Reply #82: Ok, last one for the night.

[A Simple Game]

Why do recounts take longer than the initial count, I don't really have to tell you do I? And didn't a machine create those hanging chads in Florida? And wasn't the confusing ballot resulting in Buchanan getting Al Gores votes displayed on a machine?

Who pays for the security of the central tabulator? I don't mind a central tabulator, but I want no modems hooked to it, just a numerical keyboard will do. The phone line can be hooked to the phone next to the tabulator.

Ballots are not just a printed page with names, they are now pages and pages of names and initiatives. Most elections would only be about five or six pages, off years would probably be less. Ok, I start with piles of ballots, and end with piles of ballots. You start with a machine and blank paper,and end up with piles of ballots. We both need booths, mine have a table, your have a machine. I can afford many booths and tables, you can afford a few booths and machines. I eliminated the problem of voters having to wait too long. We both need the same amount of space for paper, unless your printout doesn't look like your screen, but that wouldn't be a good idea.

I live in the largest county in my state, it is also, the last I knew, the largest county east of the Mississippi river. Alas it is also one of the least populous in the state. They might not agree with you. We can't afford expensive machines, or the maintenance and security that goes with them. Most of our local elections are in the off years, our ballots are rarely very long or complicated. We presently use lever machines, have for as long as I can remember(early 70s).

By the way, I,m not anti-technology. I worked in IT for 5 years. Never met a computer or server that couldn't be screwed up, and usually by a well meaning user.