Shenanigans in Texas

[GoddessOfGuinness]

This morning I read the following account from a Facebook friend in Texas. I removed the name of the person who had a problem with the machine for their protection:

"First day of early voting in Texas and already we're in trouble. I don't tweet, but can somebody please pass this on? These electronic machines are NOT to be trusted. This morning (name removed)'s ballot review turned up a significant list of candidates for whom he had NOT voted, and (surprise, surprise) they all were, shall we say, significantly to the right of his positions. The election judge was summoned, she discarded that e-ballot and (name removed) started over, but needless to say, if he had not gone over the ballot in detail before he pushed "Vote" he would have cast votes for people he did not choose. BE CAREFUL OUT THERE; CHECK EVERYTHING!!! And no, we are not making this up. It really happened."

[Indpndnt]

1. Oh, boy. Well, thanks for the warning. I will be extra careful with my own ballot this week.

I always review, anyway, but it's good to know about this ahead of time.

[Lithos]

2. Happened to the husband of a friend of mine

Exactly as described above.

He selected only Democratic candidates, but under review, many were switched over to Republican.

L-

[Arugula Latte]

4. It never goes the other way.

NEVER.

[NoPasaran]

14. Presumably, no one on this website has every voted straight R

If they have, they usually don't last long enough to talk much about it.

[phylny]

3. People need to be taking pictures with cell phones n/t

[fleur-de-lisa]

8. Is that legal?

[nadinbrzezinski]

19. Not in San Diego

but we also stopped using electronic machines a while ago... thank you Secretary of State, but... they are still counted at the central Tabulator

[yellerpup]

5. Kicking for visibility!

[sammytko]

6. I always use a paper ballot, but I overheard one of the monitors say they will be phased out.

I don't trust the machines.

[IDoMath]

11. At least there was a paper review

I always ask for paper, too. If people ask me why I tell them I'm a software engineer and I know better than to trust those machines.

[hamsterjill]

7. Voted early today.

I made sure to do the full review, and my ballot was right. I also made sure not to leave the booth until the Seal of the State of Texas came back up on the machine.

[MagickMuffin]

9. Which county is this in?

If it is in Tarrant County then I will contact the Elections Admin. He has been very helpful and responds to my emails.

And this is one of the main reasons I DO NOT vote early. Election day is the only way we can vote on paper.


Thanks for the warning!

[Indpndnt]

12. Absentee ballots are on paper. You could request one of those for a future election.

How do you vote on paper on Election day? I'm in Central Texas and I've never seen paper ballots that day.

[MagickMuffin]

17. The Tarrant County Elections Office is responsible for providing us with paper ballots

but only for the election day voting. And of course they provide a paper ballot for absentee voters.

I like voting on election day. Besides I am the Alternate Judge, so I'm there all day so I can vote at anytime.

[Indpndnt]

20. I like voting on election day, too. The energy is great.

This is my first year ever where I may not be able to make it to the polls that day. So I'll be early voting this week.

Thanks for the paper ballot info. I'll ask here if that's ever a possibility. Can't hurt to ask!

[Lone_Star_Dem]

10. Do you know their county and perhaps a precinct?

This needs to be reported.

[Hutzpa]

13. I heard the same thing from a cousin of mine in Texas too

from what I've learned, Texas has been using machines that put straight ballots into the republican fold.

Need to look into this pronto.

[TBF]

16. I had heard that so I don't vote straight ticket -

I go through and pick them each individually. This time I had one Green to vote for as well because we had a La Rouche follower as a dem candidate against Pete Olson (Rep -22). Olson will win easily but I still refused to vote for her - she went around hanging up those Hitler photos of Obama.

I also hit the back button and checked my selections twice. I'm paranoid.

[OldDem2012]

15. Voters sound like they're watching for GOP election fraud attempts and that's good! nt.

[Hutzpa]

18. +1

nt

[MrsBrady]

21. call your county democratic party and let them know

this is what they are for.