WA PO: Major problems, Voting law changes, new technology on election day

[Human Torch]

Major problems at polls feared
Voting law changes, new technology could mean trouble

By Dan Balz and Zachary A. Goldfarb
The Washington Post
Updated: 7:12 p.m. MT Sept 16, 2006

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14868609/

An overhaul in how states and localities record votes and administer elections since the Florida recount battle six years ago has created conditions that could trigger a repeat -- this time on a national scale -- of last week's Election Day debacle in the Maryland suburbs, election experts said.

In the Nov. 7 election, more than 80 percent of voters will use electronic voting machines, and a third of all precincts this year are using the technology for the first time. The changes are part of a national wave, prompted by the federal Help America Vote Act of 2002 and numerous revisions of state laws, that led to the replacement of outdated voting machines with computer-based electronic machines, along with centralized databases of registered voters and other steps to refine the administration of elections.

But in Maryland last Tuesday, a combination of human blunders and technological glitches caused long lines and delays in vote-counting. The problems, which followed ones earlier this year in Ohio, Illinois and several other states, have contributed to doubts among some experts about whether the new systems are reliable and whether election officials are adequately prepared to use them.

In a polarized political climate, in which elections are routinely marked by litigation and allegations of incompetent administration or outright tampering, some worry that voting problems could cast a Florida-style shadow over this fall's midterm elections. "We could see that control of Congress is going to be decided by races in recount situations that might not be determined for several weeks," said Paul S. DeGregorio, chairman of the federal Election Assistance Commission, although he added that he does not expect problems of this magnitude.

[babylonsister]

1. The media whores are catching up, but will it be in time?

Good to see this in the WaPo. Would have been real nice if someone had been investigating this seriously since Nov 04. The lazy media outs themselves again by their inaction.

[Human Torch]

2. My guess is that it won't be in time...

...because the problem...or "potential problem," whatever we want to call it...has been out there too long with no corrective actions.

Think of it from the troubleshooting perspective of a little kid. Kids are smart, and kids have little or no "outside special interests" (they focus on their own). The kid has several options in front of them. The first option breaks. In relatively short order the kid knows it's broken and moves on to option #1, option #2, option #3...until they find a working option. Kids are methodical and intuitive and gravitate to things that work. Then they grow up and become "team players" and swallow their conscience and abandon instincts in the name of "the greater good" (or "the greater evil")...

We've known that Diebold is "broken" for years. However, November's a stone's throw away and Diebold will be right there to record those precious GOP votes.

We have a president in the White House who behaves like a kid when it comes to temper tantrums and outbursts, but who fails to adopt simple, straightforward "kid-like" logic when problems arise.

"Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11?" Kid response: "Don't invade Iraq."

"Diebold machines have serious flaws?" Kid response: "Use paper ballots until Diebold is fixed or permanently eliminated as a contender."

:patriot:

[Doctor_J]

3. Maybe some of the errors will result in Dems being helped!

:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:
:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:
:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

I crack myself up