Reply #222: Mebane did a study of the over-vote problem

[Febble]

in Florida, in 2000, and it was a problem. Relative to the system that had the least over-vote problem (precinct-tabulated optical scanners), the other systems (county-tabulated optical scanners, levers, punchcards) lost Gore 30,0000 votes. The butterfly ballot cost another few thousand didn't it? And your Volusia incident would also have done if it hadn't been rectified.

But Mebane wasn't addressing these last two. He was saying that levers, punchcards and county-tabulated optical scanners alone cost Gore 30,000 votes in over-votes.

Don't knock Mebane for addressing a different problem to the one you want him to address. Of course it doesn't harm his credibility. Over-votes are a serious problem. He tells us what it cost Gore. He's not saying "therefore you should use insecure precinct-tabulated optical scanners". I expect he'd recommend secure precinct-tabulated optical scanners.

OK, I'm done. Trash Mebane if you feel you need to. I fail to understand this compulsion to trash good people on the same side. But there it is.

Mebane concluded Gore would have been president if equipment less good at preventing over-votes than precinct-tabululated optical scanners had not been used. If precinct-tabulated optical scanners are also less secure than the other systems used in 2000 (probably) then that needs fixing too.