What to do if precinct has Diebold in California?

[hang a left]

Had punchcard last election. Just wondering, I heard about a year and a half ago that San Diego County bought a bunch of Diebold machines. If I go to vote and there are machines, should I demand a provisional ballot? Should I let poll workers know of GAO report?

[ananda]

1. Why not?

Keep making them think about it.

[msongs]

2. ask for a paper ballot - they HAVE to give you one. If they will not...

take names. there is a number to call with voting irregularities but I do not not recall the name of the group or the number. maybe someone else will post it here.

Msongs
www.msongs.com/chinamart.htm

[goclark]

3. Sounds right to challenge!

[hang a left]

4. kick for more answers

[Boo Boo]

5. If it is a touch screen machine I'd ask for a paper ballot

However, I think the most common upgraded systems in SD are the optical scanner type. The optical systems are easier and cheaper for the local polling places to deploy; they just send the marked ballots off to be counted just like they did with the punch cards.

The only real problem with the optical ballots is that they can be tampered with (by covering the original vote and then remarking the card) or intentionally spoiled. Probably not worth worrying about. The opportunity for shennanigans seems about the same as a punch card to me. If somebody wants to spoil your ballot, you just have to hope they get caught.

If you request a paper ballot, I think you will be given an optical ballot.

[SoCalDem]

7. And if they are scanned at a remote location,

there is no way to prove that your ballot was NOT over-voted..

The sad truth is that we take off work, leave early..whatever..to vote and once we turn it in, there is no way to know that it was even counted:(

[Boo Boo]

8. There never has been. The punch cards are counted at a remote

location as well. In any system that involves paper ballots (optical or otherwise), the ballots are going to be collected, taken to a central office and counted. Would you prefer that one of your neighbors counts them in his garage? The only thing to prevent your ballot from being spoiled is the procedures put in place and the honesty of the people involved. I'm reminded of stories from Florida of a ballot box, loaded with ballots, being pulled from a canal.

Pick your poison. I'll take the paper (optical scan) ballot over the touch screen any day.

[Popol Vuh]

6. For the next election

Make sure you absentee ballot cast your vote. For this election, try doing what others said about asking for a paper ballot.