Scene at Precinct 2032

[Avalux]

I voted before going in to work this morning, about 830 am. I love to vote on election day, because I enjoy being around everyone else exercising their Constitutional right, and talking with them.

While I walked toward the entrance, I could hear a couple of young women behind me talking about how excited to vote for the first time. I told them I was happy they were there and what they're doing is incredibly important (no matter their politics). We talked for a few minutes while in line and a young man overheard us, he piped up and agreed that voting is important, and that if you don't vote "you don't have any right to complain".

When it was my turn, the poll worker showed me how to operate the system and got me all set up. I never vote straight ticket, always vote Dem individually; in this election, there were a few judge races that didn't have a Dem candidate. I voted Green.

After I was done and submitted my ballot (no issues), the poll worker came back to check on me. I thanked him and then told him it would be great if the machines were equipped to print out a 'receipt', so that I would have a record of my votes. Other people heard me, and a few of them agreed, saying they would like that too. The poll worker called over "the boss", and I talked to her, told her my request. She said that when she submits her paperwork after today she's going to include my idea as a recommendation. I don't really expect it to go anywhere, and fact of the matter is - I've been suggesting this for years. Ever since we went electronic.

Maybe I'll work on it independently; I think I'd have a lot of support.

Of course, I voted for Wendy. Do I think she'll win? I remain hopeful, but it's probably not very realistic. I keep remembering Ann Richards, who pulled off an upset when she was written off by the polls. Maybe history will repeat itself this year.

So - if you haven't done so yet - get out there and vote.

Your candidate may not win. You may not even know if your vote is counted correctly. Do it anyway!

[derby378]

1. Good for you!

I voted for Wendy, too. Voted for every Democratic candidate except for this one district judge who's known as a slut-shamer.

[Avalux]

4. Thank you!

I almost threw up when I saw George P. Bush on the ballot!

[alcibiades_mystery]

2. Illinois has a cool touch screen/receipt combo voting machine

You vote on a touch screen, but before the ballot is cast, you see a paper receipt printed up behind glass. It stays in the machine, but you can review it to make sure that your vote was recorded correctly. It's pretty snazzy, you ask me.

[Avalux]

3. That's really cool!

At least there's a paper record of it; we don't even have that. Once I press that button, who knows what happens!

[ret5hd]

5. A receipt (that you take with you) is aterrible idea.

A more direct path to vote buying could not be conceived.

[Avalux]

6. Explain?

It's a record of the electronic submission.

[Takket]

8. I think he means if someone wanted to pay you for your vote...

this would facilitate it because you would be able to hand them concrete evidence that you did indeed vote for who they wanted...

that being said, buying votes is pretty much a dead end proposition. the more people you try to buy the more likely it is someone is going to expose you. to even pay off enough people to make a 1% difference in the voting is virtually impossible.

[ret5hd]

9. You can't understand how an official receipt showing how you voted...

would lead to vote buying???

And that is totally aside from the fact that an official receipt showing how you voted in no way shows how that vote was actually recorded. What are you going to do if you suspect foul play:
1) get everybody to show up with their official receipts
2) count the votes on the receipts
3) compare to the official tally

Why not just use hand counted paper ballots to begin with?

[ScreamingMeemie]

10. There were a lot of Wendy signs in my NW Houston neighborhood this week.

That's a switch. I've got my fingers crossed.