Do not vote a straight Democratic ticket.

[efhmc]

Please make sure you vote individually for each candidate. Straight ticket votes can be flipped. Please take the time to mark each vote individually and then review your vote before exiting the booth.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1251173843

This happened in Austin, Texas but can happen and does happen elsewhere.

[DearHeart]

1. Never vote straight ticket!

Will not give them any opportunities to flip my vote!!

[efhmc]

5. I have preached this to the people in my precinct but many long time voters

have done it for years and think it is still safe to do.

[Hissyspit]

100. I couldn't, anyway.

There was one Democratic county commissioner I know personally who is a complete crook and I would never vote for him for a million years. So it was: Vote for every other Dem individually.

Luckily, I enjoy filling in the little ovals.

[MrModerate]

112. Similarly, in my congressional district . . .

The Democratic spot was hijacked by a LaRoucheite loon (because the Texas Democratic Party has given up on the district, sadly).

[HappyMe]

2. I always do that.

I figure it may be harder to mess with.

[efhmc]

6. Folks in a hurry. They think it is safe.

[Scootaloo]

114. Makes you wonder what exciting thing they have going on in the next three minutes

Must be something world-shattering.

[efhmc]

118. When actually what is earth shaking is in their hands at that moment.

[HappyMe]

119. Something on Facebook

or a tweet.

The first time my dad took me to vote, he told me to mark each candidate. This was way back in the day when there were these giant voting machines. Little metal toggle like switches in front of each name/issue. WHen you pulled the big lever to open the curtain, it registered your vote.

[efhmc]

128. this info has been passed down for three generations in my family now.

Applies even more so now days.

[w8liftinglady]

3. I saw the same thing in Arlington,Texas

I have already alerted our candidates here.

The Romney voting machine being used here.

[efhmc]

8. As if we don't have enough of an uphill battle.

[Jazzgirl]

33. Thanks w8liftinglady.

I am in Arlington and just told another friend about it. Thanks for letting me know it's happening here. I usually always vote individually. I have always suspected with these damn machines they were doing it here.

Thanks for watching out for us Texans!

[MagickMuffin]

41. I just sent you a PM, but wanted to include this info here as well!

I saw your post about the vote switching in Arlington. Did you witness this happening?

I'm about to contact the Election Admin Steve Raborn about this. He assured me that the machines here in Tarrant County cannot be hacked or switched or tampered with at all. Perhaps it is time to send him some info about this.

Steve Raborn <[e-mail]>

He is pretty good at responding to emails, or at least he has never failed to answer mine.

[robinlynne]

109. which machines are these that are unhackable?

[w8liftinglady]

113. we used the Hart systems without the optional paper trail.

http://www.hartintercivic.com/pages/449

[robinlynne]

126. Hart is owned by HIG, which in turn is owned by Bain CApital investors, including Romney.

Of course that has nothing to do with hackability, just an aside.

There is no such thing is a non hackable computer, really.

[bullwinkle428]

4. I've always personally felt more comfortable filling in the circle for

every single Democratic candidate rather than taking the easy way out by just taking care of that single one.

[efhmc]

11. Plus when there is no Dem challenger to the repug, I take

great joy in voting for a green or other.

[GoCubsGo]

86. Or, writing in.

Where I live, half or more of the candidates are usually rethugs who run unopposed.

Also, I have and will vote for one republican, the coroner. I know he is best qualified for the position, because he was trained by his predecessor, a Democrat and the first female coroner in South Carolina. She was the best, and it was her wish that this man succeed her.

[davidpdx]

134. Just don't vote for Lizard People

As I said on my Facebook page:

Friends don't let friends vote for Lizard People

[w8liftinglady]

7. to add.... there is no paper trail to challenge this,either.

[Lex]

9. and NC you HAVE to vote for President separately

even if voting a straight ticket

[efhmc]

13. That is a marvelous way to do things.

[sadbear]

10. I'm in Texas. I gotta vote in races where there's no Dem running.

It's pretty commonplace these days for me to vote for some obscure third party candidate so I can show my displeasure with ALL republicans.

[w8liftinglady]

16. I did the same thing

[southernyankeebelle]

18. Well in Tn we had a dem running against Corker and I mean this guy is way out there.

I don't know how he made it as far as he got in the primaries. The sad thing was after the primaries people found out about him and now people know it will be a shoe in for Corker. The dem party has rejected him. So I voted for Mickey Mouse as a protest vote.

[sadbear]

21. I've heard about that guy.

No, I wouldn't have voted for him either.

[southernyankeebelle]

34. I didn't vote for him in the primary. He really is nuts.

[antigone382]

51. There are some other Dem candidates as well...such as Park Overall.

There are two loonies, one guy I'm OK with (he's a classic Tennessee blue dog, as far as I can tell), and Park Overall, a pretty progressive, former actress out of Knoxville. I know she won't win and probably couldn't in Tennessee anyway, but she's got my vote this time around.

I will be quite excited to vote for Eric Stewart over Scott "Abortions are bad except for my former mistress/patient" Desjarlais for my district's house seat.

[tnlurker]

69. Lincoln Davis was the Blue Dog

He might have made it a race for Corker. I'll either write in Park Overall of vote for the Green party candidate.

[antigone382]

89. He was, but I don't think he was running this year.

I forget the name of the guy...

[Bluenorthwest]

101. I urge any Democrat to vote for Park Overall....

She's the genuine article, knew her slightly years ago and I'd gladly vote for her given the chance.

[southernyankeebelle]

84. Yes I voted for Eric Stewart on the first day of early voting.

[efhmc]

19. Me too.

[Rhiannon12866]

70. Have the same thing here in NY-20

There was often no Democratic candidate running for Congress until Kirsten Gillibrand ran and won in 2006. We lost the seat again in 2010 after she went to the Senate. Now we're redistricted. *sigh*

I try to find someone to vote for in each office, but the local races are sometimes impossible.

[efhmc]

88. Sorry, just be happy you have Kirsten.

[KamaAina]

122. Ever think about running yourself?

Several DUers have run campaigns -- one for a House seat in Ohio.

[sadbear]

123. As a last resort.

Yeah, if no other Democrat steps up, I've thought about it.

[progressoid]

12. But how do we know they couldn't flip individual votes just as well?

[efhmc]

15. Could, but more difficult.

Edited to add, "I think."

[ProSense]

20. This is what I'm not getting.

If the person votes individual, why wouldn't be easier to show that the person voted individually to justify a flipped voted?

Votes have been flipped, I'm just not understanding the logic of straight versus individual, especially since the flip is only at the top of the ticket.

[efhmc]

27. In one instance the machine does the picking (voting straight ticket).

In the other method, you place a mark individually by each candidate. The machine could be rigged to make your vote mark Romnesia or any other repug, but if you mark it yourself, the machine does not get to make the choice.

[AndyTiedye]

37. They Programmed it This Way Because People Would be Less Likely to Notice

Last edited Thu Oct 25, 2012, 02:14 PM - Edit history (1)

It would be just as easy to flip individual votes, but people would be more likely to notice.

Our worst fears about Hart Intercivic are being realized.

[efhmc]

42. It's always about power to them and not to the people.

They really do not believe in democracy.

[formercia]

61. If a voter votes a straight Dem ticket and it is flipped

but other votes remain the same. It could show a statistical bias indicating a flip. There are other votes on the Ballot, perhaps for Bonds or Referendums. Why would someone vote a straight GOP ticket, but all other votes indicate a Liberal bias?
By analyzing the voting patterns of a substantial number of issues, it becomes clear that something is fishy.

[efhmc]

90. Do you think anyone is going to take the time or make the effort do that?

If that were the case, we wouldn't have this problem to begin with.

[formercia]

99. If there are shennanegans, you can bet they will.

This time around, it will be 'No Prisoners taken,'

If they want to 'Push the envelope', the GOP better be ready to take the consequences.

[efhmc]

117. I like your attitude. Some say there is no hope.

[formercia]

124. Today is a good Day to Die

Warriors to the Front. Cowards and Weaklings to the Rear.

Hoka-Hey! (Let's do this.)

Crazy Horse before the Battle of the Little Big Horn

[efhmc]

125. I love your post. I know our county election administrator.

She says that our eslates can not do any flipping. She is VERY conscientious about getting judges, making sure the machines are working correctly, etc. I believe that my vote will be valid here in this 75% very right wing county. I hope everyone else is as lucky. Going to early vote in a while.

[formercia]

133. Thank You for voting.

That's good to know.

[Robbins]

14. Well

I never vote republican I always vote Indivual democrats In races here In Missouri.

[frazzled]

17. We don't even have straight-ticket voting where I live

But thanks for the recommendation for those who do.

[efhmc]

22. Where is that? I think the straight party ticket should go.

It is outdated and though I would NEVER vote for anyone who supports the repug platform, I think having to look at and consider each person running would be a good thing,

[frazzled]

94. I live in Illinois, but only 15 states actually allow straight ticket

and for some of those, not even in every case:

Straight-ticket voting (also called straight-party voting) allows voters to choose a party’s entire slate of candidates with just a single ballot marking. Voters make one punch or mark on the ballot in order to vote for every candidate of that party for each office on the ballot.
A total of 15 states presently offer straight-ticket voting (STV). With a few exceptions, the straight-ticket option is available in all elections, including primaries, and applies to all offices on the ticket, including federal, state and local races. The states with STV are:

Alabama
Oklahoma
Indiana
Pennsylvania
Iowa
Rhode Island (3)
Kentucky
South Carolina
Michigan
Texas
New Jersey (1)
Utah
New Mexico (4)
West Virginia
North Carolina (2)



1. In New Jersey, straight-ticket voting is available only in primary elections.
2. In North Carolina straight-ticket voting is available for all races except for presidential electors.
3. In Rhode Island, straight-ticket voting is available only in general elections.
4. The New Mexico secretary of state has decided not to offer a straight-ticket option in the November 2012 election. While it has historically been offered by tradition, it is not required by the state statutes or constitution.

http://www.ncsl.org/legislatures-elections/elections/straight-ticket-voting.aspx

[efhmc]

96. Maybe it will soon be history. Wonder how that can be accomplished.

[Samjm]

38. neither do we

Definitely.no straight ticket choice on the mail in ballots in CO.

[No Vested Interest]

53. Ohio

No straight party ticket.

[ieoeja]

63. Same in Illinois.

We used to have it. But Republicans, who historically ruled the State, thought getting rid of straight ticket voting would help them. Probably they figured all those city voters were too stupid and lazy to vote down ticket.

It obviously did not work as the State switched to Democratic control the last three gubenatorial elections. Even flipped the State House from Republican to Democratic.

[meadowlark5]

23. I don't understand

Is there some option where you just check - "all dem" or "all repub"?

I'm voting all dem but am filling in a box next to each name. Is that different than what you guys are talking about?

[efhmc]

24. At the beginning of the ballot, there is a place to mark

straight dem or repug and then you just go to any other matters to be voted on: i.E propositions and amendments, etc.

[meadowlark5]

26. Ok, good. That's not what my ballot is like

Mine's a paper ballot (mail in) and I am selecting each candidate individually. Thanks for the explanation. I don't think I've ever seen that with any of my voting ballots here in Colorado.

[efhmc]

29. All over the south. I am sure it is left over from when the dixiecrats were in

power,

[ProSense]

28. OK, I see what you're saying. n/t

[CreekDog]

49. some states have this option, but not all

California doesn't.

[hamsterjill]

25. Voted in San Antonio on Monday. Each race individually.

We have many instances where there is no Democratic choice. I always vote each race individually because it still gives me some satisfaction to simply "vote against" a Republican.

I always go slowly, deliberately, and I always review my ballot. Voting is something that I take very seriously. Everyone should be doing the same thing. It is not something one should do in a rush.

[efhmc]

30. You are right. I wish more people had your attitude.

[Mnemosyne]

31. Excellent advice, efhmc! Also, in states with cross-filing, check your candidates! R's cross-file

and a straight ticket may inadvertently include them.

[efhmc]

32. Didn't even know that was possible.

[Mnemosyne]

103. It is in Pa, not sure of what other states allow this crap. nt

[CrispyQ]

35. I'm so sick of these lying, cheating rat bastards.

Fuck them all.

I'm also starting to question friends & acquaintances who vote for them. If you know about this & still support them, shame on you. If you don't know about this & are an ignorant, low-info voter, shame on you. Either fucking way, if you are a repub, shame on you.

[efhmc]

43. Agreed. I have a cousin, a good and decent man but he is a

judge in a predominantly repug area and runs as a repug. His ancestors would all uniformly roll over in their graves. He tells me this is the only way he can be elected. That is so sad in so many ways.

[LynneSin]

36. Unless you are in Maine or Tennessee - Just vote for all the Democrats

In Maine the DSCC is not endorsing any candidate since Angus King seems to be polling better than both the Dem & Repub candidate combined. Angus King is progressive and endorsed Obama in 2008. Although he has not committed to aligning to any party during the campaign more than likely he'll end up with the Democrats. If we get another Bernie Sanders out of him who are we to complain. But the last thing we want is another 3-way split allowing another Teabagger to get elected to office. Bad enough Maine has to put up with that jerk LaPage for 2 more years.

In Tennessee it was a 6 way battle for the democratic nomination and somehow a member of a Hate Group (as idenitifed by the Southern Poverty Law Center) got the nomination. From what i've read a Teabagger opted to run as a Democrat just to go ahead with Bob Corker who doesn't seam nutty enough for the Tea Party. The DSCC will not endorse the candidate and the Democrats will not give any money towards the race. I hate to say it the folks in Tennessee it would probably be better for the you to vote 3rd party or just not vote in that particular race. Should the 'Democrat' win the election (he's been running a close race) he will pretty much be shut out of the party since the democrats do not want the member of a hate group as part of their ranks. I highly suggest you NOT straight 'D' in that election.

[efhmc]

39. Good analysis. Thanks.

[Jennicut]

44. I knew about Maine with King but not about Tennessee.

I would vote for King in Maine to keep the teabagger out if I was a Mainer.

This is the only poll I could find on the Corker/Clayton race:

Tennessee - 2012 Senate - Clayton 27%, Corker 48% (YouGov 10/4-10/11)

[LynneSin]

46. EV has it leaning red but that was a 2006 poll

which is kinda odd

[demosincebirth]

40. Never seen a republican or heard of a republican who was for the working man and his right

to organize a collective bargaining union. That's my number one requisite.

[efhmc]

45. You are right and they will do anything to make sure they,

not the worker, keep the power.

[CreekDog]

50. Not all states have a "straight Democratic ticket" option

for instance, in California.

but what you're saying makes sense to me.

[LynneSin]

47. Arlen Specter...

but in the end he switched to Democrats.

[demosincebirth]

106. One out of 50 million in this country.

[The Last Democrat]

87. I will have to go along with this posters statement

I have never seen a repug do anything for the working people they been against everything we needed. Medical, Pensions, Overtime, Working hours, hourly raises, you name it, they have been again everything, and the same with the Chamber of Commerce.

[dembotoz]

48. never flip the straight party switch--l like to say fuck you republicans with each lever

[lexw]

52. This country has definitely gone down the toilet.

When we can't even have our right to vote protected.
...and how do these lying, cheating thugs live with themselves?

[Mary in S. Carolina]

54. Happened in Berkley County, SC

[vduhr]

55. I live in New Mexico....

and they have done away with the straight ticket ballot this time (we also have had paper ballots since the 2008 election). I was unhappy about the straight ticket going away, but after reading your post, it makes sense.

[lalalu]

56. I have never seen this.

We don't have this in my state but thanks for the info.

[inamatteroftime]

57. Minutes ago had an online popup questionnaire asking who I as going to vote for, and

one of the questions was "Will you vote a straight Democratic ticket?"!

[bobthedrummer]

58. US Government Elections Assistance Commission/EAC link + k&r

EAC
http://www.eac.gov

[Doc Holliday]

59. My advice would be

"Never vote straight ticket by the lazy man's method."

Check those boxes one by one. Savor the moment.

Besides (as I think someone pointed out upthread), there may not be a Democrat on the ballot for a given office. Why cheat yourself out of the chance to vote against a Republican?

[Bake]

60. I never vote a straight ticket.

I only get to vote every couple of years. I want to ENJOY it! I enjoy filling in the ballot for EACH RACE! I savor the experience.



Bake

[R. P. McMurphy]

62. There were only republicans on two of my ballot choices . . .

and I had to write in candidates. Otherwise my selections were straight Democratic. Did the write-ins make my ballot safer?

[barbiegeek]

64. Crap, I all ready did this

[w8liftinglady]

66. No prob...just let others know.

[LeftInTX]

65. K & R

[xxqqqzme]

67. I have always heard of this

but I have never had a ballot where it was possible. Is this primarily a regional practice?

[litlbilly]

68. A bit off topic, can someone post this? I dont have enough post to do it

My boss threatened to fire me and my 7 co-workers if we voted Democratic.
We were pulled into a meeting at our Westinghouse service center in Lake Oswego
Oregon and were told, " If you vote for Dems, your jobs will be gone" I stood up,
told my boss he was full of shit and bet him 1k dollars that if Dems got in, not only would
our jobs be safe, but we would all prosper. Here's what happened: My wife and my
income tripled within a year, we bought our first house, we bought 2 new cars,
I got to golf 3 times a week and we went skiing every weekend during the winter.
Here's the thing, the meeting with our boss was 2 weeks before Bill Clinton was elected.
I am still waiting for the 1k my boss still owes me.

[PMcDee]

71. Your advice is sound,

both technologically and politically.

[AAO]

72. I voted Monday in WI

We have optical scan and you have to complete the arrow with a black magic marker that points to the candidate of your choice. I go down through every one, connecting arrows to the democrat in each race. If there is no democrat in a particular race, leave it blank. Fuck the American Taliban!

[PeaceNikki]

105. You can't vote straight ticket in Wisconsin anymore.

That was part of the bill that brought us Voter ID.

[AAO]

120. You can, it's just a bit more work.

[gkhouston]

73. *Any* vote can be flipped, so always check before you cast your ballot.

But yes, avoid the "straight party" button. It's an obvious target.

[MrsBrady]

74. call your local party

and they can take it from there....

http://www.traviscountydemocrats.org/

In Austin, this is whom you would contact.

Make sure they know what time, who was the voter, where,
so they can make a formal complaint.

Bitching about it doesn't do any good, you have to call them and let them know
what is going on so they can do something about it.


Also, I might add, I'm familiar with the machines as I have election judged...
sometimes people emphasis vote and you are not supposed to do that on the
electronic ballots as it will unselect your candidate.
Vote straight party or go through one by one and select, but not both.

The paper ballots on election day do allow for emphasis voting, just not the electronic machines.

[marble falls]

75. As a Republican who's had the totally no qualms privilege of voting for Barack Obama twice.....

I will also had no qualms about voting for the Democrat (I do not remember the name) against Ted Cruz here in Central Texas -an evil spirited little Teabilly who will receive a lot of the Hispanic vote by folks who don't know about his agenda for the 47% of us. Don't vote straight any ticket. These folks want to have a social structure including law in a middle-ages feudal-serf mode.

[w8liftinglady]

76. Shout out from a fellow Texan

You are an "old-school" Republican... just like my dad.
Paul Sadler is very moderate in his views...just like most Texans.
I've worked on his campaign for almost a year and can vouch for his integrity

[marble falls]

92. I am glad my vote wasn't wasted on a Blue dog. Thanks for the reassurance!......

I'm fighting Bob LaFollette, Teddy Roosevelt, Bob Taft, DE Eisenhower, Nixon (with the exception of his Water Gate years and Viet Nam, I voted for McGovern that year), Rockefeller (except for Attica) plus a bunch others, kind of Republican. National health is a national resource and it needs to be conserved. Single payer is really what we need with no whiff of private enterprise. No fracking. No Keystone. You know when Reagan raised the effective tax rate to 35%, he was asked why, and he said it was because the rich couldn't be trusted to pay their fair share. Some folks have no sense of facts in their history and they're passing themselves off as "Republicans"

[Art_from_Ark]

107. I don't know where you got your "information" about Reagan,

but he signed two major income tax bills, one that *lowered* the top tax rate from 70% to 50% (1981), and another one that lowered the top tax rate from 50% to 28% (1986). The 1986 bill also *raised* the bottom rate from 11% to 15%. And Reagan also increased the FICA payroll deduction rate, which had the largest impact on low-wage earners. His tax policies helped to spur a dramatic increase in the Top 1%'s share of income, going from 8.4% of national income in 1984, to 13.5% in 1989.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tax_Reform_Act_of_1986

[marble falls]

108. "We’re going to close the unproductive tax loopholes ....................

that allow some of the truly wealthy to avoid paying their fair share. In theory, some of those loopholes were understandable, but in practice they sometimes made it possible for millionaires to pay nothing, while a bus driver was paying ten percent of his salary, and that’s crazy. [...] Do you think the millionaire ought to pay more in taxes than the bus driver or less?" - Reagan in 1985

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/12/08/reagan-was-for-taxing-millionaires-says-new-dem-ad/

322 days ago
Reagan was for taxing millionaires, says new Dem ad
Posted by
CNN's Kevin Liptak

(CNN) - An independent group backing President Barack Obama's reelection campaign will hit airwaves Thursday with an ad reminding voters of former Pres. Ronald Reagan's stance on taxes.

The 30-second spot, from the Democratic group Priorities USA, uses a mock newscast to showcase the former Republican president advocating for higher taxes on millionaires.

Reagan is shown saying, "We're going to close the unproductive tax loopholes that have allowed some of the truly wealthy to avoid paying their fair share. They sometimes made it possible for millionaires to pay nothing, while a bus driver was paying 10% of his salary – and that's crazy. Do you think the millionaire ought to pay more in taxes than the bus driver?"

An announcer follows up, asking, "Ronald Reagan supported millionaires paying their fair share. Don't you?"

<snip>

"Republicans should listen to President Reagan and, as he said, 'close the unproductive tax loopholes that have allowed some of the truly wealthy to avoid paying their fair share.'"

The Reagan spot isn't the first time a former president has been used in political advertising this year. In November, the conservative group Crossroads GPS spent over $2 million to run an ad in swing states contrasting Obama's jobs plan to statements from former President Bill Clinton.

<snip>

–CNN's Gabriella Schwarz contributed to this report


BTW - I am no fan of Truman Democrat, Ronald Reagan and all his little NeoCon acolytes.

[Art_from_Ark]

110. Reagan was an actor

and that is one of the biggest acts he pulled on the American people. The end result, for all his bloviating, was that his rich buddies made out like bandits, while an increasing tax burden (both income and FICA taxes) was being imposed on the people at the lower end of the wage scale.

[marble falls]

121. I am not protecting a man I wouldn't vote for, but the words and actions support the claim made....

we'll disagree on that and agree the re-election of the President is important for most Americans regardless of what party affiliation and that Cruz is a Teabilly, and that his Democratic challenger got my vote. Troy Frazier did not get my vote even though he had no opponent.

[Art_from_Ark]

132. Sorry, but the actions do NOT support the claims made

Under Reagan, the top tax rate went from 70% all the way down to 28% in just 5 years, with plenty of loopholes left for rich people to waltz through.

Meanwhile, the tax rate for the lowest income bracket went from 14% to 11% for a while, but then it was jacked up to 15%. On top of that, the FICA tax was raised from 6.13% to 7.51% (much more for the self-employed), and that had the greatest impact on the people like me at the bottom end of the scale.

And under Reagan, the share of national income for people in the top 1% went from around 8% in 1984 to more than 13% in 1989.

So please don't try to sell me on the cock-and-bull story that Reagan had any real interest in making the income tax system more equitable.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

77. THIS should be reported in the MSM. Why are we talking about it under ground?

[last_texas_dem]

78. Good advice

I never vote straight ticket anyway, as I'd be leaving far too many races completely blank, here in TX. There are inevitably races where there is no Democrat running, and I have to choose between a Republican, a Libertarian, and a Green, and even a couple where my only choice is between a Libertarian and a Republican (ugh!). (That's not even mentioning the handful of local offices where the only option is a Republican; I just leave those completely blank.)

[oliverrams1]

79. I plan on voting on Sunday

Thanks for the information. I will take the time to vote for each candidate.

[JackN415]

80. We need hard evidence, documented it, and demand an investigation

That's better than just speculation.

I voted straight ticket already and didn't bother to check. But I think it was impossible for Romney mistake that I didn't catch. Because I made sure NO republican gets my vote. Either Green Party, or blank if there is no Dem.

We should be very vigilant for mistake but if anyone has hard evidence, please document it so that it can get press coverage and formally investigated by the State election official.

[efhmc]

93. Wasn't reported to state. Trying to find out if it was even documented at the site.

[w8liftinglady]

95. There was a whistleblower in 2004

http://www.votetrustusa.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=75&Itemid=179

They continue to use those machines.

[Gothmog]

81. Straight Party ticket is okay so long as no "emphasis voting"

First, there is an e-mail circulating telling people that if they vote a straight party ticket, they have to vote separately in the Presidential race. That e-mail is circulating in my county. That e-mail is based on North Carolina election law and is not true for any other state.

In Texas on many machines, if you vote a straight party ticket and then vote again for the candidate, the software may flip the vote. This is called emphasis voting. Straight party voting works on these machines so long as you do not try to vote again in a race covered by the straight party ticket.

Second, the best thing to do in all cases is to check the summary screen before you vote and make sure that your selections are reflected on that screen.

[cascadiance]

82. And some races are listed as non-partisan, even though there's a Democrat to vote for...

We have such a race here in Oregon for National Labor Relations Board. And we need to reelect the Democrat Brad Avakian to protect workers here in Oregon. It's one of the races the Republicans are targeting since it being a non-partisan race, there party affiliations aren't listed. Another reason for people to study the races carefully before voting.

[ChiciB1]

83. I Live In Florida (too bad)

but I'm voting absentee. I may vote for Dems, but some I just don't vote for & leave blank. Is THAT a problem too?

I mean if it's not bad enough that I live in FLOR-EEEE-DUH??

Romney is ahead here by 3 pts & even though the state is a toss-up state, it's hard for me to understand this. I know 4 Repukes who aren't voting for RobME!!

Of course we also have Rick Scott who is NOW polling at 47% approval. A couple of months ago is was barely 30%!! Guess I better get ready for CRAP again!

[Catherine Vincent]

85. Such a shame

That people have to be alerted. Why aren't our congress etc. telling everyone about this? And why haven't they corrected this flaw? I shoudn't have to read it on a forum on the internet.

Btw, I usually vote individually anyway because it's too quick when you vote the straight ticket. I like to see the individual's name and take my time in the voting booth.

[GoneOffShore]

91. Got it and thanks.N/T

[FarCenter]

97. Straight ticket? Why? Both parties have individual candidates that suck!

[MineralMan]

98. There's no "straight ticket" option on our ballots in

Minnesota. I think they've always been a very bad idea.

[deaniac21]

102. I agree and vote for LGBT Democrats, as well!

[onecent]

104. Thank you for the info. I didn't know that. But will definitely mark each vote. Tks n/t

[LadyHawkAZ]

111. I voted straight ticket

but we have paper printouts to review here.

[TroglodyteScholar]

115. All evoting is vulnerable, not just straight ticket votes. This is pointless n/t

[efhmc]

116. And your solution is?

[TroglodyteScholar]

131. My solution is not to float bogus solutions.

We've got widespread faith-based voting regardless of whether you vote a straight dem ticket.

[Erose999]

127. Vote a paper ballot if you can as well. I wish I would have after hearing Bishop Willard's son owns

voting machines.

[randome]

130. How do you know your paper ballot will be counted?

If wide-spread fraud is expected, it's far easier to throw away Erose999's paper ballot. Who would know?

[Erose999]

135. A paper ballot at least exists in a material form. Your vote on a machine is just 1's and 0's that

can be manipulated or deleted without even producing a shard of material evidence.

[RebelOne]

129. I just received my absentee ballot.

And you have to vote individually for each candidate, but I am only going to vote for the Democrats, and there are not many of them here in red Georgia.