RESIDUAL VOTES: What are they? How well do various voting systems perform?

[Wilms]

I'm trying to understand "residual votes"; what they are?; and how well the various voting systems perform in that regard?


If I got it right, "residual vote" is a blanket term used to describe:

a. an under-vote - when a voter doesn't select any (or enough) choice(s).

b. an over-vote - when a voter selects more choices than allowed for that race.

Is that correct?


Next, can someone point me to info regarding the residual vote rate vs. various types of voting machines?
And, have I categorized them correctly, here?

These I believe will be phased out:

Punch-card
Lever
Older Touch Screen DRE's (that aren't accessible to the disabled)

Here are the HAVA units (certification notwithstanding):

InkaVote
Optically Scanned Ballot (filled out manually)
Optically Scanned Ballot (made with a "Touch Screen Ballot Marker")
Newer Touch Screen DRE's (that are accessible to the disabled)
Any others (with or without the residual vote data)?


Any additional commentary related to Residual Votes is appreciated.

[sacxtra]

1. They are all flawed

Additional Reading.

http://cwx.prenhall.com/bookbind/pubbooks/floyd3/

Floyd, Malvino, Grobb to get ya started understanding digital.
If you can get your hands on an 8086 Data Handbook..

Then learn about some protocols.
http://jet.nitro.dk/Serial_packet_communication.html
http://www.networksorcery.com/enp/protocol/udp.htm
http://www.networksorcery.com/enp/protocol/tcp.htm

By now a YEAR or more has passed... You'll probably be interested in a specific direction in electronics.

Sacramento, 5th Congressional District, Special Election, don't forget to vote today.

YOU should probably complain about this when you are at the polls...

[Bill Bored]

2. I think it just refers to undervotes.

Check out Greg Pallast's recent article called "Kerry Won" and the links to the papers therein about ballot spoilage, which contain the definition. Remember the DRE thing is partially a response to the hanging chad problem of 2000 and the undervotes they caused. Touch Screens can't eliminate undervotes, they can just be programmed to warn the voter about them so the voter can correct this oversight. They do however, disallow overvotes.

Precinct count OpScans can warn about undervotes too, and also disallow overvotes.

[Bill Bored]

3. Here's a link to Palast.

<http://www.tompaine.com/articles/kerry_won_.php>

[anaxarchos]

4. Sorry to recycle my own post but...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x330828

Post #57

There is a ton of info if you follow the links. The most technical discussion is in the MIT/Caltech Voting Technology Project but the "project" is a shill for the machine companies and so is very good about tech impacts but terrible on the politics (disenfranchisement, vote suppression, etc.). Harvard is actually great. They dispute technology is the key, assert that methodology like ballot design is key, and then imply that politics prevent the elimination or radical reduction of residual vote.

Believe it or not, the government sources are excellent on the politics of disenfranchisement and the gem is Klinker.

Good luck...

[Wilms]

5. Wow! No apology necessary.

Looks like a candidate for that demopedia thing.

You have already answered some of my questions with your posts...or rather, you have me asking a better question! Which is great.

It's all for learning...

Thanks, Anaxarchos.

[anaxarchos]

6. Pleasure... n/t

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

7. website studying residual votes across US

http://www.uscountvotes.org/