Using paper and pencil, Australian election winner was known in 3 hrs.

[rooboy]

so don't let anybody tell you that you need fancy gadgets, machines or counters to have an efficient election.

[demforall]

1. aussies

so true, i am sick over the whole thing...man, there's a lot of work to be done

[Warpy]

2. Not only that, but turnout was heavy, because voting is mandatory.

There's no excuse at all for not holding elections with paper ballots, the hardest sort to rig.

I think we're stuck with all these stupid mechanical and electronic systems because the US hates to pay people to count ballots, and would rather deprive people of income and run them through machines.

[Paradise]

3. good thought, and good way for * to create jobs!

[leftchick]

4. weren't you Aussies considering DREs for a while?

I seem to remember that a year or so ago. I agree we need a paper, pen and a few hours to count the vote!

oh yeah, How the Hell did Howard get re-elected anyway? He looks freaking evil as well as being evil! :(

[rooboy]

5. The Labor party is in disarray and has been for some time...

they didn't sell their policies or candidates to the public very well, and Howard scared everybody over the economy.

I heard a prominent Labor politician interviewed a few hours ago, and they simply said that you can't win an election without winning the debate over economic policy.

I.E. - IT'S THE ECONOMY, STUPID!!!!

[Toots]

6. But Bush* says people can't be trusted to count the vote

He stated that only machines can be trusted as they are objective while people are subjective. Can't have people count the ballots. No No No... Back to the campaign and "I Trust the People"

[Djinn]

7. don't know if I'd trust the people in US either

unless an independant body is set up to run and monitor elections - from what I gathered from the Florida fiasco is that States seem to run the election and therefore it's a Repub or a Dem govenor controlling stuff - we have the AEC which oversees all elections and each of the major parties (and other parties who want to/are able to) also have scutineers at each booth watching over the counting process.

The only thing we ever have to wait for is the full senate result but you have a pretty good idea of it's make-up after a couple of days

[ghostsofgiants]

8. Yeah

I dunno about all of Canada, but I know at least part of Canada does that.

A number of clearly distinguished fields, mark an X next to whomever you wish to vote for. Nothing overly difficult.

[July]

9. Spain's paper ballot is very reliable and quick, too.

We watched returns on Spanish television, and the result was pretty clear just a few hours after the polls closed.

It can be done.