Reply #4: In Fayettenam they've got brand-new ES&S optiscan

[jmowreader]

The system can be set to print receipts, so at least that's a start.

I went over to the polls (my polling place is two blocks from my house) right about when they closed and asked: they run one master printout of all the votes that were counted on that scanner and throw it in the box with the ballots. They were going to hand-count a certain number of precincts today, comparing them against the printout, just to make sure the system was doing what it was supposed to.

As of now the thing seems to be on the up-and-up; Kissell was running against Mark Ortiz. Now, this guy could have been fun....according to http://www.markortizforcongress.org/modules.php?name=AvantGo&file=print&sid=8

Military service: Draft evader (running to represent the district that contains Fort Bragg)
Union history: Union activity got him fired from four jobs--one for union organizing, one for refusing to cross a picket line and two for whistleblowing on health and safety violations (this in a seriously anti-union area)
Hobbies: 8000 mile per year cyclist
Religion: "Shameless and unapologetic atheist in the Bible Belt."
Current occupation: Self-employed race car chassis consultant
Political philosophy: "Deconcentrationist: I stand for eternal vigilance in defense of liberty against concentration of power, concentration of wealth, and concentration camps."
Family: One greyhound. Single and childless by choice

However, I gotta feeling a pro-union, childless, draft-dodging atheist was just a bit too much for the Democratic electorate in this district. It was for me...look, I like Mr. Ortiz' spirit, I really do, but the whole point of this primary was to find someone who can beat Robin Hayes. Fun won't do it.