Mike Krailo
Well-known member
- Local time
- Yesterday, 23:47
- Joined
- Mar 28, 2020
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- 1,044
Of course, in the US every state has their own election rules, but whatever the rules are, if there is no way to audit the results fairly by both sides, it's meaningless. Aside from the VoterID being a sensible move, I had the idea that when using any electronic voting system of any kind, there should be a simple and fair way for both sides to immediately have accounting to each and every vote cast. Doesn't matter whether it's mailed in or not, each voter must be verified or the vote doesn't count.
So if any of you have some good idea's for how this best be done, just add your 2 bits worth below. My idea would be for the voting machines to be verified by both sides to be in working order and not require any type of maintenance of any kind. Especially the part that prints the paper ballot or prints on the paper ballot. If the machine doesn't print or malfunctions in any way, there should be a plan for the votes to be cast on manual paper ballots (no exceptions). This should not be a difficult thing to do. You fill out the ballot manually and get help from someone working the area the voting takes place.
The physical construction of the ballot is such that the computer prints the selected results on the paper ballot in three different places. Once for the top main part of the ballot so that the computer can quickly read in and count the votes. Then in two other parts close to the bottom where each of the parties involved can hand count their respective votes individually. The bottom part of the ballot is cut from the bottom and divided into two pieces (one for each parties representative). This makes it possible to verify the vote that was cast three different ways. The chain of custody would be three different entities and neither party would have access to all three. The two paper votes that go to each party are only used in the event that there is a dispute with the counting of votes, or a recount is needed. Maybe the ballot can be diced up automatically by the machine. Each representative has access to only there respective side when collecting the ballots later to lock up for auditing purposes. How those paper ballots are kept is obviously critical for chain of custody.
So for mail in ballots, there has to be a lot more effort involved for each person to verify their entity IMO. If they don't show up on election day, they are going to have to do more work to prove who they are in advance. That's only fair for those that do show up and have to have their drivers license checked. Just signing your name on a ballot is not enough when you show up in person, so each person must photo copy or scan in their drivers license (front and back) onto the actual ballot. This is easy to do in advance by uploading this document file to a state website that can process this information and mail you your specially prepared ballot that has your drivers license clearly printed on the ballot. If you don't want to go through this extra trouble, then show up on election day and vote like everyone else. No more excuses for not making the elections easy to validate and audit the results. No VoterID required if done this way.
I think VoterID should be absolutely mandatory when mailing in a ballot if no photo copy of driver license or ID is provided directly on the ballot. You request this in advance and are issued the VoterID as you must get verified to get the VoterID to begin with. This will take care of all the whiners that want to mail in their vote. Fine, you want to mail it in and your not in the military on an overseas assignment, then get your VoterID and cast your ballot via mail. Go right ahead. The only exception is for overseas military that cannot be physically present for obvious reasons. If that is the case there should be a special ballot just for the military members. If anyone can think of a better or more of a simple way to do this, I'm interested in hearing different idea's.
So if any of you have some good idea's for how this best be done, just add your 2 bits worth below. My idea would be for the voting machines to be verified by both sides to be in working order and not require any type of maintenance of any kind. Especially the part that prints the paper ballot or prints on the paper ballot. If the machine doesn't print or malfunctions in any way, there should be a plan for the votes to be cast on manual paper ballots (no exceptions). This should not be a difficult thing to do. You fill out the ballot manually and get help from someone working the area the voting takes place.
The physical construction of the ballot is such that the computer prints the selected results on the paper ballot in three different places. Once for the top main part of the ballot so that the computer can quickly read in and count the votes. Then in two other parts close to the bottom where each of the parties involved can hand count their respective votes individually. The bottom part of the ballot is cut from the bottom and divided into two pieces (one for each parties representative). This makes it possible to verify the vote that was cast three different ways. The chain of custody would be three different entities and neither party would have access to all three. The two paper votes that go to each party are only used in the event that there is a dispute with the counting of votes, or a recount is needed. Maybe the ballot can be diced up automatically by the machine. Each representative has access to only there respective side when collecting the ballots later to lock up for auditing purposes. How those paper ballots are kept is obviously critical for chain of custody.
So for mail in ballots, there has to be a lot more effort involved for each person to verify their entity IMO. If they don't show up on election day, they are going to have to do more work to prove who they are in advance. That's only fair for those that do show up and have to have their drivers license checked. Just signing your name on a ballot is not enough when you show up in person, so each person must photo copy or scan in their drivers license (front and back) onto the actual ballot. This is easy to do in advance by uploading this document file to a state website that can process this information and mail you your specially prepared ballot that has your drivers license clearly printed on the ballot. If you don't want to go through this extra trouble, then show up on election day and vote like everyone else. No more excuses for not making the elections easy to validate and audit the results. No VoterID required if done this way.
I think VoterID should be absolutely mandatory when mailing in a ballot if no photo copy of driver license or ID is provided directly on the ballot. You request this in advance and are issued the VoterID as you must get verified to get the VoterID to begin with. This will take care of all the whiners that want to mail in their vote. Fine, you want to mail it in and your not in the military on an overseas assignment, then get your VoterID and cast your ballot via mail. Go right ahead. The only exception is for overseas military that cannot be physically present for obvious reasons. If that is the case there should be a special ballot just for the military members. If anyone can think of a better or more of a simple way to do this, I'm interested in hearing different idea's.