Richmond voters set to get equipment that will use a touch-screen system

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

Oh boy...here we go...

http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD/MGArticle/RTD_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1031781879515

<snip>

Richmond will be getting its new machines over the next few weeks, in time for voters to try them out in the June primary.

The machines are needed to meet new federal rules on voting equipment. The city opted for the same touch-screen system that Fairfax County and Roanoke now use, the WINvote machines made by Texas-based Advanced Voting Solutions.

Goochland, Powhatan and Caroline counties also use the machines, and Henrico County is buying them, as well. (There's one in the Richmond Registrar's Office on the ground floor of City Hall, which Showalter is happy to let voters try out.)

The new system costs $1.6 million, most of which comes from the federal government. The city's share is about $200,000.

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[In Truth We Trust]

1. Burn them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Paper ballots NOW!
Hand counts NOW!!!!

[Virginian]

2. If they don't work out, they can be donated to schools.

Sign up to work the elections, you will learn a lot about them then.

Here in Fairfax, I had to reboot one of our machines three times during the Nov. 2004 elections. One machine was out of service after the first hour. It froze and never would work. I was down one machine out of seven with about a thousand people in the combined lines of already checked in and waiting to check in.

We used them in several minor elections before we hit the big one. The first time we used them, the central computer's modem didn't hang up after each call and was busy after the first ten calls.

Seriously, If you can't do anything about BBV, at least work toward making sure the process works. Sign up to work the elections, so we have someone "in there" watching the process and making sure that people are not turned away.

One problem that needs to be addressed is those who registered at DMV and aren't on your pollbooks. Make sure they get a provisional or conditional ballot and fill out a replacement application. Check their application to make sure all the eyes are crossed and the tees are dotted and the signature line is filled in and it is dated. DMV seems to lose voter applications. I don't know if it is through neglect or malice. I don't know if those votes will get counted, but if enough conditional ballots show up at the registrars office with that explanation, someone might take a look at what DMV is doing with the applications.

[livinginphotographs]

3. Well, shit.

Maybe I'll just save myself a trip to the polls next time, and just stay home.

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

4. You could always vote by absentee vs. staying home.

[Virginian]

5. They use the machines for absentee too.

At least they do here in Fairfax. If you go in for an absentee ballot, they will just set you up to use a machine in the abstntee precinct.
If you want a paper absentee ballot, you need to get them to mail it to you.
If you request an absentee ballot, you get transferred to the special "absentee precinct" for that election. If you find that you are not going out of town, then you can't just show up at your regular polling place, you have to go to the Government Center where they have that precinct. Your regular precinct is not set up to accept your paper absentee ballot.

I haven't worked that precinct, so I can't tell you how it works, but they may not accept the paper ballot unless it is mailed.