Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Revanchist

(1,375 posts)
Tue Nov 6, 2018, 07:19 PM Nov 2018

Check-in if you were able to use paper ballots

This was my first time voting in this area so I was surprised to see them. You had to fill the dots in with a sharpie no less! When I was in VA Beach it was electronic and I had the "privilege" to be in line behind Pat Robertson one time, lucky me!

106 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Check-in if you were able to use paper ballots (Original Post) Revanchist Nov 2018 OP
Paper ballot that was scanned in Sanity Claws Nov 2018 #1
Same in OK bobbieinok Nov 2018 #63
Same in VA. Nay Nov 2018 #97
I did Skinner Nov 2018 #2
Voted by mail in CA wasupaloopa Nov 2018 #3
+1 CA50 District itsrobert Nov 2018 #19
I hope he loses and goes to jail wasupaloopa Nov 2018 #32
Dropped mine in the mail 3 days ago. Merlot Nov 2018 #57
Ditto. EOM TruckFump Nov 2018 #87
Me too except I didn't put it in the mail Raine Nov 2018 #98
Yes. We've always have had paper available to use vs. the electronic machines...I've ... SWBTATTReg Nov 2018 #4
Same deal here in NW Wi. old guy Nov 2018 #29
Really. Sometimes paper is best. I just feel better when I have a hardcopy of my vote. nt SWBTATTReg Nov 2018 #36
We have paper ballot trail...in Illinois beachbum bob Nov 2018 #5
Actually we have paper BALLOTS in Illinois. hedda_foil Nov 2018 #20
Yep, any interference would easily be discovered. beachbum bob Nov 2018 #23
Voted by mail here in California, so it was a paper "fill in the bubble" kind of ballot. skylucy Nov 2018 #6
Yup, paper with coloring in ovals, then scanned. a kennedy Nov 2018 #7
Paper here in Colorado meadowlark5 Nov 2018 #8
Vote by mail in Colorado.... I love doing it that way... hlthe2b Nov 2018 #9
Paper ballot in WI Luciferous Nov 2018 #10
WA state is all paper ballots Evergreen Emerald Nov 2018 #11
+1 violetpastille Nov 2018 #61
My state, too... Wounded Bear Nov 2018 #89
Always Paper Ballots in MN MrGrieves Nov 2018 #12
I was given a choice, vote with a computer...or... Stuart G Nov 2018 #13
Here (Minnesota). We fill in little ovals with a black pen on a paper ballot. The Velveteen Ocelot Nov 2018 #14
Vote by mail here in Oregon. jalan48 Nov 2018 #15
Lane county emailed a ballot to me in Pucon, Chile central scrutinizer Nov 2018 #73
I forgot to sign my ballot once and the elections department called me. I was able to go in, sign jalan48 Nov 2018 #77
Definitely central scrutinizer Nov 2018 #83
Paper/scanner done early. But, salin Nov 2018 #16
Back in the olden days... Lefta Dissenter Nov 2018 #41
In this era of concern for voter fraud (by theGOP) I doubt it would be done. salin Nov 2018 #49
Yes, I did. I still felt weird putting it through the scanner. Tommy_Carcetti Nov 2018 #17
Since sElection 2000, blind faith is pretty hard to find bobbieinok Nov 2018 #68
Yes in Raleigh NC . Early voted. NRaleighLiberal Nov 2018 #18
I wish there were sharpies where I voted. Had to use a ball point pen! Siwsan Nov 2018 #21
It was the same with me in Iowa. rsdsharp Nov 2018 #105
That's how we do in Yolo County CA. byronius Nov 2018 #22
paper then scanned. Kurt V. Nov 2018 #24
Same system in New Mexico. PoindexterOglethorpe Nov 2018 #25
Yes. mia Nov 2018 #26
Missouri here......... woody44 Nov 2018 #27
paper, then scanned in KY Hermit-The-Prog Nov 2018 #28
I'm not sure if the ballots here in MO are actually counted when fed in Revanchist Nov 2018 #30
I voted by mail on a paper ballot! ananda Nov 2018 #31
Paper in California. Codeine Nov 2018 #33
Paper then scanned in MA Green Line Nov 2018 #34
Small town Nebraska hillary Nov 2018 #35
Paper that was scanned in Missouri UpInArms Nov 2018 #37
Got a Vote-By-Mail ballot major debacle Nov 2018 #38
I filled in every democratic oval in ink texasfiddler Nov 2018 #39
I used a machine but it was printing my selections so presumably if there is an issue LisaL Nov 2018 #40
Maryland uses paper ballots that are then scanned by a machine. OliverQ Nov 2018 #42
filled out a paper ballot, legal size, dawg day Nov 2018 #43
Paper ballot, scanned in, in Missouri The Genealogist Nov 2018 #44
yeppers LSFL Nov 2018 #45
we vote by mail, it's all paper in WA gopiscrap Nov 2018 #46
I use paper ballots everytime. I vote by mail still_one Nov 2018 #47
Paper ballot was scanned BewilderedCitizen Nov 2018 #48
Paper ballots here in Middleton WI AJT Nov 2018 #50
Paper ballot in Missouri BlueSpot Nov 2018 #51
Paper then scanned here in Boston, MA smirkymonkey Nov 2018 #52
Ann Arbor, Mi uses paper ballots. muntrv Nov 2018 #53
Garden City, MI does also..... MotorCityMan Nov 2018 #69
Paper ballot here in Virginia Yonnie3 Nov 2018 #54
Paper ballot... tosh Nov 2018 #55
Paper ballot that was scanned. KewlKat Nov 2018 #56
My deep blue city in NC uses paper ballots that are scanned and retained. yardwork Nov 2018 #58
Filled in the bubbles on paper today and had it scanned. SCRUBDASHRUB Nov 2018 #59
Mass. NOVADAVE Nov 2018 #60
MA. Paper. sheshe2 Nov 2018 #84
Thanks! NOVADAVE Nov 2018 #99
I read a long time before I joined as well. sheshe2 Nov 2018 #101
Paper ballot in Montana. MontanaMama Nov 2018 #62
I just had to vote in person. Delmette2.0 Nov 2018 #94
I still got a sticker! MontanaMama Nov 2018 #95
Paper ballots here in Wa state. Either black or blue pen and Doreen Nov 2018 #64
middle of WI. yes to paper but can use electronic also. riversedge Nov 2018 #65
Scanned paper ballot in upstate ny. redwitch Nov 2018 #66
Yes paper ballot in virginia.nt. drray23 Nov 2018 #67
Massachusetts. Of course we have paper ballots. berni_mccoy Nov 2018 #70
Voting machine with no printable proof. liberal N proud Nov 2018 #71
We had paper ballots that we fed into a scanner nocoincidences Nov 2018 #72
Paper fed into a tabulator I assume. CA22 onecaliberal Nov 2018 #74
I used a black sharpie on a paper ballot which was then scanned by a machine. Kaleva Nov 2018 #75
I have never ever voted on anything but paper ballots samnsara Nov 2018 #76
Yep, we had the punch card with the sharpie where I voted today. The guy next to me was very beaglelover Nov 2018 #78
Paper here in Michigan... N_E_1 for Tennis Nov 2018 #79
Small town NH matt819 Nov 2018 #80
Yes Sunsky Nov 2018 #81
Paper KentuckyWoman Nov 2018 #82
Yep, here in Maryland. honest.abe Nov 2018 #85
In my Nebraska county, Dawes, we frogmarch Nov 2018 #86
We complete the arrows on 8 pages (vote by mail) in San Francisco. displacedtexan Nov 2018 #88
Si! Bueno! dameatball Nov 2018 #90
Paper ballot for me in New Mexico lunatica Nov 2018 #91
Paper here in central Florida GulfCoast66 Nov 2018 #92
We have mail in Ballots in Washington thinkingagain Nov 2018 #93
I used paper. Joe941 Nov 2018 #96
Voted in Norfolk, VA Invidious Nov 2018 #100
NYC-Manhattan: Paper ballot, Golden Raisin Nov 2018 #102
Paper ballots in Wisconsin counted by optical scanner AllyCat Nov 2018 #103
Paper Ballot in my township, Lincoln County, WI Talitha Nov 2018 #104
Yes, I had a choice.. Cha Nov 2018 #106

Merlot

(9,696 posts)
57. Dropped mine in the mail 3 days ago.
Tue Nov 6, 2018, 07:42 PM
Nov 2018

Did you like how they re-designed the ballots? No more fill the bubble.

California, sigh...you're so awsome : )

Raine

(30,540 posts)
98. Me too except I didn't put it in the mail
Tue Nov 6, 2018, 09:21 PM
Nov 2018

I hand delivered it because I was out near there anyway.

SWBTATTReg

(22,156 posts)
4. Yes. We've always have had paper available to use vs. the electronic machines...I've ...
Tue Nov 6, 2018, 07:20 PM
Nov 2018

always use paper.

old guy

(3,283 posts)
29. Same deal here in NW Wi.
Tue Nov 6, 2018, 07:26 PM
Nov 2018

Wife and I went in registered, picked up our ballot, voted and were out in less than 5 minutes. When we left there were people still waiting for a machine and they were there before us. I smiled a very contented smile.

hedda_foil

(16,375 posts)
20. Actually we have paper BALLOTS in Illinois.
Tue Nov 6, 2018, 07:23 PM
Nov 2018

There are also a smaller number of DREs with paper cash register type verification you can see through a plastic window on the machine but every precinct should have actual paper ballots.

skylucy

(3,740 posts)
6. Voted by mail here in California, so it was a paper "fill in the bubble" kind of ballot.
Tue Nov 6, 2018, 07:20 PM
Nov 2018

In the recent past when I voted in person here in Calif, it was also a paper ballot.

Stuart G

(38,439 posts)
13. I was given a choice, vote with a computer...or...
Tue Nov 6, 2018, 07:21 PM
Nov 2018

Mark a paper ballot and when completed, stick the ballot into a counting machine..............

I took the paper ballot...

The Velveteen Ocelot

(115,829 posts)
14. Here (Minnesota). We fill in little ovals with a black pen on a paper ballot.
Tue Nov 6, 2018, 07:21 PM
Nov 2018

The ballot is then fed into a scanner to be counted, and the paper ballots are preserved if a recount is needed. It's also my understanding that the scanners are not connected to the internet. I have never voted any other way, except for a very long time ago when they had those voting booths with the little levers.

central scrutinizer

(11,661 posts)
73. Lane county emailed a ballot to me in Pucon, Chile
Tue Nov 6, 2018, 07:58 PM
Nov 2018

In late September. I printed it, voted, photographed each page, attached them to an email, sent, done. I had to set it up ahead of time, but it was too important to ignore.

jalan48

(13,881 posts)
77. I forgot to sign my ballot once and the elections department called me. I was able to go in, sign
Tue Nov 6, 2018, 08:04 PM
Nov 2018

it and have my vote counted. Oregon seems light years ahead of some of the states I'm reading about today.

central scrutinizer

(11,661 posts)
83. Definitely
Tue Nov 6, 2018, 08:10 PM
Nov 2018

When I was arranging for my email ballot back in August, a homeless man wanted to register to vote and the clerk did everything possible to make sure he would get a ballot. Made me feel proud of my state.

salin

(48,955 posts)
16. Paper/scanner done early. But,
Tue Nov 6, 2018, 07:22 PM
Nov 2018

as the polls closed (indiana) I received a distressed text from the party - as they were running out of paper ballots in some of the districts and were looking for emergency volunteers to go to the polls and try to keep people waiting in line rather than giving up and going home (and not voting.)

ETA just learned they are keeping the polls open until 7:00pm in Monroe County, and Sen. Donnelly sent a tweet reminding voters that if they are in line at 6:00 - they can still vote - along with the Emergency Vote # if one is turned away/told otherwise.

Lefta Dissenter

(6,622 posts)
41. Back in the olden days...
Tue Nov 6, 2018, 07:32 PM
Nov 2018

We would make copies of a blank ballot, have people vote on those, and then when a new batch of ballots arrived from the county, teams of poll workers would remake ballots to match the copied ballots and send those through the scanner.

I don’t know if that’s done anymore.

salin

(48,955 posts)
49. In this era of concern for voter fraud (by theGOP) I doubt it would be done.
Tue Nov 6, 2018, 07:40 PM
Nov 2018

On the plus size - there has been a huge surge in early voting. So if despite that - the polls are running out of ballots - it suggests an overall large turnout. This is a solid blue dot in Indiana - so I don't think the running out of ballots is trickery.

Tommy_Carcetti

(43,191 posts)
17. Yes, I did. I still felt weird putting it through the scanner.
Tue Nov 6, 2018, 07:22 PM
Nov 2018

No matter what method you use, I think there's always going to be a nagging voice of uncertainty as to whether my vote was actually counted.

That's just human nature, I suppose. At a certain point, you just have to go off on blind faith.

Siwsan

(26,289 posts)
21. I wish there were sharpies where I voted. Had to use a ball point pen!
Tue Nov 6, 2018, 07:23 PM
Nov 2018

And instead of the little circles, there were rectangles so it took even longer to sufficiently fill them in. AND my ballot was longer than the little voting station table. Somehow I successfully completed the process.

Revanchist

(1,375 posts)
30. I'm not sure if the ballots here in MO are actually counted when fed in
Tue Nov 6, 2018, 07:27 PM
Nov 2018

There was no directions saying this side up or anything of that nature so they might be hand counted at the end of the night

 

Codeine

(25,586 posts)
33. Paper in California.
Tue Nov 6, 2018, 07:28 PM
Nov 2018

I haven’t voted electronically in quite a while. We have big paper ballots where we complete a little arrow pointing to our choice.

major debacle

(508 posts)
38. Got a Vote-By-Mail ballot
Tue Nov 6, 2018, 07:30 PM
Nov 2018

... filled it out and walked it to the polling place this morning in Fresno, CA, Trump country. Nunes is the rep, Andrew Janz is challenging him.

texasfiddler

(1,990 posts)
39. I filled in every democratic oval in ink
Tue Nov 6, 2018, 07:30 PM
Nov 2018

I like the scanned sheets. A lot of people can vote at the same time in multiple booths. Paper trail and scanned for fast tabulation.

LisaL

(44,974 posts)
40. I used a machine but it was printing my selections so presumably if there is an issue
Tue Nov 6, 2018, 07:31 PM
Nov 2018

there could be a recount.

dawg day

(7,947 posts)
43. filled out a paper ballot, legal size,
Tue Nov 6, 2018, 07:34 PM
Nov 2018

And put it in a scanner. Paper was put into a box with other ballots.

The Genealogist

(4,723 posts)
44. Paper ballot, scanned in, in Missouri
Tue Nov 6, 2018, 07:34 PM
Nov 2018

No sharpie here, just a ballpoint. You feed it into the machine yourself when you are done, and if it accepts, it adds your vote to the total for the machine. No fuss, no muss, no bother.

LSFL

(1,109 posts)
45. yeppers
Tue Nov 6, 2018, 07:35 PM
Nov 2018

Paper ballot availyable in Somerset Kentucky.
Did you rabbit punch Robertson in the giblets?

My voting location changed from the old Courthouse to the New library. I was not told ahead of time. I had to hunt down an old school mate to know where to vote. Be aware of this stuff guys and gals.

48. Paper ballot was scanned
Tue Nov 6, 2018, 07:39 PM
Nov 2018

I filled in the ovals with an ink pen. It was then scanned, but I didn't get to see whether or not it was scanned accurately.

BlueSpot

(856 posts)
51. Paper ballot in Missouri
Tue Nov 6, 2018, 07:41 PM
Nov 2018

Ball point for me too. L-O-N-G ballot, took quite a while to fill in all the ovals.

Worth it!

tosh

(4,424 posts)
55. Paper ballot...
Tue Nov 6, 2018, 07:42 PM
Nov 2018

Voted Saturday in Hurricane Michael’s neighborhood.

My Supervisor of Elections is the best! He held 7am to 7pm voting every single day up through today. He offered vote by mail ballots with extended deadline and even tried to offer emailed vote by mail ballots but pRick Scott said no.

There were plenty of booth tables, scanners and election workers, so no long lines.

Love my Dem SOE!

KewlKat

(5,624 posts)
56. Paper ballot that was scanned.
Tue Nov 6, 2018, 07:42 PM
Nov 2018

They offered an “electronic” version and I said no way. I want my vote to be counted. She said they are all counted and I said you’ve not been paying attention. I went at 1pm. Light attendance.

yardwork

(61,700 posts)
58. My deep blue city in NC uses paper ballots that are scanned and retained.
Tue Nov 6, 2018, 07:43 PM
Nov 2018

Every precinct should have paper ballots that are retained for any needed recounts.

sheshe2

(83,869 posts)
84. MA. Paper.
Tue Nov 6, 2018, 08:11 PM
Nov 2018

Scanned. Machine did a little spin and displayed that my vote had been counted.

They used ballpoint pen.

Welcome to DU, NOVADAVE.

MontanaMama

(23,337 posts)
62. Paper ballot in Montana.
Tue Nov 6, 2018, 07:45 PM
Nov 2018

Walked it into the elections office and put it in the lock box myself. Checked online that it had been counted.

Delmette2.0

(4,169 posts)
94. I just had to vote in person.
Tue Nov 6, 2018, 09:00 PM
Nov 2018

I love getting my sticker.

My polling location has always been an easy quick place to vote. Not today! There was a steady line of voters.

Doreen

(11,686 posts)
64. Paper ballots here in Wa state. Either black or blue pen and
Tue Nov 6, 2018, 07:46 PM
Nov 2018

you can mail it or put into a drop box. I dropped mine off at the ballot box approximately half an hour ago. There was some deep digging I had to do on some of the people in my county and city so it took me longer than I wanted. What matters is that it is in the proper place now.

nocoincidences

(2,228 posts)
72. We had paper ballots that we fed into a scanner
Tue Nov 6, 2018, 07:56 PM
Nov 2018

in Virginia Beach today. I do remember elections in the past that were electronic, but not true anymore.

beaglelover

(3,488 posts)
78. Yep, we had the punch card with the sharpie where I voted today. The guy next to me was very
Tue Nov 6, 2018, 08:04 PM
Nov 2018

aggressive filling out voting card.

N_E_1 for Tennis

(9,773 posts)
79. Paper here in Michigan...
Tue Nov 6, 2018, 08:06 PM
Nov 2018

But I’ve never used a sharpie to mark the ballot this was the first time for that used ballpoints before. Many of us at the polling place noticed that it bled through to the other side. They said it was ok cuz the marks don’t line up so it was ok

frogmarch

(12,158 posts)
86. In my Nebraska county, Dawes, we
Tue Nov 6, 2018, 08:14 PM
Nov 2018

all voted by mail with paper ballots about a week ago.

Registered voters were mailed their ballots, and the return envelopes were postage paid, so I handed mr. froggy's and mine to our mailman the next day.

displacedtexan

(15,696 posts)
88. We complete the arrows on 8 pages (vote by mail) in San Francisco.
Tue Nov 6, 2018, 08:33 PM
Nov 2018

The voting guide is bigger than some phone books. Anyway, we can mail it in, put it in designated ballot boxes in/around municipal buildings, or drop them in the box at our polling place.

thinkingagain

(906 posts)
93. We have mail in Ballots in Washington
Tue Nov 6, 2018, 08:42 PM
Nov 2018

But I saved my state some $ and dropped off my own in the ballot box as with my two sons and one daughters I haven't heard if my youngest daughter finished hers she has been extra busy but trying to get it filled out sad thing she is one of the ones who usually is my first voter. I will have to bug her again.
Behind Pat Robertson huh "privilege" "lucky" I was thinking more like I would have thought "Pat Robertson man This stinks"

Invidious

(205 posts)
100. Voted in Norfolk, VA
Tue Nov 6, 2018, 09:22 PM
Nov 2018

We went all paper a couple cycles ago. You fill the ballot then you scan it in. I'm in the 2nd district and voted for Elaine!

Golden Raisin

(4,612 posts)
102. NYC-Manhattan: Paper ballot,
Tue Nov 6, 2018, 09:52 PM
Nov 2018

fill in the little ovals (like the old SAT tests), then feed into scanner. Paper ballots retained.

Talitha

(6,611 posts)
104. Paper Ballot in my township, Lincoln County, WI
Tue Nov 6, 2018, 10:24 PM
Nov 2018

Since moving here 17 years ago (from the Chicago area), we've always had a paper ballot - scanned by machine.

I was there at about 10am (voter #67) and am very anxious to see the total # of voters this time around. Usually, I walk in and am the only one in there besides the voting officials.

Today, both booths (2 voter booths, woo-hoo!! ) were occupied and I was the second in line with 3 people behind me. There weren't this many people voting in 2016!!!

Hope to God they were all voting straight Dem like I did. However, there's LOTS of NRA freaks up here, but hopefully my vote will help keep 'Snot' Walker from doing any more damage to this beautiful state of Wisconsin.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Check-in if you were able...