Hey Virginia... The "glitch" is in. Webb better start fighting back.

[KeepItReal]

After reading the Yahoo piece on the "glitch" in the Hart Intercivic PC voting machines handling the race between James Webb and Sen. George Allen, I call "B.S."

I've been programming computers since the Atari 2600 was state-of-the-art. In my humble opinion, there is no fracking way a "glitch" just shows up out of the blue prior to election day and there is no way on this Earth to get it fixed in time for an election 2 weeks away.

Here's what I gather from this article:

1. James H. "Jim" is all that is visible on the Summary or Review screen. That means 14 or 15 characters is all that is available for a Full Name on that particular screen. WTF?

Anybody with a Full Name (First, Middle Initial, Nickname, and Last) better make sure it is 15 characters or less. You with me? Lucky me - I would only loose the "Jr." in my name.

By the way, George Allen is sooo lucky, his Full Name just makes the cut at 15 characters! If you rightfully add the his Senator title though, wouldn't he now becomes "Sen. George F. " ??


2. Is the above 14 or 15 character limit a screen limit or a field limit? If it is a screen limit, why can't the extra letters be wrapped to the next line? May look cheesy, but you would not loose Mr. Webb's last name.

If it is a field limit, why cant it be widened? It should only take a one line command like:

"ALTER TABLE CANDIDATE_REVIEW_PAGE_INFO MODIFY FULL_NAME CHARACTER(30)"

This stuff ain't rocket science, folks.

3. "I don't think it can be remedied by Election Day." - You have gotta love that CANNOT-DO attitude. If they know what the issues are, why can't they get the developers to make a one time patch to fix it, get the patch certified by saying "here's what's broke...here's how we fixed it" and getting it applied to those machines by Nov 7th?

Also by the way, what exactly is the certification process in VA? Did they actually try a transaction (while looking at the machine) before saying "This looks great...let's us it!"

4. "their party affiliations have been cut off" - Excuse me? Now where is *that* information held? At the end of the 14 or 15 character Full Name?

Why wouldn't that be a separate field to be displayed on its own? "-R" or "-D" is too many characters?

Again, how lucky for George F. Allen... not only does his full name just barely fit, he doesn't
even have to see that pesky "-R" showing up beside his name.

I'm sure you won't be seeing that "-R" in his ads either. Heck, I dare you to name one Republican that even claims their party in their TV ads any more. Anyone?....Anyone?

For the record: No, I have not used a Hart Intercivic voting machine, nor do I know their architecture.
However, it is a computer and does have programming, so hopefully I am not way off base in my armchair software analysis.

I pray Mr. Webb is more concerned about this than his spokesperson.

His ability to win that Senate seat may rest in his camp's ability to defeat these voting machines' so-called "glitches" *before* Nov. 7.

[onenote]

1. I agree that this is crazy. But disagree with one thing you said

You said "If you rightfully add the his Senator title"


I respectfully disagree with the notion that it would be appropriate for an incumbent's title to be listed on the ballot. The power of incumbency is strong enough as it is.

[KeepItReal]

2. Understood, just giving a "what if" in deference to the Office...not the man

<eom>

[SPCAworks]

3. much ado about nothing

on the actual page where you select ALLEN or WEBB the complete name is THERE!!!!!!!1

[KeepItReal]

5. Sad to see you are cool with half-assed programming when it comes to elections

If they are that sloppy, in terms of programming, with the FRONT END that the people voting see, how
can you have any confidence in the code that actually handles COUNTING THE VOTES?

Also, if you went to the bank and withdrew money from the ATM, would you also not be worried if they
lopped off a few digits on your bank balance receipt?

[SaneInSC]

7. No excuse

The missing information is on the confirmation page. Some would argue statistically that this difference could cause some amount of voter confusion. Perhaps some might go back and try and change their vote, perhaps not, but anything in the process of trying to vote which would cause confusion is fishy. Paper ballots with the candidates (full) names and a box to check beside that name doesn't seem that hard of a thing to accomplish.

"Its not rocket science" is correct..this computer database stuff is super easy. Seriously.

I'm fairly certain I could even make up the ballots with a pencil, and enough paper for the ol' inkjet here. Some amount of voter confusion while actually trying to vote is just unnecessary. Its hard enough sorting through the candidates statements without this purposefully introduced mischief.



Fishy fishy.

[kimmerspixelated]

4. This is my state

and I find what you have mentioned very interesting. And I urge you to please, please forward this to Webb and co. If it is fixed, and it is because of your knowledge, you might have the power to really change things!!!

[KeepItReal]

6. Stuck in cubicle land....Feel free to pass it along

...if you have the means. I'm stuck like Chuck at the moment.