(It's as bad as we thought) HighTurnout, New Procedures May Mean an Election Day Mess

[tannybogus]

Faced with a surge in voter registrations leading up to Nov. 4, election officials across the country are bracing for long lines, equipment failures and confusion over polling procedures that could cost thousands the chance to cast a ballot.

The crush of voters will strain a system already in the midst of transformation, with jurisdictions introducing new machines and rules to avoid the catastrophe of the deadlocked 2000 election and the lingering controversy over the 2004 outcome. Even within the past few months, cities and counties have revamped their processes: Nine million voters, including many in the battleground states of Ohio, Florida and Colorado, will use equipment that has changed since March.

But the widespread changes meant to reassure the public have also increased the potential for trouble.

"You change systems and throw in lots of new voters, and you can plan to be up the proverbial creek," said Kimball Brace, president of Election Data Services, a consulting firm that has tracked the voting changes.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/17/AR2008091703663.html?hpid=topnews

If the lawyers have to get involved, who knows when a winner might be declared if the race is tight. I hope Obama pulls away and wins by a landslide.

[corkhead]

1. the best way to deal with this is to get the word out to people

to learn what is on their ballot and know how they are going to vote before they go into the booth. Bring more identification than necessary. Do everything possible to be able to get in and out of the precinct as quickly as possible, so as many people as possible can vote.

[RC]

2. Get rid of the so-called voting machines! Use pencil and paper ballots.

You will be able to vote. Machine failer will not slow down the voting. And if the optical scanner fails, they can count the paper. So what if the final tally isn't on the 10:00 news. At least it givens your vote a greater chance of being counted correctly. Accuracy, not speed needs to be the prime concern. If it takes a week to count the votes, so be it.

[City Lights]

3. Pencils can be erased. We need markers and paper ballots. nt

[RC]

5. No they can't. Filling in the circle depresses the paper and you can see where the mark was made.

North Dakota uses pencils and has ever since they got rid of the punch cards.
They do allow ball point pens also.

[ColbertWatcher]

4. Very important reminder!

Does anyone know how many volunteers are needed?

How can one find out how many volunteers are needed?