Voting is a moronic process.

[Dave Gray]

...at least in Florida.

I understand that there are concerns about security and privacy, but seriously -- there has to be a better way.

I early voted on Friday (my parents and wife had done it before).  The process took 2 hrs and 40 minutes, only 10 of which was me filling out the ballot.  I basically waited in line for 2 and a half hours, then had to fill out paperwork, then had to vote by DRAWING A LINE ON A PIECE OF PAPER. 

C'mon.  Why aren't we voting electronically?  I am really into the electoral process and I'm in the unique position to have a work schedule that allows me to take a several hour block in the morning.  But normal people don't.  ...and there's not enough incentive for those that aren't absolutely involved.  Talk about suppression.  Who wants to go wait for hours?

If we trust online systems with out money, surely we can find a system that allows us to click a checkbox.

[Landshark]

I agree.  With all the advances made in technology, why can't people vote from the privacy of their own homes? 

[mecadonzilla]

Electronic voting is scary as hell to me.  There needs to be physical evidence of each and every vote.

You know, you can always vote from home by requesting a mail in ballot.

[bsmooth]

The current electronic system, especially in Ohio, has major issues. There has to be a separate paper trail to ensure that hacking or programming does not change vote counts.
I would love to see it though.

[bsfins]

Is this because not enough polling places,incompetent poll volunteers,too much verification stuff?

I'm just curious to where the hold up is?

I've heard of this,but never experienced it...Here the churches and school are where most people vote,even with ancient people volunteers to work the polls,I've never taken more than 15 minutes,most of which being actually voting...

[bsmooth]

Is this because not enough polling places,incompetent poll volunteers,too much verification stuff?

I'm just curious to where the hold up is?

I've heard of this,but never experienced it...Here the churches and school are where most people vote,even with ancient people volunteers to work the polls,I've never taken more than 15 minutes,most of which being actually voting...

Some quote price, others say due to problems such as hacking, etc. There are many different reasons polling statoins have not gone fully electronic.
I would imagine it will happen in the future.

[bsfins]

  I meant the hold up,in why it takes two and half hours to vote,I thought early voting was supposed to help aleveate this type of problem.

I guess it also works for the question of why no electronic voting too....

I was just curious why it took so long waiting...

[CF DolFan]

I meant the hold up,in why it takes two and half hours to vote,I thought early voting was supposed to help aleveate this type of problem.

I guess it also works for the question of why no electronic voting too....

I was just curious why it took so long waiting...

The waiting is typically just for early voting as they have less places available. I have always voted on on election day. I get there about 15 minutes before they open (6:45) and am usually out by 7:15 or so during a president election. There is never a line there during general elections.

Since early voting has started I've never seen an excessive line during election day. Some ofthe early days are pretty bad although I have no idea what the wait time is.

I just saw on the news that 41% has done early voting in my county. I can't help but think that will make it pretty easy to vote on election day.

[fyo]

Electronic voting has several major issues that threaten to undermine the very foundation of a free and fair election. Reliability, verifiability, and security are all issues with electronic ballots. Allowing voting from home introduces the additional issue of anonymity. An individual should not be able to be coerced into voting in a specific manner.

I'd rather have they just simplified the paper ballots, restricting the national election to its own ballot (like is done in every other country who's system I've read about / seen). That would also significantly lower the margin of error, the risk of incorrect voting, the cost and duration of counting (and, especially, recounts).

[Tenshot13]

I waited 20 minutes and took about 10 minutes to vote on Wednesday.  I had no problems.

[mboss]

Electronic voting has several major issues that threaten to undermine the very foundation of a free and fair election. Reliability, verifiability, and security are all issues with electronic ballots. Allowing voting from home introduces the additional issue of anonymity. An individual should not be able to be coerced into voting in a specific manner.

I'd rather have they just simplified the paper ballots, restricting the national election to its own ballot (like is done in every other country who's system I've read about / seen). That would also significantly lower the margin of error, the risk of incorrect voting, the cost and duration of counting (and, especially, recounts).

When you say electronic voting it just doesn't mean voting online from your home. It can mean electronic voting booths at the polling places. I don't think we should have electronic/online voting just for the chance of voter fraud is ripe for the picking.

The way to resolve the electronic voting at the polls is you can vote electronically, but after you vote you get a "receipt" print out in duplicate...one that is kept as a paper record by the polls and one by the voter. It shouldn't have anything but the choices and an identifying vote ticket #.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

I have lived and voted in pres election in four different states (MA, RI, MI, NY) and have never once waited more than 5 mins in line. 

[bsmooth]

When you say electronic voting it just doesn't mean voting online from your home. It can mean electronic voting booths at the polling places. I don't think we should have electronic/online voting just for the chance of voter fraud is ripe for the picking.

The way to resolve the electronic voting at the polls is you can vote electronically, but after you vote you get a "receipt" print out in duplicate...one that is kept as a paper record by the polls and one by the voter. It shouldn't have anything but the choices and an identifying vote ticket #.

They could also add biometrics to add another layer of security.

[Landshark]

They could also add biometrics to add another layer of security.

That's what I was thinking.  Gotta punch in your social, get your fingerprints and your iris scanned.

[fyo]

That's what I was thinking.  Gotta punch in your social, get your fingerprints and your iris scanned.

That's not the risk, though. The problem is with the machines themselves. The vast majority of machines that have been used in REAL elections across the country have been shown to be "hackable", often by simply inserting a USB device. What is done then is that votes are switched. Without a voter-verified paper trail (and subsequent testing), there's no way to prove the tampering. Note: I'm not saying any machine has  been compromised while in service or affected election outcomes.

I'm perfectly fine with using electronic voting machines to enable speedier (and more accurate) counting of votes, but there ALWAYS has to be a paper trail (and such a paper trail is, of course, worthless unless it is voter-verified).

Oh, and I'd rather NOT have the national fingerprint, iris-scan, DNA or whatever database that would be required for those additional layers of biometric "security".