Want your paper ballot hand counted instead of optically read? Write-in a candidate in any race.

[PeaceNikki]

I suggest DUer "swag" against any unopposed Republican in any race.

[hrmjustin]

1. Wait is that legally counted in every state on the presidential level.

We elect a slate of electors per candidate. Will writing in Obama's name work the same in every state/

[PeaceNikki]

2. I was (mostly) playing. I think the race with the write-in is only one hand counted.

So it may be factually incorrect.

But you should definitely write-in swag wherever you can.

[LisaL]

4. I find that a bizarre suggestions, to say the least.

They hand counted the hanging chads in FL. How long did that take them?
Is that what you want? Still counting weeks after the election?

[LisaL]

3. Obama is already on the ballot.

[TheKentuckian]

16. I don't think what you gathered is what was suggested

She is saying to write in somewhere on ballot (there are almost always various turds, TeaPubliKlans running unopposed, shoe in Democrats, and even empty slates) so that the ballot has to be examined by eye.

[hrmjustin]

17. Yes i see it now. Than you sometimes things go over my head.

[d_r]

5. this is different from state to state though

some allow no write ins, some allow with testrictions, some allow but won't count, some allow w/ no restrictions

[Coyotl]

6. Douglas Fir

may favorite write-in candidate

[littlemissmartypants]

7. How does one do that

with electronic touch screens?

[LisaL]

11. I have no clue.

There is no room to write anyone in?
And no pencil.

[littlemissmartypants]

14. I want a lawyer

or two to give me an opinion on this one....don't you?

[PeaceNikki]

15. You can look at your state or local web site to see how write-in's are tallied.

Like here: http://www.norwalkct.org/index.aspx?NID=1089

Or here: http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?000+cod+24.2-644

Or find news coverage with such details: http://www.svherald.com/content/news/2012/10/05/332813

It obviously varies by state, but many are, indeed, hand-counted. Very very few touch screens exist or are used here in WI and paper ballots are the law, so I don't have experience with how they count those.

[PeaceNikki]

12. That's why I said paper. Many states still do paper and optical scans.

They do hand-count the ballots with write-in's in some cases (like here) but I've only observed that in a recount. I think they aren't tallied until they get to the county or during canvass, but they are definitely separated and humans hand count them.

So, I think the whole ballot is hand counted when there is a single write-in here but I am sure someone will correct me if that's not the case.

[Coyotl]

8. I would delete this post

until you get the facts

[PeaceNikki]

9. it's a joke.

[LisaL]

10. What's the funny part?

Clearly people think you are serious.

[PeaceNikki]

13. I thought it would be an interesting discussion. And the 'write-in a DUer' was the silly part.

They do hand-count the ballots with write-in's in some cases (like here) but I've only observed that in a recount. I think they aren't tallied until they get to the county or during canvass, but they are definitely separated and humans hand count them.

So, I think the whole ballot is hand counted when there is a single write-in here but I am sure someone will correct me if that's not the case.

[ZapatadeNuevoMexico]

18. Write in candidates are not hand counted on election day

Write in candidates cause the ballot to be rejected and submitted as a provisional ballot. The scanner can not read a hand written candidate and the poll workers can NOT tally the vote for a write in candidate, so it is put in an envelope for provisional ballots and marked as "write in candidate" and turned into the county clerk. If the election is close enough, provisional and absentee ballots are then counted, only if the race is within the margins that the uncounted provisional and absentee ballots could change the race.

Provisional ballots are NOT counted in typical elections.

The idea of getting hand counted paper ballots in the polls on election day is too democratic and hands on for this "low information" and "low participation" and "pleasure bubble" population in the U.S. Since 2004 AFTER bush stole the 2nd election, I have advocated for hand counted paper ballots in the polls with witnesses and video recorded, so anyone could check and witness the process, and the public debate or awareness has never considered this a necessary protocol for real accountable elections in the U.S.

The existing election system is chaotic at best and blatant election fraud typically. Using software disenfranchises the voter from their vote because they can not witness or participate in the process of counting ballots. We have accepted the break from our right to govern or regulate the government through elections, so now corporations contract to "count ballots" and we are TOLD the results like little children are told when Santa Claus is coming and we accept it like the SHEEPLE we are culturally. What a sad lack of critical thinking exists in the U.S. today.