General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Florida Election software Flips Vote: Losers Certified as Winners [View all]NuttyFluffers
(6,811 posts)been a while to get back with you...
DREs are for disabled voters who choose not to a) vote early at a registrar office, b) vote absentee (w/ assistance if necessary), c) vote at the precinct w/ assistance. They are for disabled voters who have a visual, or missing limb based disability that would be better accommodated through the use of a DRE.
we are supplied with DRE machine knowledge how to a) enlarge the DRE text for those with visual issues, b) provide headphones/mic for the blind, c) a cotton swab for those missing both arms so that they may press the buttons with the cotton swab in their mouth. Considering several locales already show up to the deaf or blind schools and work with the community there we just about never have anyone disabled come in to use these DRE machines in other precincts.
others may deliberately choose to vote on the DRE for the disabled, and we try to get at least a handful to use it to make sure the machine works, but almost no one wants to use it and generally they sit there abandoned. the highest i've seen since SoS Bowen would be 8 voters, and that was from the earliest switch when people thought they had to. DREs are all but ornamental here in my county.
about our Sec of State:
she helped clarify early voting process at vote registrar's office, switched to paper ballots (with a ballot reader), simplified the provisional ballot system, and help give defined guidelines for county precincts to structure their systems to a tighter standard.
it is sooooo much better than before it's like night and day.
it's about as fast as the previous punch ballot system, except there's now far more failsafe checks before material is handed in to a precinct captain. DREs were an absolute nightmare, showing switched votes, lost votes, etc. also voting rosters have been cleaned up considerably under her: instead of having the back sheets to record voter location changes, deaths, errors, etc. been in high use before -- or full to the brim during the Ahh-nold years, they are rarely an issue as most things are cleared up beforehand.
and the audit procedures are readily available on sec of state ca.gov website, IIRC. don't know it offhand, but there has been several changes on recounts and contesting votes. overall far smoother as there's actual attention being placed on this process again.
seriously, change your Sec of State to one who puts voting at the forefront. it means everything.