Voting mechanics

[magid]

OK, so I've only ever voted in MA, and both municipalities I've voted in use paper ballots. Not anything tricky to understand, just basically scantron things: fill in the bubbles and you're done. Just like all those standardized tests everyone has to take these days, so the voters are prepared, as it were. The thought even of using a lever sort of machine makes me nervous, and computers doubly so, since they're theoretically hackable in even more ways. And there's no paper trail.

Please, someone explain why there isn't more standardization in how ballots are made and processed? OK, and why we don't all use a scantron sort of ballot, since it leaves a paper trail, and isn't tricky to use at all.


Nothing about whether the car-repair guys were involved in the election in this post. Or, there wasn't.

Comments

[magid.livejournal.com]

My guess is that historically, it has something to do with states rights. Which means that each state gets to choose what to do, just like in education (no national curriculum here, either).

Paper and pencil is so... safe. I mean, we use black felt-tip pens (you get at least one chance to get a new ballot if you make a mistake), but it's the same idea.

[jaq.livejournal.com]

I could understand if it was up to each state, but the stories I've been reading talk about differences at county level. (I don't really know what counties are responsible for there).

[magid.livejournal.com]

County-usefulness varies by state, actually.

In MA, the counties are fairly vestigial at this point (gah, there was a vote about taking yet more rights/responsibilities from the counties a couple of years ago, but I can't seem to come up with anything more than that.). I believe it's the municipalities that run the polling places, but with oversight from the state (see JWG's comment above).

[bitty.livejournal.com]

MD, otoh, considered county-government to be vital. there were even varying tax percentages depending on where you live. I paid federal, state, and county tax (and lived in the most expensive county, at that).