Why is there no receipt for voting?

[mr_hat]

Seriously, no clue.

[graham4anything]

1. I think because voting is private, there is no actual way to have a public record of your vote

it's a catch-22

[robinlynne]

3. that makes sense. so PAPER BALLOTS HAND COUNTED are the way to go.

[Maine-ah]

17. that's one of the reasons I love living in a small town.

I go to the fire station to vote - short line usually (pop is about 1k people) - all on paper. Oh, and the people there know who I am when I walk in the door.

[SharonAnn]

8. Also, it would encourage the "sale" of votes.

The "receipt" showing who you voted for could be used to get payment for voting the way someone else wants you to vote.

Voting is private.

Improvements can be made to protect the accuracy of votes without issuing a "receipt" that shows how you voted. If it didn't show how you voted, then it would be no different from what we have now.

Audits and controls could definitely be improved, but this isn't the way.

[LeftofObama]

11. You know, in all of my years I never thought of that.

Seriously, I always wondered why we didn't get a receipt when we vote, but that makes perfect sense! I'll slink off to my corner now and hide my face in shame.......

[Nye Bevan]

14. But absentee ballots easily allow votes to be sold (nt)

[jackbenimble]

15. I like the idea.

And to get around that problem the receipt could have a code instead of an actual voting record. Should there be an issue and the vote needed to be re-counted you show up with your receipt, scan it, approve or disapprove what shows up on the screen. In fact they could have a few scanners set up so you could check your receipt on your way out the door from voting to make sure it is right.

We live in an age where incredible things are possible so finding a way for a person to have a record of their vote and re-counting them if necessary should not be all that difficult.

[HereSince1628]

2. Don't you get that sticky flag I voted thingy? You want MORE?

You want proof of who you voted for on a receipt? That's just consipiracy crap...worry about what's important VOTER ID!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


ja, right.

[graham4anything]

7. I got six of them pasted on my dashboard!

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. We get those in San Diego

it is detached from the ballot, as a stub.

[Gormy Cuss]

5. We do in the East Bay too. Maybe it's a California thing.

The stub has the serial number of the ballot.

[slackmaster]

16. Yes, numbered stubs are required by Section 13215 of the California Elections Code

http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=elec&group=13001-14000&file=13200-13220

[Gormy Cuss]

25. Thanks, slack n/t

[HooptieWagon]

6. The argument is made that a party or candidate will pay for proof of voting for them.

Knowing GOP elections shenanigans, that's probably a valid point.

However, it would be quite easy to have a paper print-out of your vote, which you could review before placing it in a box. Then there is a paper-trail to check machine accuracy and provide back-up in case of machine failure.

[SharonAnn]

10. Yes, that's a good way of "auditing" so that there is a factual paper trail.

[ParkieDem]

9. In Texas,

we get a stamp on our voter registration card. It's so you can't go vote again (or, in the primaries for example, if you voted in the GOP primary the first go-round, you can't vote in the Democrat runoff if there is one).

[HopeHoops]

12. Because that would allow a REAL recount. Every POS machine has a receipt printer.

If they put serialized receipts on the machines with a running tape IN the machine, there would be a way to prove the GOP cheated. We can't have THAT now, can we?

[alc]

13. something that says you voted? or who you voted for?

those CEOs warning employees about firings if obama wins would love proof of who you voted for.

[arely staircase]

24. correct

but whether you voted or not is public record.

[Enrique]

18. what would the purpose be?

what would someone use such a receipt for?

[CreekDog]

19. First, in CA we do have a receipt/stub and second, it allows us to track our absentee ballot

to make sure it was received.

[Enrique]

20. ok I'll change my question to non-hypothetical

what IS the purpose of the receipt/stub? Do you save yours, and under what circumstances might you use it, who would you show it to?

[CreekDog]

21. i don't know what the purpose is, does that mean we shouldn't have one?

i get a receipt for going to the car wash --i can't get a receipt for voting?

[nadinbrzezinski]

22. In theory if there is a recount

you can track your vote to make sure it was not spoiled, things like that.

It has no indication of who you voted for.

[arely staircase]

23. you

can get a list of all the people who voted in any election from your county courthouse or state sec. of state's office. that is your reciept.