect longer lines this afternoon; there wasn't much
of one this morning.
Captain Jack
No real hassles here in Oregon; we have "vote by mail". About a week ago
I sat down at my desk with the ballot, the voter's pamphlets, and a cup
of coffee. I went through the candidates & the ballot measures, read the
pros & cons of each, marked my ballot, sealed it in the envelope and
dropped it off at the Post Office later that day (so I *know* it's in the
system & will be counted).
Funny thing, but as soon as you tell one political "tele-marketer" you've
already mailed in your ballot, the phone calls STOP. (at least the
political ones).
The Cap'n
Leigh Claffey
Thank you!
--Leigh
Leigh Claffey
>>
>> How about you?
>>
>>
>> --Leigh
> -
> The poll workers in this northern Alabama district said
> they expect longer lines this afternoon; there wasn't much
> of one this morning.
>
>
Yep. That's what they're saying on the news too.
Most places had a bit of a line in the early morning and then it
cleared out and they're bracing for the 5pm rush.
Not too many wierd glitches so far either (minor stuff only and that was
fixable).
Places that allowed early voting are reporting a significant number
went ahead and voted early and Ohio (I think it was) was reporting
that there was a significant percentage of voters that had requested
absentee ballots and most of them had already been returned.
So, think this is going to be the largest turnout in the US in 50 years?
--Leigh
Two meter troll
I know oregon has mostly voted so we are just sitting around watching.
my personal thought is that it will be a huge turn out. maybe bigger
than in 50 years but then i dont know that the issues are as immediate
as that.
Cindy Wells
news:Xns9B4C6A6F4233Cwh...@216.168.3.44:
<snip>
> Funny thing, but as soon as you tell one political "tele-marketer"
> you've already mailed in your ballot, the phone calls STOP. (at least
> the political ones).
Obviously your calls had real people on the line. We were in and out
before 7:35 am this morning. First time the phone rang after 9 am, it
was another robo-call (dead air, click, then the taped message starts).
Our polling place covers 3 precints and this year I was voter 16 putting
the form into the machine. In the past we've been through in the single
digits.
Cindy Wells
(since we have our hay sales in progress using caller ID wouldn't help -
we get new customers fairly often and our records don't keep up with the
cell phone numbers of the customers in the database.)
>
> The Cap'n
>
Leigh Claffey
Certainly beats being presented with unexpected local referenda
on the ballot (and not much of an explanation either),
not that that happened to me....this time.
(note that I tend to avoid the local news stations like the plague most days
so unless something comes in the mail I might not know much about it)
> Funny thing, but as soon as you tell one political "tele-marketer" you've
> already mailed in your ballot, the phone calls STOP. (at least the
> political ones).
>
Curious that.
--Leigh
John W. Vinson
wrote:
>Okay, so CT has finally gone to what amounts to a bubble test reader*
>from the old lever style voting machines.
Idaho has gone to optical scanned paper ballots (from punchcards) for the
first time this election.
My real concern is that people will mark the oval with an x or a checkmark
rather than filling it in. Sure, there are instructions and warnings but you
know how well people listen. I'm not sure how well the scanners will work for
such marks!
--
John the Wysard JVinson *at* Wysard Of Info *dot* com
Larisa
I did not. I was voting in Pennsylvania, which is one of the
battleground states, in a minority neighborhood. Only one of the
three voting machines was working; the lines were huge. Mind you, all
of these voting machines were the no-paper-receipt machines - so God
(and Diebold) only knows who I actually voted for by the time I got to
vote. I was told by one of the poll-workers that I had the option of
casting a paper ballot because of the malfunctioning machines, but
that it would be a provisional ballot; this was a misstatement of
Pennsylvania law, which provides for "emergency" ballots that are real
rather than provisional.
And at the end of it, I pushed a button on the voting machine, and I
have no idea - and no way to verify - whether my vote was counted, and
who it was counted for.
LM
Clovis Man
>Okay, so CT has finally gone to what amounts to a bubble test reader*
>from the old lever style voting machines.
Paper ballots read by optical scanners? We've had them here
(Curry County, NM) since at least 1992. Back then, it was fill
in the arrow. The current ballots are as you describe.
I haven't seen an old lever-style machine since I voted in
Toledo, OH back in the 1980's.
[snip]
>So, since they were using bubble test readers back in the early 80s in
>my school system (and I know they're at least a decade or so older than
>that) in order to score multiple choice test answer sheets, why in hell did we
>stick with the antiquated behemoths for so long?
The older readers, IIRC, were magnetically scanned and required a
specific type of soft pencil. The Air Force used these for
central scoring of promotion tests well into the 1980s.
The old lever-type machines were the Bee's Knees in the 1950s
(auto-tabulating counters) but got harder to maintain over the
years. They also lacked the independent audit trail that paper
ballots provide.
Also, consider the other demands on county funds - roads and
other infrastructure, public safety, etc. As long as the voting
systems worked properly, there was little incentive to change.
>Anyway, I had a good experience for once.
>How about you?
Good. I voted early on October 16th at the county courthouse
(number 819 of nearly 6300 early voters). The early and absentee
numbers make up around 40% of the total registered in the county
and about 41% of the statewide registration. According to the
New Mexico Secretary of State's office, they're expecting about
an 80% turnout.
--
Clovis Man (aka George Ruch)
"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishible from magic."
Arthur C. Clarke
Lots42
> Anyway, I had a good experience for once.
>
> How about you?
>
> --Leigh
Me and the maternal unit had to wait forty five minutes. AWESOME. Long
lines are cool. We got through with a little headache, a little
confusion and we're positive the people we intended got our vote.
Erin
> Leigh Claffey <lclaf...@comcast.net> wrote:
>
> >Anyway, I had a good experience for once.
> >How about you?
I voted early this year (week ago Friday) and it was wonderful. I was
in and out in 5 minutes, did a paper-and-pen (fill in the bubble)
ballot. It was a welcome change from previous years -- usually I vote
provisional here at the school (we're A polling place, but not MY
polling place) so usually I don't get to vote my precinct-specific
candidates, just the state-wide and nation-wide and ballot measures.
Normally that's not a big deal to me, but I loved not having to wait
in line, not having to take time out of my work day, and then being
able to say, "don't try to convince me, I've already voted!" to all of
my Palin-Stevens-bot friends.
Erin
The TheatrElf
news:90j1h41v8a2otd376...@4ax.com:
>>So, since they were using bubble test readers back in the
>>early 80s in my school system (and I know they're at least a
>>decade or so older than that) in order to score multiple
>>choice test answer sheets, why in hell did we stick with the
>>antiquated behemoths for so long?
>
> The older readers, IIRC, were magnetically scanned and
> required a specific type of soft pencil. The Air Force used
> these for
No, they've always been optically scanned: but #3 pencils, being
a harder "lead," often didn't darken the circle enough. A #1 was
probably OK, but the decision was made to mandate a single grade
of pencil for ease of compliance.
(My aunt is an executive for the original testing company. It's
amazing the things you learn at family dinners!)
--
Xjahn
The TheatrElf
http://manormaniac.blogspot.com/
A closed mouth gathers no foot.
Beth Jackson
Long time didn't see your postings!
Welcome back!
And how've you been?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"The Canvas Canary"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(I love to paint, sing, am blonde & a bit flighty:)
http://www.angelfire.com/nc/canvascanary
*****************************
"Creative minds are seldom tidy." --Anon.
*****************************
"I'm out of bed, and dressed;
what more do you want?!" --Anon.
D.J.
Well, I am an avidavit voter. Some how dropped from the rolls. Lots
of people had that happen to them in my area.
Who could have done it ? Dirty tricks departments of all political
parties.
D.J.
--
http://star.drivein-jim.net/ Starship deck plans
http://crestar.drivein-jim.net/ Oct, 2008 AD&D pages
Clovis Man
>Clovis Man <georg...@3lefties.com> wrote in
>news:90j1h41v8a2otd376...@4ax.com:
>
>>>So, since they were using bubble test readers back in the
>> The older readers, IIRC, were magnetically scanned and
>> required a specific type of soft pencil. The Air Force used
>> these for
>
>No, they've always been optically scanned: but #3 pencils, being
>a harder "lead," often didn't darken the circle enough. A #1 was
>probably OK, but the decision was made to mandate a single grade
>of pencil for ease of compliance.
So much for my steel trap memory[0].
[0] Rusty, dangerous, and illegal in 37 states.
Denny Wheeler
wrote:
>Me and the maternal unit had to wait forty five minutes. AWESOME. Long
>lines are cool. We got through with a little headache, a little
>confusion and we're positive the people we intended got our vote.
Hey!! You've been among the missing here, for quite awhile. How are
you?
Yes, I know you and I have had our strong differences of opinion, and
likely will again--you're still a Patron and I've been wondering about
you.
And good that the voting process worked smoothly for you. You're in
FL, aren't you?
-denny-
--
"...our dignity, our free institutions and the peace and
welfare of this and coming generations of Americans will be
secure only as we cling to the watchword of true patriotism:
'Our country--when right to be kept right; when wrong to be put
right.'" - Carl Schurz, in 1899
Clovis Man
[snip]
>Anyway, I had a good experience for once.
>
>How about you?
I stopped by at my local precinct earlier this evening. Steady,
good turnout, no big drama.
There were reports of problems at one local precinct, but no
details yet.
Wes Struebing
Well, fwiw, by the time I write this, Obama has won both Pennsylvania
and Ohio...
So, I guess you got your vote counted, Larisa. (on the assumption you
voted for Obama - and you do NOT need to say that you did or
didn't...)
--
Wes Struebing
Jan. 20, 2009 - the end of an error
Wes Struebing
wrote:
>On Nov 4, 11:20 am, Leigh Claffey <lclaf...@comcast.net> wrote:
Good for you, Lots! And welcome back. BOYC after that 45 minutes
wait?
Denny Wheeler
<lcla...@comcast.net> wrote:
>Anyway, I had a good experience for once.
>
>How about you?
Well, lessee. Couple weeks ago, I went through the voters' pamphlet
and looked up some additional info on the web. Next night, filled in
my ballot, sealed it in its (inner) envelope, signed the outside
envelope, stamped it, and dropped it in the mailbox in front of the
local post office.
Washington state has--except for King and Pierce counties, the two
most highly urban--gone completely to vote-by-mail. Those two
counties are, I think, going to v-b-m next election.
Checked the county's election website, and my ballot's been received.
And presumably counted.
The TheatrElf
> The TheatrElf <xj...@netscape.net> wrote:
>>Clovis Man <georg...@3lefties.com> wrote in
>>news:90j1h41v8a2otd376...@4ax.com:
>>
>>>>So, since they were using bubble test readers back in the
>>>>early 80s in my school system [...]
>>>
>>> The older readers, IIRC, were magnetically scanned and
>>> required a specific type of soft pencil. The Air Force used
>>> these for
>>
>>No, they've always been optically scanned: but #3 pencils,
>>being a harder "lead," often didn't darken the circle enough.
>>A #1 was probably OK, but the decision was made to mandate a
>>single grade of pencil for ease of compliance.
>
> So much for my steel trap memory[0].
>
> [0] Rusty, dangerous, and illegal in 37 states.
I like to say that I've got a mind like a steel seive.
:-)
--
Xjahn
The TheatrElf
http://manormaniac.blogspot.com/
All probabilities are 50%. Either a thing will happen or it
won't. This is especially true when dealing with someone you're
attracted to.
Clovis Man
[snip]
>> So much for my steel trap memory[0].
>>
>> [0] Rusty, dangerous, and illegal in 37 states.
>
>I like to say that I've got a mind like a steel seive.
>:-)
Useful for the big stuff ("What is your name?"[*]) but hell for
the small stuff ("Where the *** are my keys?").
* http://www.walnet.org/rosebud/dopedeal.html
--
Clovis Man (aka George Ruch)
"New! Do-it-yourself autopsy kits! Be the first on your block to get one!"
(Stolen with pride from alt.folklore.urban)
John W. Vinson
wrote:
>So much for my steel trap memory[0].
At least you're not like:
"I've got a mind like a steel trap!"
"Yeah... *rusted shut*!"
D.J.
wrote:
]Well, I am an avidavit voter. Some how dropped from the rolls. Lots
]of people had that happen to them in my area.
Affidavit voter.
Beth Jackson
>>>So much for my
>>>steel trap memory[0].
>>>
>>>[0] Rusty,
>>>dangerous,
>>>and illegal in 37 states.
Xjahn/The TheatrElf:
>>I like to say that
>>I've got a mind like
>>a steel seive.
>>:-)
(Clovis Man):
>Useful for the big stuff
>("What is your name?"[*])
>but hell for the small stuff
>("Where the *** are my keys?").
;-)
Ooo, can I ever relate-to that...!! {;-)
(Mebbee we're related, some-long-where down-the-line...:)
'Course, in my case anyway, it probably has more to do with the
"A.D.H.D. short-term-memory" problems I've had a lot of (if not most of)
my life.
(Once it gets in my "long-term memory", OTOH, and as Laertes' sister
Ophelia told him in "Hamlet", "'T is in my memory lock'd".)
Robert Miles
"Captain Jack" <whod...@NOSPAM.US.yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:Xns9B4C6A6F4233Cwh...@216.168.3.44...
Do you think it would help to tell them you've decided to vote for
whoever you get the least such calls about?
Robert Miles
"John W. Vinson" <jvinson@STOP_SPAM.WysardOfInfo.com> wrote in message
news:j5g1h49ampib4dj8h...@4ax.com...
At least this part of Alabama has gone to an automatic counter which
expects you to connect two black boxes with a pen they loan you
for the candidates you choose.