Question for Oregon voters.

[Amich]

This time in the envelope with the ballot there was a bright orange slip of paper saying use pencil. It has never been there before. I voted in pen figured they could hand count mine and note erase it. Is there anywhere else in Oregon like this. I was told by someone that the ballots are to be done in blue or black ink. The county (coos) clerk said that #2 pencil is darker that is why they need it used. Just paranoid I guess

[Robert Oak]

1. i used pencil

and pen to sign it.

I dunno, I just assumed it's using the same optical scanner as things
like the paper GRE, LSAT etc. tests score, which requires
pencil.

I don't know if it matters if you used pen...you can call...

my concern is you drop those ballots locally, so how do I know
my vote was recorded?

they should mail out voting receipts for each ballot.

[Amich]

2. true. I thought about taking a copy of my ballot before I dropped it off.

[gratuitous]

3. Varies from county to county

In Multnomah County, we've had the little reminder slips in elections past, but it wasn't in my personal ballot this time around. My understanding is that the optical scanner reads pencil marks more easily than pen marks, something about the graphite content of the pencil shading.

If you use a pen, wait for the ink to dry completely, then cover the ink spot with a pencil mark.

Kerry in a landslide.

[Amich]

4. thank you for the info the cover with pencil i didn't even think of.

my ballot better be counted. I know a few others who also voted by pen who thought their ballot would get changed. Nice to have so much trust in this country and government :)

[Bandit]

5. Every payday when I turn in my payroll taxes I must use pencil

on the deposit coupon or it will not register properly in their computer. don't ask me why but it is a fact.

[cliss]

6. That's strange. We're in

Clackamas county, and our ballots say to use 'pencil' or 'pen'. I wonder why the ballots would be different.

Just to be on the safe side, I would use a pencil if the directions ask for it.

On the bright side, I posted a thread yesterday saying that Bush has given up on Oregon because we're expected to elected Kerry. heh he

[stevedeshazer]

7. Multnomah County ballot

Doesn't say anything about pencil or pen. I've always used a #2 pencil.

I visiting my mom today in Columbia County, so I'll see what her ballot says.

I think each county has small variations, but it isn't a big deal IMO.