July 26
...serving up your daily dish.
Step right up, and see what's behind the curtain! They're strange, they're marvelous, never before seen in these parts ... they're voting machines without levers! That's right, you heard me, electronic voting systems! You'll be shocked and amazed! You won't believe your eyes! One day only!
From the Watercooler:
Come to the Essex County Voting Machine Demonstration July 27
The first event of its kind in Essex CountyEssex County Superintendent of Elections Carmine Casciano, in collaboration with the Essex County Task Force on Voting Rights, a group led by Montclair residents and citizens from many neighboring communities, invites all voters to visit and learn at a voting machine demonstration at which six competing vendors will exhibit.
WHEN: Wednesday, July 27, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
WHERE: 33 Washington St., Newark
(ground fl., betw. Newark Public Library & Newark Museum, on Washington Park)
HANDICAP ACCESSIBLE
commercial parking available on James St., entrance at University Ave.
walking distance from NJ Transit Broad Street train station & Broad Street busesThis summer, Essex County's Board of Chosen Freeholders will approve a multi-million-dollar expenditure for new voting machines. Considering our existing lever machines are vintage 1952, this could well be a once-on-a-lifetime purchase. Help our County make the best decision possible.
Vendors:
Avante
Danaher-Guardian
ES&S
Hart-Intercivic
Liberty
SequoiaAccording to New Jersey Law, our lever voting machines must be replaced by January 1, 2006. Unless the deadline is extended, Essex County must buy new voting machines this year.
New Jersey recently passed a law requiring a voter-verified paper record, and Essex is the first county to choose a voting system under this new law. Senator Nia Gill was a leading sponsor of this new law.
Informed citizens can influence outcomes.
Your feedback matters.
Help our Freeholders choose a voting machine that's right for Essex County.The right to vote is a basic tenet of democracy. Voter confidence in the accuracy of elections is vital. Come, learn, decide for yourself.
July 26, 2005 in Civic Virtue | Permalink
Here's a link to a video of the one they are going to use in Florida. (Cut and paste into your address bar - I don't have the technology to put links in my postings.
http://media.ebaumsworld.com/index.php?e=floridavoting.wmv
Posted by: conan the grammarian | Jul 26, 2005 4:06:15 PM
I don't understand the difficulty, really. machines can print paper, no?
Each person steps into a booth. Does their thing. They get a paper reciept to deposit in a box on a table.
Use the electronic results, keep the boxes of receipts.
If there is a recount, count the slips of paper.
Posted by: Right of Center™ | Jul 26, 2005 5:07:34 PM
Such machines have been in use in nearby Clifton for some time now. Using one is really no different than using a credit card at Shop-Rite. Much, much quicker, in fact. The real problem when I vote remains the dozing election "workers," the ones who apparently can't even figure out how to negotiate the registration books and often don't even speak serviceable English with which to assist voters.
Posted by: cathar | Jul 26, 2005 5:21:20 PM
ROC said " don't understand the difficulty, really. machines can print paper, no?
Each person steps into a booth. Does their thing. They get a paper reciept to deposit in a box on a table."
Yep- you don't understand at all- county is planning on buying machines that have to be retrofitted with printers- 1972 technology
People are trying to stop them- if you value your right to vote- you should be supporting the folks trying to get the county to buy new technology that has printing capabilities.
Posted by: techno_grrl | Jul 27, 2005 4:20:10 AM
Conan, to put hyperlinks in your postings..
type <(no space)a href=(no space)"the url in quotes"(no space)> then type what you want the hyperlink to say, for example, "Media World", then type < (no space)/a> to close the hyper link.
Posted by: Daniella | Jul 27, 2005 7:29:58 AM
"The real problem when I vote remains the dozing election "workers," the ones who apparently can't even figure out how to negotiate the registration books and often don't even speak serviceable English with which to assist voters."
Cathar: You obviously haven't learned the rules yet. You have to ply them with donuts or pizza to get assistance!
Posted by: Miss Martta | Jul 27, 2005 9:09:25 AM
Daniella: bene, grazie. I will try that the next time I need to put in a link.
Posted by: conan the grammarian | Jul 27, 2005 10:05:24 AM
A little off topic, but still about voting: How do you all feel about people handing out candidates' palm cards at the polls? I recently had opportunity to visit a poll outside of Baristaville and was amazed at the lack of palm-card-toting friends of the candidates!
Posted by: gc | Jul 28, 2005 8:31:22 AM
