Correction –- SF counts random sample of ballots ONLY

[nicknameless]

Sadly, the ONLY state government staffer I’ve spoken with all year, who knew or cared about the voting machine problems we’re faced with -- as well as the machinations of repug SOS McPherson -- was COMPLETELY wrong about San Francisco hand counting all of their ballots.

Amaryllis wisely recommended double and triple checking the information. So I called the Elections Office today and was informed that only a random sampling of ballots is checked within the 28-day period after the election.

Of course, hand counting can and should be done. Other countries have rejected machines and hand count all of their ballots. And in the state of Maine, 80% of the votes are hand counted.

http://www.ecotalk.org/VotingMachines-LegalVoting.htm

Apologies for passing on incorrect information.

[goclark]

1. Thank you for taking the time to investigate this for us

The idea is still exciting to me and I wish we could make it happen.

Thanks again!

[nicknameless]

4. If entire countries can do it, certainly our cities and states can.

We just need to keep pushing for clean elections. And that *does* mean hand counting the ballots.

Thanks, goclark :)

[Orangepeel]

2. could it be that they hand count a random sample to see if a full recount

is warranted? That's what they used to do in Florida when we had punch cards and the count was challenged (like in 2000).

As long as it is actually a *random* sample and the discrepancy threshold for triggering a full hand count is statistically valid, that should be fine.

[nicknameless]

3. Presumably, that's the intention, PR-wise.

However the sampling isn't large enough to prove anything. And it has been argued that no percentage, short of 100%, is an assurance of valid results.

San Francisco is just another national disappointment.

[autorank]

5. As one who "knows", you were "channeling the future"...it will happen.

[nicknameless]

6. Here's hoping I *am* prophetic. Canada HAND COUNTED their 13 million

ballots within FOUR HOURS, in their last election. There is no reason whatsoever that our cities and states (read: the entire country) can't do the same thing. If we honestly want clean elections, hand counting MUST be done.

Let's see what else is in here ....